Chapter 5 - Markets in action Flashcards
what is partial-equilibrium analysis
examination of a single market in isolation that ignores feedback effects from other markets
What economists use when they study all markets together
general-equilibrium analysis
Situations where gvt may think about changing equilbrium price (3 ex.)
1) Increase in prices due to natural disaster
2) Minimum wages
3) Shortage of a necessity (like water)
what happens when price set above equilibrium
excess supply (markets don’t clear)
what happens when price set below equilibrium
excess demand (supply shortage)
At a fix price what determines quantity
lesser of quantity demanded and supply (the lowest between these two)
Name of price fixed above equilibrium
price floor
Name of price fixed below equilibrium
price ceiling
Price floor in employment/wage model name
minimum wage
Consequence of minimum wage on firms and employees
Firms are worse off. Have to pay a higher wage than before
Employees that KEEP THE JOB are better off
Employees that are unemployed are worse off (harder to find job)
3 main objectives of imposing a price ceiling (for the gvt)
1) Restrict production
2) Keep specific prices down
3) Satisfy (normative) notions of equity
Black market definition
Situation where goods are sold at prices that violate a legal price control -> this may thwart the objectives of the gvt
What is a binding rent control
Price ceiling imposed by gvt upon landlords on renting price
Ex of 3 consequences of binding rent control
1) Housing shortage (excess demand)
2) Alternative allocation schemes in black market
3) Illegal schemes like ‘‘key money’’ or others
Consequence of binding rent control on tenants and landlords
Landlords lose
Tenants in rent-controllend apartment win
Potential tenants suffer
Short run and long run effects of rent controls
Perfectly inelastic (vertical) curve for supply in short run. In long run, supply curve becomes more elastic
2 Alternatives for housing shortages for the gvt
1) Subsidizing (financially support) housing production or producing public housing directly
2) Provide lower-income households with income assistance
Something to remember about all gvt policies
Always involve a resource cost
When using the concept of market efficiency, demand is represented as _________ and supply is represented as _______
value. cost.
Price corresponding to a sepcific qt demanded : what does it mean
Highest price consumers are willing to pay (as shown by height of the demand curve)
Price corresponding to a specific qt supplied : what does it mean
Lowest price producers are willing to accept
What demande curve means from POV of market efficiency
for each unit, price on demand curve shows value consumers get from buying it
What supply curve means from POV of market efficiency
for each unit, price on supply curve shows additional cost for producer of producing that extra unit
Economic surplus def
Difference between value given to a product and how much is paid for it