An extensive margin corresponds to the number of usable inputs that are in some sense employed; to put in another way,extensive margin refers to the range to which a resource is utilized or applied.For example:the number of hours worked by an employee; and if you hire
an additional employee,it would increase an extensive margin.
An intensive margin corresponds to the amount of use extracted within a given extensive margin.Put in more simply,Intensive margin refers to the degree (intensity) to which a resource is utilized or applied.For example,the effort put in by a worker or the number of hours the worker works.By reducing required production from a given set of workers would decrease the intensive margin.
注：这是范里安的《微观经济学：现代观点》一书第15章《市场需求》中提到的两个概念：
可以简单地理解为一个经济量的深度与广度,或集约边际与广义或粗放边际,如贸易.粗放边际一般指新市场的开辟和新产品的出口,集约边际一般指的是在同一市场原有贸易的增加.
根据上面的解释,可以这样理解原书中提到的“消费在粗放边际上与集约边际上的调整”.粗放或广义边际讲的是要不要消费一种商品的问题,集约边际讲的是,在一组价格下,消费多少的问题.