1.511 Consumer and producer surplus

Consumer Surplus

A measure of the economic welfare enjoyed by consumers, reflecting the surplus utility received over and above the price paid for a good.

Producer Surplus

A measure of the economic welfare enjoyed by firms or producers, calculated as the difference between the price a firm charges and the minimum price it is willing to accept.

Perfect Competition

A market structure where consumer and producer surplus are jointly maximized at the free market equilibrium.

Monopoly

A market structure where one producer controls the price, leading to lower overall consumer and producer surplus compared to perfect competition.

Dead-weight Loss

The loss of economic efficiency that occurs when equilibrium for a good or service is not achieved due to pricing above or below the free market price.

Economic Efficiency

A situation where resources are allocated in the most efficient way, maximizing total surplus in the economy.

Price Takers

Firms or individuals who must accept the prevailing prices in the market as they cannot influence the price.

Price Makers

Firms that have the power to set prices in the market, typically associated with monopoly or oligopoly market structures.

Joint Surplus

The combined consumer and producer surplus in a market.

Free Market Equilibrium

The point where the quantity supplied equals the quantity demanded at a given price.

Price Discrimination

The strategy of selling the same product at different prices to different customers, which can lead to changes in consumer and producer surplus.

Marginal Cost (MC)

The cost added by producing one additional unit of a product or service.

Marginal Revenue (MR)

The additional revenue that will be generated by increasing product sales by one unit.

Surplus Utility

The extra satisfaction or benefit derived from consuming a good or service over its cost.

Society's Economic Welfare

An aggregate measure of the collective economic welfare of consumers and producers within an economy.

Inefficiency of Monopoly

The condition where monopolistic pricing results in reduced consumer access and overall market inefficiency.

Consumer Surplus Loss in Monopoly

The reduction in consumer surplus when a monopolist sets a higher price than the market equilibrium price.

Producer Surplus Loss in Monopoly

The decrease in producer surplus when market prices are not reflective of competitive equilibrium pricing.

Scrooge-Economics

A hypothetical representation questioning the value of gifts versus cash, highlighting the concept of consumer surplus and perceived value.

Diagrammatic Analysis

The process of representing economic concepts visually, often through graphs that illustrate supply, demand, consumer surplus, and producer surplus.

Welfare Issues

Concerns related to the economic well-being of individuals in the context of market behavior and policy effects on consumer and producer surplus.

Minimum Price

A government-imposed lowest price for a good or service that can be sold, which can impact economic welfare.

Underproduction in Monopoly

A situation in which a monopoly produces less than the socially optimal amount, leading to lost welfare.

Higher Prices in Monopoly

The result of monopoly pricing strategies, leading to a reduction in overall economic welfare compared to perfect competition.

Surplus Measurement

The method of quantifying consumer and producer surplus to assess economic welfare.

Market Control

The ability of a firm to influence the price of a good or service in the marketplace.

Equilibrium Price

The market price at which the quantity of goods supplied is equal to the quantity of goods demanded.

Economic Welfare Measurement

The assessment of the economic benefit derived by consumers and producers from market transactions.

Price and Quantity Relationship

The connection between price levels set by the market and the quantity of goods that consumers are willing to purchase.

Competition Impact on Surplus

How the level of competition in a market affects the overall consumer and producer surplus.

Shift in Demand Curve

Changes in consumer preferences that can lead to alterations in the demand for a product, impacting its price and quantity.

Market Equilibrium Changes

Adjustments in the price and quantity where supply equals demand due to external factors or government intervention.

Price Control Consequences

The effects that arise from government-imposed limits on the prices of goods and services in the market.

Shortage of Goods

A situation in which demand for a product exceeds its supply at a given price, often due to price ceilings.

Surplus of Goods

A situation where the supply of a product exceeds the demand for it at a given price, often due to price floors.

Graphical Surplus Representation

Using graphs to visually demonstrate consumer and producer surplus in various market structures.

Competitors' Pricing Behavior

The strategies employed by competing firms in a market, affecting market dynamics and pricing.

Welfare Economics

The branch of economics that evaluates the economic well-being and efficiency of markets.