Economics: Supply and Demand

equilibrium

point at which quantity supplied equals quantity demanded

price ceiling

a maximum price that can be legally charged for a good or service

shortage

occurs when the quantity demanded is greater than the quantity supplied

price floor

a minimum price that can be legally charged for a good or service

law of supply

quantity supplied varies directly with price

law of demand

quantity demanded varies indirectly with price

surplus

occurs when the quantity supplied is more than the quantity demanded

rationing

a system of allocating scarce goods and services using criteria other than price

black market

a market in which goods are sold illegally

income

non-price determinant for demand, amount of money a person earns will cause the demand curve to shift

related goods

non-price determinant for demand, complements and substitutes will cause the demand curve to shift

tastes and preferences

non-price determinant for demand; fads, fashions, news reports will cause the demand curve to shift

consumer future expectations

non-price determinant for demand; changes in the price of the product in the future will cause the demand curve to shift now

population/demographics

non-price determinant for demand; the amount of people purchasing the product will cause the demand curve to shift

technology

non-price determinant for supply; method of production or the way a product is made will cause the supply curve to shift

number of sellers

non-price determinant for supply; the amount of people making the product will cause the supply curve to shift

producer future expectations

non-price determinant for supply; changes in the price of the product in the future will cause the supply curve to shift now

taxes and subsidies

non-price determinant for supply; money that is paid to the government or the government gives a businesses will cause the supply curve to shift

government regulations

non-price determinant for supply; the amount of rules placed on a business will cause the supply curve to shift

input costs

non-price determinant for supply; the cost of materials, workers, etc will cause the supply curve to shift