Chapter 2: Demand, Supply, and Market Equilibrium Flashcards
Quantity Demanded
The amount of a good or service consumers are willing and able to purchase during a given period of time (week, month, etc.).
General Demand Function
The relation between quantity demanded and the six factors that affect quantity demanded.
Normal Good
A good or service for which an increase (decrease) in income causes consumers to demand more (less) of the good, holding all other variables in the general demand function constant.
Inferior Good
A good or service for which an increase (decrease) in income causes consumers to demand less (more) of the good, all other factors in the general demand function held constant.
Substitutes
Two goods are substitutes if an increase (decrease) in the price of one of the goods causes consumers to demand more (less) of the other good, holding all other factors constant.
Complements
Two goods are complements if an increase (decrease) in the price of one of the goods causes consumers to demand less (more) of the other good, all other things held constant.
Slope Parameters
Parameters in a linear function that measure the effect on the dependent variable of changing one of the independent variables while holding the rest of these variable constant.
Direct Demand Function
A table, a graph, or an equation that shows how quantity demanded is related to product price, holding constant the five other variables that influence demand.
Demand Schedule
A table showing a list of possible product prices and the corresponding quantities demanded.
Demand Curve
A graph showing the relation between quantity demanded and price when all other variables influencing quantity demanded are held constant.
Inverse Demand Function
The demand function when price is expressed as a function of quantity demanded.
Demand Price
The maximum price consumers will pay for a specific amount of a good or service.
Law of Demand
Quantity demanded increases when price falls, and quantity demanded decreases when price rises, other things held constant.
Change in Quantity Demanded
A movement along a given demand curve that occurs when the price of the good changes, all else constant.
Increase in Demand
A change in the demand function that causes an increase in quantity demanded at every price and is reflected by a rightward shift in the demand curve.
Decrease in Demand
A change in the demand function that causes a decrease in quantity demanded at every price and is reflected by a leftward shift in the demand curve.
Determinants of Demand
Variables that change the quantity demanded at each price and that determine where the demand curve is located.
Change in Demand
A shift in demand, either leftward or rightward that occurs only when one of the five determinants of demand changes.
Quantity Supplied
The amount of a good or service offered for sale during a given period of time (week, month, etc.).
General Supply Function
The relation between quantity and the six factors that jointly affect quantity supplied.
Substitutes in Production
Goods for which an increase in the price of another good causes producers to increase production of the now higher priced good and decrease production of the other good.
Complements in Production
Goods for which an increase in the price of one good, relative to the price of another good, causes producers to increase production of both goods.
Technology
The state of knowledge concerning the combination of resources to produce goods and services.
Direct Supply Function
A table, a graph, or an equation that shows how quantity supplied is related to product price, holding constant the five other variables that influence supply.
Determinants of Supply
Variable that cause a change in supply, (i.e., a shift in the supply curve).
Changes in Quantity Supplied
A movement along a given supply curve that occurs when the price of a good changes, all else constant.
Supply Schedule
A table showing a list of possible product prices and the corresponding quantities supplied.
Supply Curve
A graph showing the relation between quantity supplied and price, when all other variables influencing quantity supplied are held constant.
Inverse Supply Function
The supply function when price is expressed as a function of quantity supplied.
Supply Price
The minimum price necessary to induce producers to offer a given quantity for sale.
Increase in Supply
A change in the supply function that causes an increase in quantity supplied at every price, and is reflected by a rightward shift in the supply curve.
Decrease in Supply
A change in the supply function that causes a decrease in quantity supplied at every price, and is reflected by a leftward shift in the supply curve.
Market Equilibrium
A situation in which, at the prevailing price, consumers can buy all of a good they wish and producers can sell of the good they wish.
Equilibrium Price
The price at which Qd=Qs
Equilibrium Quantity
The amount of a good bought and sold in market equilibrium.
Excess Supply (Surplus)
Exists when quantity supplied exceeds quantity demanded.
Excess Demand (Shortage)
Exists when quantity demanded exceeds quantity supplied.
Market Clearing Price
The price of a good at which buyers can purchase all they want and sellers can sell all they want at that price. This is another name for the equilibrium price.
Economic Value
The maximum amount any buyer in the market is willing to pay for the unit, which is measured by the demand price for the unit of the good.
Consumer Surplus
The difference between the economic value of a good (its demand price) and the market price the consumer must pay.
Producer Surplus
For each unit supplied, the difference between market price and the minimum price producers would accept to supply the unit (its supply price).
Social Surplus
The sum of consumer surplus and producer surplus, which is the area below demand and above supply over the range of output produced and consumed.
Qualitative Forecast
A forecast that predicts both the direction and the magnitude of the change in an economic variable.
Quantitative Forecast
A forecast that predicts both the direction and the magnitude of the change in an economic variable.
Indeterminate
Term referring to the unpredictable change in either equilibrium price or quantity when the direction of change depends upon the relative magnitudes of the shifts in the demand and supply curves.
Ceiling Price
The maximum price the government permits sellers to charge for a good. When this price is below equilibrium, a shortage occurs.
Floor Price
The minimum price the government permits sellers to charge for a good. When this price is above equilibrium, a surplus occurs.
