Understanding Supply and Equilibrium in Economics
Learn about supply and demand, market equilibrium, shifts in supply curve, and how changes in price affect quantity supplied in economics.
Understanding Supply and Equilibrium in Economics
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Presentation Transcript
Supply • Quantity supplied – amount of a good that sellers are willing and able to sell • Law of supply – the quantity supplied of a good rises as price rises • Supply schedule – table showing relationship b/t the price and quantity supplied of a good • Supply curve – graph of relationsip b/t P and Qs
1. An increase in price ... 2. ... increases quantity of cones supplied. Figure 5 Ben’s Supply Schedule and Supply Curve Price of Ice-Cream Cone $3.00 2.50 2.00 1.50 1.00 0.50 Quantity of 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Ice-Cream Cones
Market supply – the sum of all individual suppliers in the same market • Graphically, individual supply curves are summed horizontally to obtain the market supply curve • Change in Qs - Caused by a change in anything that alters the quantity supplied at each price.
$3.00 0 Change in Quantity Supplied Price of Ice-Cream Cone S C A rise in the price of ice cream cones results in a movement along the supply curve. A 1.00 Quantity of Ice-Cream Cones 0 1 5
Shifts in the S curve – Change in Supply • Input Prices – when the P of an input rises, the S decreases b/c it is more expensive to produce and less profitable • Technology – advances in technology can increase the supply • Expectations – if the firm expects prices to rise in future, may produce less now • # of sellers – if more firms enter market, S will go up
Supply curve, S 3 Supply curve, S 1 Supply curve, S Decrease 2 in supply Increase in supply 0 Figure 7 Shifts in the Supply Curve Price of Ice-Cream Cone Quantity of 0 Ice-Cream Cones
S and D together • Equilibrium refers to a situation in which the price has reached the level where quantity supplied equals quantity demanded • Occurs where the S and D curve intersect • Equilibrium Price – price at intersection • Equilibrium Quantity – Q at intersection
Supply Equilibrium Equilibrium price $2.00 Demand Equilibrium quantity Figure 8 The Equilibrium of Supply and Demand Price of Ice-Cream Cone 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Quantity of Ice-Cream Cones
Markets not in Equilibrium • SURPLUS - When price > equilibrium price, then quantity supplied > quantity demanded. • There is excess supply or a surplus. • Suppliers will lower the price to increase sales, thereby moving toward equilibrium.
Supply Surplus $2.50 2.00 Demand 4 7 10 Quantity Quantity demanded supplied Figure 9 Markets Not in Equilibrium (a) Excess Supply Price of Ice-Cream Cone 0 Quantity of Ice-Cream Cones
Markets not in Equilibrium • SHORTAGE -When price < equilibrium price, then quantity demanded > the quantity supplied. • There is excess demand or a shortage. • Suppliers will raise the price due to too many buyers chasing too few goods, thereby moving toward equilibrium.
Supply $2.00 1.50 Shortage Demand 4 7 10 Quantity Quantity supplied demanded Figure 9 Markets Not in Equilibrium (b) Excess Demand Price of Ice-Cream Cone 0 Quantity of Ice-Cream Cones
1. Hot weather increases the demand for ice cream . . . Supply New equilibrium $2.50 2.00 2. . . . resulting Initial in a higher equilibrium price . . . D D 7 10 3. . . . and a higher quantity sold. Figure 10 How an Increase in Demand Affects the Equilibrium Price of Ice-Cream Cone Quantity of 0 Ice-Cream Cones
1. An increase in the price of sugar reduces the supply of ice cream. . . S2 S1 New equilibrium $2.50 2.00 2. . . . resulting in a higher price of ice cream . . . Demand 4 7 3. . . . and a lower quantity sold. Figure 11 How a Decrease in Supply Affects the Equilibrium Price of Ice-Cream Cone Initial equilibrium Quantity of 0 Ice-Cream Cones
Table 4: What Happens to Price and Quantity When Supply or Demand Shifts?