The mix of resources used, such as large amounts of capital versus small amounts of capital, depends on economic efficiency. Economic efficiency is based on minimizing the value of the resources used, not the quantity. A firm will use the mix that produces output at the lowest possible cost, without regard to specific physical quantities or ratios of inputs. As the cost of capital decreases relative to the cost of other resources, capital-intensive production methods will become economically efficient and firms will avoid labor-intensive methods.