The correct option is 1 and 3 only.
Explanation
The Production Possibility Frontier (PPF), also known as the Production Possibility Curve (PPC), is a graphical representation used in economics to illustrate the concepts of scarcity, choice, and opportunity cost. It depicts the maximum possible output combinations of two goods or services an economy can achieve when all resources are fully and efficiently employed.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Correct: The PPF represents the locus of all possible combinations of two goods that can be produced using available resources and technology. It defines the production limits of an economy.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: A point strictly below (or inside) the frontier indicates that resources are either underutilized or utilized inefficiently (e.g., unemployment of labor or idle machinery). Only points lying exactly on the frontier represent the full and efficient utilization of resources.
- Statement 3 is Correct: The curve defines the boundary of production capabilities. For any specific quantity of one good produced, the point on the PPF indicates the maximum possible quantity of the other good that can be produced, highlighting the trade-off involved.
Key Takeaway:
The Production Possibility Frontier illustrates the economic problem of limited resources. Points on the curve represent productive efficiency, points inside the curve represent inefficiency, and points outside the curve are currently unattainable.