When a shortage exist in a competitive market the price provides incentives for?

Equilibrium Price

Equilibrium-�� a state of rest;state of balance;a position which, if attained, will be maintained.

Thus, an equilibrium price is one which, if attained in the market, will be maintained (until some disturbing factor causes a change in demand or supply conditions).

Note:equilibrium is a positive (as opposed to normative) economic concept. There is nothing inherently good or bad about equilibrium.It has nothing to with fairness.

Equilibrium exists whenever the quantity of a good demanded is just equal to the quantity of the good supplied.(Note: it is NOT when supply equals demand�it is when a point on the demand curve just touches a point on the supply curve.)

If the price of a good is above equilibrium, this means that the quantity of the good supplied exceeds the quantity of the good demanded.There is a surplus of the good on the market.The existence of this surplus gives sellers an incentive to lower their price, thus sending the price downward toward its equilibrium level.

Conversely, if the price of a good is below equilibrium, then it must be that the quantity of the good demanded exceeds the quantity of the good supplied�meaning that there is a shortage of the good (at the existing price).The existence of this shortage in the market gives sellers the incentive (and the opportunity) to raise their price.As the price rises, it is moving upward toward equilibrium.

Whenever the quantity of a good demanded at some price is just equal to the quantity of the good that sellers are supplying at that price, then there is neither a surplus of the good nor a shortage.Sellers lack incentive and opportunity to either lower or raise the price�it will be maintained.It is an equilibrium price.

Be able to illustrate graphically a below-equilibrium price, to explain what condition (relative to supply and demand-using proper terminology) exists to make this a non-equilibrium price, and explain and illustrate the adjustment process.Do the same for an above-equilibrium price.

When a shortage exist in a competitive market the price provides incentives for?
When a shortage exist in a competitive market the price provides incentives for?

When the supply and demand curves intersect, the market is in equilibrium.  This is where the quantity demanded and quantity supplied are equal.  The corresponding price is the equilibrium price or market-clearing price, the quantity is the equilibrium quantity.

   
When a shortage exist in a competitive market the price provides incentives for?
Putting the supply and demand curves from the previous sections together. These two curves will intersect at Price = $6, and Quantity = 20. 

In this market, the equilibrium price is $6 per unit, and equilibrium quantity is 20 units.

At this price level, market is in equilibrium. Quantity supplied is equal to quantity demanded ( Qs = Qd). 

Market is clear.

Surplus and shortage:

If the market price is above the equilibrium price, quantity supplied is greater than quantity demanded, creating a surplus.  Market price will fall.

Example: if you are the producer, you have a lot of excess inventory that cannot sell. Will you put them on sale? It is most likely yes. Once you lower the price of your product, your product�s quantity demanded will rise until equilibrium is reached. Therefore, surplus drives price down.

If the market price is below the equilibrium price, quantity supplied is less than quantity demanded, creating a shortage. The market is not clear. It is in shortage. Market price will rise because of this shortage.

Example: if you are the producer, your product is always out of stock. Will you raise the price to make more profit? Most for-profit firms will say yes. Once you raise the price of your product, your product�s quantity demanded will drop until equilibrium is reached.  Therefore, shortage drives price up.

If a surplus exist, price must fall in order to entice additional quantity demanded and reduce quantity supplied until the surplus is eliminated.  If a shortage exists, price must rise in order to entice additional supply and reduce quantity demanded until the shortage is eliminated.

When a shortage exist in a competitive market the price provides incentives for?

If the market price (P) is higher than $6 (where Qd = Qs),

for example,  P=8, Qs=30, and Qd=10.

Since  Qs>Qd, there are excess quantity supplied  in the

market, the market is not clear. Market is in surplus.

THE PRICE WILL DROP BECAUSE OF THIS SURPLUS.

If the market price is lower than equilibrium price,  $6,

for example,  P=4, Qs=10, and Qd=30.

Since Qs<Qd, There are excess quanitty demanded in the

market. Market is not clear. Market is in shortage.

THE PRICE WILL RISE DUE TO THIS SHORTAGE.

