Economics Chapter 3-4 Flashcards
Demand
the relationship between price and the quantity demanded of a certain good or service
Demand is based off of two things
- Need/want (same thing for economists)
- The ability to pay
Price
What a buyer pays for a unit of the specific good or service
Quantity demanded
The total number of units of a good or service consumers are willing to purchase at a given price
A rise in price of a good or service almost always
decreases the quantity demanded of that good or service (and vice versa)
Law of Demand
The common relationship that a higher price leads to a lower quantity demanded of a certain good or service and a lower price leads to a higher quantity demanded, while all other variables are held constant
Demand Schedule
A table that shows a range of prices for a certain good or service and the quantity demanded at each price
Demand Curve
A graphic representation of the relationship between price and quantity demanded of a certain good or service, with quantity on the horizontal axis and the price on the vertical axis
Nearly all demand curves share the fundamental similarity that
they slope down from left to right.
Demand curves embody the law of demand:
As the price increases, the quantity demanded decreases, and conversely, as the price decreases, the quantity demanded increases.
Demand vs. Quantity Demanded
Demand: The relationship between a range of prices and the quantities demanded at those prices. (curve)
Quantity Demanded: a certain point on the demand curve, or one quantity on the demand schedule. (point)
Same relationship applies to supply
Supply
The relationship between price and the quantity supplied of a certain good or service
A rise in price almost always leads to an _____ in the quantity supplied of that good or service
increase (and conversely)
Quantity Supplied
The total number of units of a good or service producers are willing to sell at a given price
Law of Supply
The common relationship that a higher price leads to a greater quantity supplied and a lower price leads to a lower quantity supplied, while all other variables are held constant
Supply schedule
A table that shows a range of prices for a good or service and the quantity supplied at each price
Supply curve
A line that shows the relationship between price and quantity supplied on a graph, with quantity supplied on the horizontal axis and price on the vertical axis
Why does supply go up as prices go up?
It encourages profit-seeking firms to take more severe actions
Equilibrium
the situation where quantity demanded is equal to the quantity supplied; the combination of price and quantity where there is no economic pressure from surpluses or shortages that would cause price or quantity to change
Where is the equilibrium point located on the D-S graph?
The point of intersection
Equilibrium price
The price where quantity demanded is equal to quantity supplied
Equilibrium quantity
The quantity at which quantity demanded and quantity supplied are equal for a certain price level
Where is the equilibrium in the schedule chart
Where the quantity demanded and quantity supplied is the same
Above the equilibrium point on an S-D curve is an
Excess supply or surplus
Below the equilibrium point on an S-D curve is an
Excess demand or shortage
Excess demand
At the existing price, the quantity demanded exceeds the quantity supplied; also called a shortage
Excess supply
At the existing price, quantity supplied exceeds the quantity demanded; also called a surplus
Surplus
At the existing price, quantity supplied exceeds the quantity demanded; also called excess supply
Shortage
At the existing price, the quantity demanded exceeds the quantity supplied; also called excess demand
Three things that affect demand
- Income (Can afford more things)
- Price of related goods (Price of Honda vs. Ford)
- Size or composition of population (10 kids to clothe vs 1)
Ceteris paribus
Other things being equal
Any given demand or supply curve is based on the ceteris paribus assumption that all else is held equal.
When does ceteris paribus apply?
- when we observe how changes in price affect demand or supply
- we examine the changes one at a time, assuming the other factors are held constant
Normal Good
A good in which the quantity demanded rises as income rises, and in which quantity demanded falls as income falls
(Ex. Luxury Cars)
Inferior Good
A good in which the quantity demanded falls as income rises, and in which quantity demanded rises and income falls
(Ex. Used Cars)
Things that are expected to shift demand curves
- Changes in income
- Changing tastes or preferences
- Changes in population size or composition
- Changes in prices of related goods
- Changes in expectations about future prices or other factors that affect demand
Substitute
A good that can replace another to some extent, so that greater consumption of one good can mean less of the other
Complements
Goods that are often used together so that consumption of one good tends to enhance consumption of the other
Their demand curves will be directly related