How is the cost of producing additional units referred to?

The cost of producing additional units is referred to as marginal cost. Marginal cost represents the increase in total cost that arises from producing one more unit of a good or service. This concept is crucial in understanding production decisions, as businesses assess whether the revenue generated from selling additional units exceeds the marginal cost of producing them.

Marginal cost is distinct from concepts like fixed costs, which do not change with the level of production, and average cost, which is the total cost divided by the quantity produced. Total cost encompasses all costs associated with production, including both fixed and variable costs, and does not specifically address the costs associated with producing just one more unit. Therefore, marginal cost is the most accurate term to describe the incremental cost of increasing production.