'''Factors of production''' are inputs used to produce [[goods]]. Basic models of production have two input factors, [[labor]] and [[capital]]. In other contexts, additional factors such as land or entrepreneurship [[entrepreneur]]ship are considered.
In perfectly competitive markets[[market]]s, the factor price is equal to the marginal product of that factor, i.e. the amount of [[revenue ]] gained by a small increase in quantity of factor used. So the price of labourlabor, the real [[wage]], is equal to the marginal product of labourlabor, or the amount of output that an extra unit of labour labor will result in.
A [[profit ]] maximizing firm will produce where the marginal product equals 0. If the marginal product is positive (greater than 0), the firm could increase output by employing more of the factor. If the marginal product is negative, the firm could increase output by employing comparatively less of the factor. When the marginal product equals 0, the firm cannot increase output by either increasing or decreasing output, so factors must be employed optimally.
[[Category:Factors and methods Methods of productionProduction]]