Economic Definition of switching point. Defined.
Offline Version: PDF
Term switching point Definition: The price/time at which the economy switches from the use of one (usually finite) natural resource to a substitute resource. The switching point is reached because increases in scarcity rent and marginal extraction cost cause a gradual depletion of a finite natural resource. As the price rises, buyers search for less expensive substitutes. Eventually the price of a finite resource is equal to the price of a substitute resource. This is the switching point. For example, we are not likely to awaken one day to discover the world's oil supply is gone. Before such time occurs, we will have switched to substitute products like oil shale, gasohol, geothermal, or solar.
Permalink: https://glossary.econguru.com/economic-term/switching+point