1. Chapter 6 notes – all sections

2. Price Adjustment Process
Market Equilibrium - a situation in which prices are relatively stable, and Qs = Qd (S and D cross)
Surplus – Qs > Qd; price tends to go down as a result
Shortage – Qd > Qs; results in the price and quantity supplied going up usually

3. Figure 8 The Equilibrium of Supply and Demand
Price of
Ice-Cream
Cone
Supply
Demand
Equilibrium
Equilibrium price
$2.00
Equilibrium
quantity 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Quantity of Ice-Cream Cones

4. Figure 9 Markets Not in Equilibrium
(a) Excess Supply
Price of
Ice-Cream
Supply
Cone
Surplus
Demand
$2.50 10 4
2.00 7
Quantity of
Quantity
demanded
Quantity
supplied
Ice-Cream
Cones

5. Figure 9 Markets Not in Equilibrium
(b) Excess Demand
Price of
Ice-Cream
Supply
Cone
Demand
$2.00 7
1.50 10 4
Shortage
Quantity of
Quantity
supplied
Quantity
demanded
Ice-Cream
Cones

6. Price Ceilings Maximum legal price that can be charged for a product
Example: rent control
BELOW EQUILIBRIUM
Causes a shortage

7. Price Floors Lowest legal price that can be paid for something
Example – minimum wage
ABOVE EQUILIBRIUM
Causes a surplus

8. Shifting Curves with S and D
When a S or D curve shifts it will change the Equilibrium Price and Quantity

9. Figure 10 How an Increase in Demand Affects the Equilibrium
Price of
Ice-Cream
1. Hot weather increases
the demand for ice cream . . .
Cone D D
Supply
New equilibrium
$2.50 10
resulting
in a higher
price . . .
2.00 7
Initial
equilibrium
Quantity of 3.
. . .
and a higher
quantity sold.
Ice-Cream Cones

10. Figure 11 How a Decrease in Supply Affects the Equilibrium
Price of
1. An increase in the
price of sugar reduces
the supply of ice cream. . .
Ice-Cream
Cone S2 S1
Demand
New
equilibrium
$2.50 4
resulting
in a higher
price of ice
cream . . .
Initial equilibrium
2.00 7
Quantity of 3.
. . .
and a lower
quantity sold.
Ice-Cream Cones