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Objective: Examine Effects of Policy Consider A Perfectly Competitive Market Equilibrium
Objective: Examine Effects of Policy Consider A Perfectly Competitive Market Equilibrium
Objective: Examine Effects of Policy Consider A Perfectly Competitive Market Equilibrium
It is the area under the demand curve & above the price.
P
S
P*
D
Q* Q
For some producers, equilibrium price is
higher than the minimum price at which
they are willing to produce
P*
D
Q* Q
Social Welfare
D
Q1 Q
As we increase the quantity & reduce the price,
the total area CS+PS increases
P
S
P2
D
Q2 Q
and increases,
P
S
P3
D
Q3 Q
CS + PS is maximum when we reach the perfectly
competitive equilibrium.
P
S
P*
D
Q* Q
Implication:
social welfare (i.e. total surplus) = CS+ PS
P
S
P*
D
Q* Q
With price ceiling, Pc , the consumer & producer
surpluses are as shown.
P
S
Pc
D
Qc Q
Consumers have lost area V but gained area U.
P
S
V
U
Pc
D
Qc Q
The consumers who gain are those who get the product at a lower price.
The consumers who lose are those who are no longer able to buy the
product because less quantity is being supplied.
P
S
V
U
Pc
Qc Q
If area U > area V, so consumers as a whole gain.
However, if area U < area V, consumers would lose.
P
S
V
Pc U
D
Qc Q
Producers have lost areas U and W.
P
S
U W
Pc
D
Qc Q
Observe: area U moved from producers to consumers,
But areas V and W are lost by society (consumers + producers)
P
S
V
U W
Pc
D
Qc Q
Area V+W is the difference in the total consumer and
producer surplus with and without the policy
(CS2 + PS2) (CS1 + PS1).
P
S
V V+ W= deadweight
W loss to society that
Pc results from the policy.
D
Qc Q
Price Ceiling Example:
Suppose in the absence of controls, equilibrium price = 8K
& equilibrium quantity = 2 million
8K
D
0 2
Next suppose that a price ceiling =7 is imposed.
As a result the quantity supplied drops to 1.8 million.
8K
7K
D
0 1.8 2
Based on the graph, determine the effects
on consumers, producers, & society as a whole.
S
9K
8K
7K
D
0 1.8 2.0
U = (1.8 million) (8,000 7,000) = 1,800 million
V = (1/2)(0.2 million)(1,000) = 100 million
W = (1/2)(0.2 million)(1,000) = 100 million
S
9K
V
8K W
U
7K
D
0 1.8 2.0
Consumers gain
U V = 1,800 million - 100 million = 1,700 million.
Producers lose
U + W = 1,800 million + 100 million = 1,900 million
S
9
V
8 W
U
7
D
0 1.8 2.0
Producers lose 200 million more than consumers gain.
So there is a deadweight loss of 200 million per year.
S
9
V
8 W
U
7
D
0 1.8 2.0
Price Floor
Without the floor, market clears at P*
P
S
P*
D
Q* Q
Suppose a price floor of Pf is imposed
P
S
Pf
D
Qf Q
Consumers lose areas U & V.
P
S
Pf
U V
D
Qf Q
Producers gain area U & lose area W.
P
S
Pf
U
W
D
Qf Q
Again the deadweight loss is area V+W .
P
S
Pf
V
W
D
Qf Q