What does it mean for the ratio of surface area to volume to be small or large? which ratios are better economically?

The goal is to get the volume as large as possible while the surface area is made as small as possible. Why? Because the volume is the amount of stuff you can hold and the surface area is the amount of material to make the container.

Consider an example of making a cup. The inside portion is the amount the cup can hold. The more liquid, the better. The cup makers want to use as little material as possible so that they reduce costs. If the cup makers produce a cup that has volume of 10 cubic inches and uses 10 square inches of material, then the surface area to volume ratio is 10:10 which reduces to 1:1. A more efficient cup is made if that same volume (10 cubic inches) can be made for less material say 5 square inches to make the ratio now 5:10 which reduces to 1:2. 

So in summary, reducing the surface area to volume ratio will make more sense economically as the company makes more money while reducing costs (therefore increasing overall profit)