Equilibrium and Disequilibrium

Mr. Messere Gr. 12 Economics CIA 4U1

Outline
I. Changes in Equilibrium
A. Change in Demand B. Change in Supply C. Change in Both Demand and Supply

II. Market Disequilibrium

A. Price Floors B. Price Ceilings
C. Commodity Agreements

Market Dynamics
Equilibrium - where quantity demanded equals quantity supplied Equilibrium Price (P*) - price where equilibrium occurs. If price above equilibrium, then surplus occurs If price below equilibrium, then shortage arises

Equilibrium/Surplus/Shortage
P P1 P* P2
Shortage Surplus

Q*

Equilibrium in the Market

What Occurs at Equilibrium? Demand Side - those who get the good are those willing and able (effective demand) to pay the P*. Supply Side - only those firms which are able to produce at or below the cost of P* will remain in business.

Changes in Equilibrium
Remember that Supply and Demand are drawn under the ceteris paribus assumption. Any factors which cause Supply and/or Demand to change will affect equilibrium price and quantity.

Change in Demand
Demand will change for any of the non-price determinants examined previously:
Tastes/Preferences Income Price of Substitute & Complementary goods Expectations Population

Ceteris paribus, lets say the demand for CDs increased due to an increase in income. How would this affect market equilibrium price & quantity of CDs?

Increase in Demand
P SCDs

DCDs 0

Increase in Demand
P P* P* E E SCDs

D
DCDs 0 Q* Q* Q

Change in Supply
Supply will change for any of the the nonprice determinants examined previously:
- Costs of Production Input costs / taxes & subsidies - Technology - Nature and the environment - Number of producers - Complements & substitutes in production

Ceteris paribus, lets say that the government lowers taxes on CDs. How would this affect the market equilibrium price & quantity of CDs?

Increase in Supply
P SCDs

DCDs 0

Increase in Supply
P

SCDs
S

P* P*

E E DCDs Q* Q* Q

Changes in Demand and Supply

To determine the impact of both supply and demand changing: First examine what happens to equilibrium price and quantity when just demand shifts. Second, examine what happens to equilibrium price and quantity when just supply changes Finally, add the two effects together.

Changes in Demand and Supply

General Results: When supply and demand move in the same direction
Equilibrium price is indeterminate

When supply and demand move in opposite directions

Equilibrium quantity is indeterminate

Supply & Demand Move in the Same Direction

Assume ceteris paribus:
Suppose that the barbecue season is at its peak. Also, the price of cattle decreases by 10% during this time. How would this affect the market equilibrium price & quantity of steak?

Supply & Demand Move in the Same Direction

P E1
P1 SSteak S

P*

P ?

E2 D DSteak Q

Q* Q1 Q2

Final Equilibrium Quantity & Price when Demand & Supply move in the Same Direction
Since it is barbecue season, consumer preference for steak has increased, thus causing demand to increase from D to D. This temporarily pulls up price and increases quantity demanded to P1 and Q1 respectively.
At the intermediate equilibrium level, E1, supply then increases from S to S as a result of lower cattle prices (a fall in the price of an input) which pushes the final market equilibrium quantity to E2 where the final equilibrium quantity is Q2 and equilibrium price is indeterminate.

Supply & Demand Move in Opposite Directions

Assume ceteris paribus: Suppose that the price of lemons falls and lemon is considered an essential ingredient in preparing great tasting spinach. At the same time, many spinach farmers also reduce the amount of land used to produce spinach. How would this affect the market equilibrium price & quantity of spinach?

Supply & Demand Move in the Opposite Directions

P P2 P1 P* E
Q?

S E2 SSpinach

E1

D
DSpinach Q

Q* Q1

Final Equilibrium Quantity & Price when Demand & Supply move in Opposite Directions
As a result of the price of lemons falling (a complimentary good) the demand for spinach increases from D to D and temporarily raises the price from P* to P1 and quantity from Q* to Q1.
At the intermediate equilibrium level, E1, supply then decreases from S to S because there are fewer farmers growing spinach which pushes the final market equilibrium quantity to E2 where the final equilibrium price is P2 and equilibrium quantity is indeterminate.

