Question

1. What role do shortages and surpluses play in the market? 10pts
2. What type of goods should be taxed in order to minimize deadweight loss? Explain it.

Answer 1

1. Market surplus and market shortages help in bringing back to the equilibrium.

A Market Surplus occurs when there is excess supply- that is quantity supplied is greater than quantity demanded. In this situation, some producers won't be able to sell all their goods. This will induce them to lower their price to make their product more appealing. In order to stay competitive many firms will lower their prices thus lowering the market price for the product. In response to the lower price, consumers will increase their quantity demanded, moving the market toward an equilibrium price and quantity. In this situation, excess supply has exerted downward pressure on the price of the product.

A Market Shortage occurs when there is excess demand- that is quantity demanded is greater than quantity supplied. In this situation, consumers won't be able to buy as much of a good as they would like. In response to the demand of the consumers, producers will raise both the price of their product and the quantity they are willing to supply. The increase in price will be too much for some consumers and they will no longer demand the product. Meanwhile the increased quantity of available product will satisfy other consumers. Eventually equilibrium will be reached.
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2. In theory, the government should place a tax on goods with negative externalities (cigarettes, petrol, alcohol, e.t.c.). This is because negative externalities are over consumed. This over-consumption leads to a deadweight welfare loss. If the government tax this good, it makes people pay the social cost and achieve the socially efficient level of output. In this case, the tax is reducing deadweight welfare loss.