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Chapter 6 notesSupply, Demand, and Government Policies
Are usually enacted when policymakers believe the market price is unfair to buyers or sellers.
Result in government-created price ceilings and floors.
Price Ceiling ◦ A legal maximum on the price at which a good
can be sold. Price Floor
◦ A legal minimum on the price at which a good can be sold.
Controls on Prices
◦ The price ceiling is not binding if set above the equilibrium price.
◦ The price ceiling is binding if set below the equilibrium price, leading to a shortage.
Price Ceilings: Two Possible Outcomes
Figure 1 A Market with a Price Ceiling (a) A Price Ceiling That Is Not Binding
Quantity ofIce-Cream
Cones
0
Price ofIce-Cream
Cone
Equilibriumquantity
$4 Priceceiling
Equilibriumprice
Demand
Supply
3
100
The market clears at $3 and the price ceiling is ineffective.
Figure 1 A Market with a Price Ceiling (b) A Price Ceiling That Is Binding
Quantity ofIce-Cream
Cones
0
Price ofIce-Cream
Cone
Demand
Supply
2 PriceceilingShortage
75
Quantitysupplied
125
Quantitydemanded
Equilibriumprice
$3
Effects of Price Ceilings A binding price ceiling creates
◦ Shortages because QD > QS. Example: Gasoline shortage of the 1970s
◦ Nonprice rationing Examples: Long lines, discrimination by sellers
CASE STUDY: Lines at the Gas Pump
Economists blame government regulations that limited the price oil companies could charge for gasoline.
In 1973, OPEC raised the price of crude oil in world markets. Crude oil is the major input in gasoline, so the higher oil prices reduced the supply of gasoline.
What was responsible for the long gas lines?
Figure 2 The Market for Gasoline with a Price Ceiling
(a) The Price Ceiling on Gasoline Is Not Binding
Quantity ofGasoline
0
Price ofGasoline
1. Initially,the priceceilingis notbinding . . . Price ceiling
Demand
Supply, S1
P1
Q1
Figure 2 The Market for Gasoline with a Price Ceiling
(b) The Price Ceiling on Gasoline Is Binding
Quantity ofGasoline
0
Price ofGasoline
Demand
S1
S2
Price ceiling
QS
4. . . . resultingin ashortage.
3. . . . the priceceiling becomesbinding . . .
2. . . . but whensupply falls . . .
P2
QD
P1
Q1
Rent Control Rent controls are ceilings placed on the
rents that landlords may charge their tenants.
The goal of rent control policy is to help the poor by making housing more affordable.
One economist called rent control “the best way to destroy a city, other than bombing.”
Figure 3 Rent Control in the Short Run and in the Long Run
(a) Rent Control in the Short Run(supply and demand are inelastic)
Quantity ofApartments
0
Supply
Controlled rent
RentalPrice of
Apartment
DemandShortage
Figure 3 Rent Control in the Short Run and in the Long Run
(b) Rent Control in the Long Run(supply and demand are elastic)
0
RentalPrice of
Apartment
Quantity ofApartments
Demand
Supply
Controlled rent
Shortage
How price floors affect market outcomes When the government imposes a price floor,
two outcomes are possible.◦ The price floor is not binding if set below the
equilibrium price.◦ The price floor is binding if set above the equilibrium
price, leading to a surplus. A price floor prevents supply and demand from
moving toward the equilibrium price and quantity.
When the market price hits the floor, it can fall no further, and the market price equals the floor price.
Cont’d A binding price floor causes . . .
◦ a surplus because QS > QD. ◦ nonprice rationing is an alternative mechanism
for rationing the good, using discrimination criteria. Examples: The minimum wage, agricultural price
supports
Figure 4 A Market with a Price Floor (a) A Price Floor That Is Not Binding
Quantity ofIce-Cream
Cones
0
Price ofIce-Cream
Cone
Equilibriumquantity
2
Pricefloor
Equilibriumprice
Demand
Supply
$3
100
The government says that ice-cream cones must sell for at least $2; this legislation is ineffective at the current market price.
Figure 4 A Market with a Price Floor (b) A Price Floor That Is Binding
Quantity ofIce-Cream
Cones
0
Price ofIce-Cream
Cone
Demand
Supply
$4Pricefloor
80
Quantitydemanded
120
Quantitysupplied
Equilibriumprice
Surplus
3
CASE STUDY: The Minimum Wage An important example of a
price floor is the minimum wage.
Minimum wage laws dictate the lowest price possible for labor that any employer may pay.
Figure 5 How the Minimum Wage Affects the Labor Market
Quantity ofLabor
Wage
0
Labordemand
LaborSupply
Equilibriumemployment
Equilibriumwage
Figure 5 How the Minimum Wage Affects the Labor Market
Quantity ofLabor
Wage
0
LaborSupplyLabor surplus
(unemployment)
Labordemand
Minimumwage
Quantitydemanded
Quantitysupplied
Governments levy taxes to raise revenue for public projects
Taxes discourage market activity. When a good is taxed, the
quantity sold is smaller. Buyers and sellers share
the tax burden.
Taxes
◦ Tax incidence is the manner in which the burden of a tax is shared among participants in a market.
◦ Tax incidence is the study of who bears the burden of a tax.
◦ Taxes result in a change in market equilibrium.◦ Buyers pay more and sellers receive less,
regardless of whom the tax is levied on.
Tax Incidence
Figure 6 A Tax on Buyers
Quantity ofIce-Cream Cones
0
Price ofIce-Cream
Cone
Pricewithout
tax
Pricesellersreceive
Equilibrium without taxTax ($0.50)
Pricebuyers
pay
D1
D2
Supply, S1
A tax on buyersshifts the demandcurve downwardby the size ofthe tax ($0.50).
$3.30
90
Equilibriumwith tax
2.803.00
100
Figure 7 A Tax on Sellers
2.80
Quantity ofIce-Cream Cones
0
Price ofIce-Cream
Cone
Pricewithout
tax
Pricesellersreceive
Equilibriumwith tax
Equilibrium without tax
Tax ($0.50)
Pricebuyers
payS1
S2
Demand, D1
A tax on sellersshifts the supplycurve upwardby the amount ofthe tax ($0.50).
3.00
100
$3.30
90
◦Taxes discourage market activity.◦When a good is taxed, the quantity sold is smaller.
◦Buyers and sellers share the tax burden.
Impact of Tax
Figure 8 A Payroll Tax
Quantityof Labor
0
Wage
Labor demand
Labor supply
Tax wedge
Wage workersreceive
Wage firms pay
Wage without tax
Elasticity and Tax Incidence The elasticity of the S and D in the market
determine how the burden of the tax is divided.
The burden of a tax falls more heavily on the side of the market that is less elastic.
Figure 9 How the Burden of a Tax Is Divided
Quantity0
Price
Demand
Supply
Tax
Price sellersreceive
Price buyers pay
(a) Elastic Supply, Inelastic Demand
2. . . . theincidence of thetax falls moreheavily onconsumers . . .
1. When supply is more elasticthan demand . . .
Price without tax
3. . . . than on producers.
Figure 9 How the Burden of a Tax Is Divided
Quantity0
Price
Demand
Supply
Tax
Price sellersreceive
Price buyers pay
(b) Inelastic Supply, Elastic Demand
3. . . . than onconsumers.
1. When demand is more elasticthan supply . . .
Price without tax
2. . . . theincidence of the tax falls more heavily on producers . . .