1. Welcome to Economics with Mr. Lambert
Scarce Chairs
Welcome to Economics with Mr. Lambert

2. Economic Concepts Illustrated by the Scarce Chair exercise
Scarcity exists:
When something is limited in supply and demand, it is scarce.
Everyone wants to sit, but the chairs were missing (chairs were scarce).
Scarcity is a function of both demand and supply. The greater demand relative to supply, the more scarce something is considered.

3. Economic Concepts Illustrated by the Scarce Chair exercise
Choices must be made:
Because scarcity exists, we must make choices about how to allocate our scarce resources
We had to choose between competing systems for allocating the chairs

4. Economic Concepts Illustrated by the Scarce Chair exercise
Rationing systems:
When faced with scarcity, a system must be decided upon to ration the scarce items
What systems did we brainstorm?

5. Economic Concepts Illustrated by the Scarce Chair exercise
Something that is scarce has value:
Everyone wanted a chair, yet they were limited. Since the chairs provide us with a benefit (comfort), we value them and therefore are willing to pay for one.
Value is a function of scarcity. The scarcer something is, the more valuable it becomes, while less scarce items are less valuable.
Examples of scarcity?

6. Economic Concepts Illustrated by the Scarce Chair exercise
Consumer Surplus:
The difference between what you are willing to pay and the actual price
Who would have had the highest consumer surplus in the class?

7. Economic Concepts Illustrated by the Scarce Chair exercise
Equity vs. Efficiency:
Equity means fairness, while efficiency requires that resources go towards their most socially optimal use, therefore, those who value something the most end up getting that which they value
What is most efficient (an auction to determine who is willing to pay the most for the chairs) may not be equitable (or fair)
A lottery in which names would be drawn from a hat to determine who gets a chair is certainly more equitable, but is less efficient (those who get the chairs may not be those who place the greatest value on having a chair).
Auctioning the chairs assures that those who value them the most will end up having them, therefore, the resources are allocated most efficiently.
What is the problem with this idea?