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Law of diminishing marginal utility: How "more" can be less | Quynh Chi Truong | TEDxRGSV Youth
TEDx Talks· 2025-09-30 14:56
Core Argument - The presentation explores the concept of diminishing marginal utility and its relevance to young people, particularly students and ambitious individuals, who often feel pressured to take on numerous responsibilities [2][3][5] - It suggests that at a certain point, the benefits derived from additional activities or responsibilities decrease, leading to feelings of being overwhelmed and a reduced appreciation for each task [16][17][19] - The speaker encourages reflection on personal values and a mindful approach to balancing workload and well-being, rather than blindly pursuing quantity over quality [18][19][20] Economic Principle - The presentation introduces the economic principle of the law of diminishing marginal utility, explaining that as consumption of a product increases, the satisfaction derived from each additional unit decreases [7][8] - This concept is illustrated with the example of consuming multiple Kit Kat bars, where the initial bar brings great satisfaction, but subsequent bars provide diminishing returns and eventually lead to discomfort [9][10] - The principle is then applied to household income, referencing a research paper that suggests the difference in well-being between households earning $20,000 and $16,000 is similar to that between households earning $60,000 and $180,000, indicating that additional income provides diminishing returns in happiness [13] Application to Education and Extracurriculars - The presentation connects the law of diminishing marginal utility to the pursuit of knowledge and extracurricular activities, arguing that taking on too many responsibilities can lead to a decrease in the enjoyment and learning derived from each task [14][16] - It highlights the pressure faced by students, especially Asian students, to pursue multiple diplomas and extracurriculars, driven by societal expectations and the desire to impress college admissions [3][4][5] - The speaker suggests that while society encourages taking on more responsibilities, it's crucial to recognize the point at which the marginal benefits decrease and the risk of feeling overwhelmed increases [17][19]