The Role of Prices

Convey information
When the price of a Maple Leaf ticket increased from $120 last season to $150 this season (on average), it told us something about the popularity of the Maple Leafs

Rationiong device
The price is what determines who can have the good

Market Disequilibrium
Is it possible for the price and quantity to NOT be in equilibrium? Yes - While the invisible hand may move price towards equilibrium, price controls tend to generate disequilibrium in the marketplace

Price Controls
There are two types of price controls: 1) Price Ceilings 2) Price Floors

Price Ceilings
Price Ceiling - sets a maximum price that is allowed by law. Result of Price Ceiling:
Stay at a permanent shortage situation

Note that a price ceiling can be any price the government chooses. It is, however only effective if it is below the equilibrium price

Price Ceiling
Example of Price Ceiling
Rent controlled apartments

In New York City, San Francisco, Boston, and other cities the city or state determines the maximum amount that can be charged for rent on many apartments. A maximum price is a price ceiling

Rent Controlled Apartments

P S

D 0 Q

Rent Controlled Apartments

P S

P* D 0 Q* Q

Rent Controlled Apartments

P S

P*

Pceiling
D 0 Qs
Amount of Shortage

Q* Qd

Winners and Losers

Who gains and loses with price ceilings? 1. Benefit - those who get rent controlled apartments 2. Loses - those who cant find apartments due to the shortage. 3. Loses - landlords who must accept lower rent.

Price Floors
Price Floor - sets a minimum price that is allowed by law. Result of Price Floor
Stay at a permanent surplus situation

Note that a price floor can be set at any price, but is only effective if it is above the equilibrium price

Price Floors
Example of Price Floor
Minimum Wage Legislation

The minimum wage is a lowest price the government will allow firms to pay for labor. A minimum price is a price floor

Price Floors
When we look at the labor market it is similar to other supply and demand diagrams except for the labels.
L - quantity of workers w - wages (the price we pay workers)

It is also different because the suppliers of labor are households, not firms, and the demanders of labor are firms, not households

Minimum Wage Legislation

Wage
S

D 0 # of Workers

Minimum Wage Legislation

Wage
S

w* D 0 L* # of Workers

Minimum Wage Legislation

Wage
Amount of Unemployed Workers

wfloor
w* D 0 Ld L*

Ls

# of Workers

Winners and Losers

Who gains and loses with price floors? 1. Benefit - those who get higher wages 2. Loses - those who cant find jobs at the higher wage 3. Loses - firms who must pay higher wages.

Commodity Agreements
Market instability may arise due to:
Fluctuating prices due to changing market conditions Changing prices due to changes in exchange rates Changes in foreign government protectionist measures

Producers of commodities (eg. coffee, sugar, grains, tin) may cooperate to stabilize the market
eg. prices kept from falling below certain level

Production Quota System

An agreement by producers to limit the amount supplied to the market place & thus influence price Individual cartel members produce portion of output according to their quota

Production Quota System

Price S2

S1

P2 P1

D
Q2 Q1

Buffer Stock System

Group of producers (with support of govt) set a target price or price band (price floor & ceiling) If market conditions lead to
Shortage (price above target price), buffer stock authority will sell off previously acquired stocks Surplus (price falls below target price), buffer stock authority will agree to purchase surplus at intervention price

Buffer Stock System

Price
P4 P3

S1 S2

S3

S4 S5

Shortage

Target Band

P2 P1 Q1 Q2 Q3

Surplus

D
Q4 Q5

Buffer Stock System - Considerations

Surplus can be disposed of in several ways:
Stored for future use
Opportunity cost of storage facilities can be prohibitive for producers

Destruction of commodity
If food, normative issue arises in light of global poverty & hunger

Selling to other countries

If dumped in another country (priced below foreigners own prices in domestic market) can undermine domestic producers in countries where goods sold

Provision as overseas assistance

Food aid could lead to dependency culture

Further Practice
Use the last question page to complete the following. For each question indicate whether: - price increased, decreased or it was indeterminate (impossible to determine) - quantity increased, decreased or it was indeterminate (impossible to determine)
Practice Test