In: Economics
The market for coffee beans is described by the following equations:
Qs = 2P – 8
Qd = 16 – P
a) Suppose the government sets a price ceiling at $10. Is there a shortage? Is there a surplus?
b) The government lowers the price ceiling to $5. Describe the changes in shortage/surplus.
c) Now suppose a price floor/ceiling has been instituted, which causes a surplus of 9 units. Is this a floor or a ceiling? What specific price would create this surplus?
a) No shortage, no surplus - The price ceiling (a maximum price) is set above the market price, so it does not change the market equilibrium, which is P = $8 and Q = 8.
b) Shortage of 9 - With a price ceiling of $5, producers supply only 2 units of coffee beans. Consumers demand 11 units.
c) Price floor, P = $11 - We must find the price at which the horizontal distance between quantity supplied and quantity demanded is 9. Supply must be greater than demand for this to be a surplus.
Qs – Qd = 9 = (2P - 8) - (16 - P)
3P – 24 = 9
3P = 33
P = 11
Price ceilings prevent a price from rising above a certain level. When a price ceiling is set below the equilibrium price, quantity demanded will exceed quantity supplied, and excess demand or shortages will result