Price Determination
Overview
Why does a cup of coffee cost what it does? No committee sets the price. It emerges from a tug-of-war between what buyers are willing to pay and what sellers are willing to accept. When the two sides balance, the market settles at an equilibrium price, and the shop sells exactly what people want to buy.
In this lesson you will learn to read demand and supply schedules and curves, find the equilibrium price and quantity, and explain what happens when the price is too high (a surplus) or too low (a shortage). This is the engine of the price mechanism, and it answers the great questions of what, how and for whom to produce.
Objectives
- how the price mechanism provides answers to the basic resource allocation decisions of what, how and for whom to produce
- equilibrium price and equilibrium quantity in a market: - definition of market equilibrium - interpretation of equilibrium using demand and supply schedules - drawing and interpretation of equilibrium using demand and supply curves
- disequilibrium prices and quantities: - definition of market disequilibrium - interpretation of disequilibrium using demand and supply schedules - drawing and interpretation of disequilibrium using demand and supply curves
- shortages (demand exceeding supply) and surpluses (supply exceeding demand)
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Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Price Determination. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Market equilibrium occurs where: A. demand is greatest B. supply is greatest C. quantity demanded equals quantity supplied D. the price is highest Answer: C
- If the market price is below equilibrium, there will be a: A. surplus B. shortage C. fall in demand D. rise in supply only Answer: B
- A surplus in a market causes the price to: A. rise B. stay the same C. fall D. double Answer: C
- At a price of $11, Qd is 40 and Qs is 80. This is a: A. shortage of 40 B. surplus of 40 C. equilibrium D. surplus of 120 Answer: B
- The price mechanism allocates resources mainly by acting as a: A. tax B. subsidy C. signal and incentive D. wage Answer: C
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