As stated in answer posted above, the convex shape of indifference curves can be explained in terms of the law of diminishing marginal utility. In my response here I will amplify on this by giving an example. But before we come to the examples I, let us make sure that we are clear about what we mean by indifference curve and law of diminishing marginal utility.
Samuelson and Nordhaus define indifference curve as:
A curve drawn on a graph whose two axes measure amounts of different goods consumed. Each point on such a curve, indicating different combinations of the two goods, yields exactly the same level of satisfaction to a given consumer.
And they define law of diminishing marginal utility as:
The law which says that as more and more any one commodity is consumed , its marginal utility declines.
Now to explain the shape of indifference curve, assume a person with a basket of 100 apples. If he is given the choice to exchange some of his apples with oranges, he might be ready to give up 5 apples in exchange for just one orange as the marginal utility of apples at this stage is very low as the total quantity is high. In comparison, the marginal utility of orange is very high as he has no oranges at all. But to get one more orange he may be prepared to part with only 4 additional apples as the marginal utility of oranges has declined while that of apples has increased. Thus as number of total apples decreases and that of orange increases number of apples given up for number of oranges may be as follows
Number of apples exchanged --> 5 4 3 2 1 1 1 1 1
Number of oranges exchanged --> 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 4 5
Total Apples --> 95 91 88 86 85 84 83 82 81
Total Oranges --> 1 2 3 4 5 7 10 14 19
If you draw a graph of apples versus oranges using the above data you will see that it is a curve convex to the origin.
Source:
Samuelson P.A. and Nordhaus W.D., Economics, Eighteenth Edition, 2005, Tata McGraw-Hill, New Delhi
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