As we’re well aware, vending machines are used to sell snacks and beverages, whereas newspapers are sold out of a box that allows anyone to take more than one paper. How does the concept of diminishing marginal utility explain the different distribution techniques for newspapers vs. snacks and beverages? Identify two additional examples of an item whose diminishing marginal utility is high. Remember: Marginal utility is the change in total utility that results from a one-unit increase in the quantity of a good consumed; diminishing marginal utility is the general tendency for marginal utility to decrease as the quantity of a good consumed increases.

The law of diminishing marginal utility states that there are some products or services to which an increase in the consumption will not bring the same utility for the user as the right amount, for example, if you eat a slice of pizza, it will bring certain benefit, you'll be less hungry but if you eat 7 slices of pizza at some point you'll no longer be hungry and it will rather make you sick, in this case vending machines have a higher marginal utility, a person could drink 3 or 4 drinks or take 4 or 5 snacks before it makes them feel sick, whilst a person that buys a person buying a newspaper won't need a second one, even if it is for his/her family, a 5 people house has enough newspaper by taking 1 copy of it.

Other examples of this can be a vacuum cleaner, you don't need a second one if you already have one, or a house buying a second house ain't as necessary as the first one.