Competitive markets: many buyers and sellers. Individual actions do not have an effect on price
(unlike having a monopoly)
The supply and demand model:
- The demand curve
- The supply curve
- Factors that cause the demand and the supply curve to shift
- Market equilibrium (equilibrium price and quantity)
- Supply and demand shifts change the equilibrium
The demand curve shows how much people are willing to buy/demand at different prices
relationship between demand and price
Effect of increase demand:
Shift of the demand curve: change in quantity demand at any given price (keeping price constant)
example: buying more roses on valentine’s day
Movement along demand curve: a change in quantity demanded due to a change in price
example: more carpooling due to rise price petrol
Factors to cause a demand curve to shift:
- Change in taste
- Change in the price of related goods:
Substitutes: rise in price of good A increases demand for good B (ex.: train and bus
tickets)
Complements: rise in price of good A decreases demand for good B (ex.: petrol price and
cars)
- Changes in income:
Normal goods: rise in income increases demand (ex. Smartphones)
Inferior goods: rise in income decreases demand )ex. McDonalds burgers)
- Changes in expectations (ex. Stock market)
- Other factors: consumers, weather all factors affecting willingness to pay of consumers
,Consumer surplus & the demand curve
How much do buyers on a market gain from the existence of the market (welfare)
Individual consumer surplus: the net gain to an individual buyer from the purchase of a good. the
difference between the buyer’s willingness to pay and the actual price paid
Total consumer surplus: the sum of the individual consumer surpluses of all the buyers of a good
A decrease in price increases consumer surplus (consumers pay a lower price better off)
The supply curve shows how much people are willing to sell/supply at different prices relationship
quantity supplied and price
A decrease in supply:
A shift in the supply curve: change in the quantity supplied at any given price (keeping price
constant). example: more supply of ice cream due to a new technology of mixing, which lowers
production costs
, Movement along curve: change in the quantity supplied as a result of a change in the price.
example: putting your house for sale when house prices rise.
Factors that cause a supply curve to shift:
- Change in taste
- Change in input prices (less costly = more supply)
An input is a good that is used to produce another good
- Changes in technology
Turn inputs to output more efficiently
- Changes in expectations
Expect stock price to rise = less supplied
- Other: weather/ climate, number of producers factors that affect the willingness to sell/
accept
Producer surplus and the supply curve
How much do sellers on a market gain from the existence of the market (welfare)
Individual producer surplus = the net gain to a seller from selling a good the difference between
the price received and the sellers’ cost
Total producer surplus = the sum of the individual producer surpluses of all the sellers of a good
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller sjlangenberg. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $6.35. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.