Government regulations will create surpluses and shortages in the market.  When a price ceiling is set, there will be a shortage. When there is a price floor, there will be a surplus.

Price Floor: is legally imposed minimum price on the market. Transactions below this price is prohibited.

Policy makers set floor price above the market equilibrium price which they believed is too low.

Price floors are most often placed on markets for goods that are an important source of income for the sellers, such as labor market.  Price floor  generate surpluses on the market. Example: minimum wage.

Price Ceiling: is legally imposed maximum price on the market. Transactions above this price is prohibited. Policy makers set ceiling price below the market equilibrium price which they believed is too high. Intention of price ceiling is keeping stuff affordable for poor people. Price ceiling generates shortages on the market. Example: Rent control.

Changes in equilibrium price and quantity:

Equilibrium price and quantity are determined by the intersection of supply and demand. A change in supply, or demand, or both, will necessarily change the equilibrium price, quantity or both. It is highly unlikely that the change in supply and demand perfectly offset one another so that equilibrium remains the same.

Example: This example is based on the assumption of Ceteris Paribus.

1) If there is an exporter who is willing to export oranges from Florida to Asia, he will increase the demand for Florida�s oranges. An increase in demand will create a shortage, which increases the equilibrium price and equilibrium quantity.        

 2) If there is an importer who is willing to import oranges from Mexico to Florida, he will increase the supply for Florida�s oranges. An increase in supply will create a surplus, which lowers the equilibrium price and increase the equilibrium quantity.              

 3) What will happen if the exporter and importer enter the Florida�s orange market at the same time? From the above analysis, we can tell that equilibrium quantity will be higher. But the import and exporter�s impact on price is opposite. Therefore, the change in equilibrium price cannot be determined unless more details are provided. Detail information should include the exact quantity the exporter and importer is engaged in. By comparing the quantity between importer and exporter, we can determine who has more impact on the market.

In the following table, an example of demand and supply increase is illustrated. 

When a shortage exist in a competitive market the price provides incentives for?
In this graph, supply is constant, demand increases. As the new demand curve (Demand 2) has shown, the new curve is located on the right hand side of the original demand curve.

The new curve intersects the original supply curve at a new point. At this point, the equilibrium price (market price) is higher, and equilibrium quantity is higher also.

When a shortage exist in a competitive market the price provides incentives for?
In this graph, demand is constant, and supply increases. As the new supply curve (SUPPLY 2) has shown, the new curve is located on the right side of the original supply curve.

The new curve intersects the original demand curve at a new point. At this point, the equilibrium price (market price) is lower, and the equilibrium quantity is higher.

When a shortage exist in a competitive market the price provides incentives for?
In this graph, the increased demand curve and increased supply were drawn together.  The new intersection point is located on the right hand side of the original intersection point.

This new equilibrium point indicated an equilibrium quantity which is higher than the original equilibrium quantity. The equilibrium price is also higher. It is because demand has increased relatively more than supply in this case.

This supply and demand factor exercises may help you better apply these concepts. 

When a shortage exist in a competitive market the price provides incentives for?
When a shortage exist in a competitive market the price provides incentives for?

When a shortage exists in a competitive market?

A shortage exists if the quantity of a good or service demanded exceeds the quantity supplied at the current price; it causes upward pressure on price. An increase in demand, all other things unchanged, will cause the equilibrium price to rise; quantity supplied will increase.

What happens to price when a shortage exists in a market?

If a shortage exists, price must rise in order to entice additional supply and reduce quantity demanded until the shortage is eliminated.

When there is a shortage in the market consumers tend to?

when there is a shortage in the market, consumers tend to: reduce the quantity consumed. when the market participants of a market that is in disequilibrium respond to rising prices, the market will return to equilibrium, resulting in... an elimination of a shortage.

What does a shortage indicate about price?

Shortages occur when demand is greater than supply. This means that the price is lower than the equilibrium price, meaning that the quantity demanded is a lot bigger than the quantity supplied, as producers are less willing to make more goods if they receive a lower price.