The Market Forces of
Supply and Demand
The Market Forces of
Supply and Demand
◆ Supply and demand are the two words
that economists use most often.
◆ Supply and demand are the forces that
make market economies work.
◆ Modern microeconomics is about
supply, demand, and market
equilibrium.
Markets
◆A market is a group of buyers and
sellers of a particular good or service.
◆ The terms supply and demand refer
to the behavior of people . . . as they
interact with one another in markets.
Markets
◆ Buyers determine demand.
◆ Sellers determine supply.
Demand
Quantity demanded
is the amount
of a good that buyers are
willing and able
to purchase.
Law of Demand
The law of demand states
that there is an inverse
relationship between price
and quantity demanded.
Demand Schedule
The demand schedule is a table
that shows the relationship
between the price of the good
and the quantity demanded.
Demand Schedule
Price Quantity
$0.00 12
0.50 10
1.00 8
1.50 6
2.00 4
2.50 2
3.00 0
Determinants of Demand
◆ Market price
◆ Consumer income
◆ Prices of related goods
◆ Tastes
◆ Expectations
Demand Curve
The demand curve is the downward-
sloping line relating price to quantity
demanded.
Demand Curve
Price of
Ice-Cream
Cone
Price Quantity
$3.0 $0.00 12
0
0.50 10
2.5
1.00 8
0
1.50 6
2.0 2.00 4
0 2.50 2
1.5 3.00 0
0
1.0
0
0.5
0
Quantity
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 1 1 of Ice-
0 1 2 Cream
Ceteris Paribus
Ceteris paribus is a Latin phrase that
means all variables other than the
ones being studied are assumed to be
constant. Literally, ceteris paribus
means “other things being equal.”
The demand curve slopes downward
because, ceteris paribus, lower prices
imply a greater quantity demanded!
Market Demand
◆ Market demand refers to the sum of all
individual demands for a particular
good or service.
◆ Graphically, individual demand curves
are summed horizontally to obtain the
market demand curve.
Determinants of Demand
◆ Market price
◆ Consumer income
◆ Prices of related goods
◆ Tastes
◆ Expectations
Change in Quantity Demanded
versus Change in Demand
Change in Quantity Demanded
◆ Movement along the demand curve.
◆ Caused by a change in the price of
the product.
Changes in Quantity
Price of
Cigarettes
Demanded
per Pack
A tax that raises the
price of cigarettes
C results in a
$4.0
movement along the
0
demand curve.
2.00 A
D1
0 12 20 Number of
Cigarettes Smoked
Change in Quantity Demanded
versus Change in Demand
Change in Demand
◆ A shift in the demand curve, either
to the left or right.
◆ Caused by a change in a
determinant other than the price.
Changes in Demand
Price of
Ice-Cream
Cone
Increase in
demand
Decrease in
demand
D2
D1
D3 Quantity
0
of Ice-
Cream
Consumer Income
◆ As income increases the demand
for a normal good will increase.
◆ As income increases the demand
for an inferior good will decrease.
Consumer Income
Price of
Normal Good
Ice-Cream
Cone
$3.0 An
0
2.5 increase
0 Increase in
2.0 in demand income...
0
1.5
0
1.0
0
0.5
0
D2
D1 Quantity
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 1 1 of Ice-
0 1 2 Cream
Consumer Income
Price of
Inferior Good
Ice-Cream
Cone
$3.0
0
2.5 An
0
2.0
increase
0 Decrease
in
1.5 in demand income...
0
1.0
0
0.5
0
D2 D1 Quantity
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 1 1 of Ice-
0 1 2 Cream
Prices of Related Goods
Substitutes & Complements
◆ When a fall in the price of one good
reduces the demand for another good,
the two goods are called substitutes.
◆ When a fall in the price of one good
increases the demand for another
good, the two goods are called
complements.
Change in Quantity Demanded
versus Change in Demand
Variables that A Change in
Affect Quantity
Demanded This Variable . . .
Price Represents a movement
along the demand curve
Income Shifts the demand curve
Prices of related Shifts the demand curve
goods
Tastes Shifts the demand curve
Expectations Shifts the demand curve
Number of Shifts the demand curve
buyers
Supply
Quantity supplied is the amount of a
good that sellers are willing and able
to sell.
Law of Supply
The law of supply states that there is a
direct (positive) relationship between
price and quantity supplied.
Determinants of Supply
◆ Market price
◆ Input prices
◆ Technology
◆ Expectations
◆ Number of producers
Supply Schedule
The supply schedule is a table that
shows the relationship between the
price of the good and the quantity
supplied.
Supply Schedule
Price Quantity
$0.00 0
0.50 0
1.00 1
1.50 2
2.00 3
2.50 4
3.00 5
Supply Curve
The supply curve is the upward-
sloping line relating price to quantity
supplied.
Price of Supply Curve
Ice-Cream
Cone
$3.0 Price Quantity
0 $0.00 0
2.5
0
0.50 0
2.0 1.00 1
0 1.50 2
1.5 2.00 3
0 2.50 4
1.0
0
3.00 5
0.5
0
Quantity
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 1 1 of Ice-
0 1 2 Cream
Market Supply
◆ Market supply refers to the sum of
all individual supplies for all sellers
of a particular good or service.
◆ Graphically, individual supply
curves are summed horizontally to
obtain the market supply curve.
Determinants of Supply
◆ Market price
◆ Input prices
◆ Technology
◆ Expectations
◆ Number of producers
Change in Quantity Supplied
versus Change in Supply
Change in Quantity Supplied
◆ Movement along the supply curve.
◆ Caused by a change in the market price
of the product.
Change in Quantity Supplied
Price of
Ice-Cream
Cone
S
C
$3.0 A rise in the price
0 of ice cream cones
results in a
movement along
the supply curve.
A
1.00
Quantity
0 1 5 of Ice-
Cream
Change in Quantity Supplied
versus Change in Supply
Change in Supply
◆ A shift in the supply curve, either to the
left or right.
◆ Caused by a change in a determinant
other than price.
Change in Supply
Price of S3
Ice-Cream
Cone
S1 S2
Decrease
in Supply
Increase
in Supply
Quantity
0 of Ice-
Cream
Change in Quantity Supplied
versus Change in Supply
Variables that
AffectQuantity Supplied A ChangeinThis Variable. . .
Price Represents a movement along
the supply curve
Input prices Shifts the supply curve
Technology Shifts the supply curve
Expectations Shifts the supply curve
Number of sellers Shifts the supply curve
Supply and Demand Together
Equilibrium Price
◆ The price that balances supply and
demand. On a graph, it is the price at which
the supply and demand curves intersect.
Equilibrium Quantity
◆ The quantity that balances supply and
demand. On a graph it is the quantity at
which the supply and demand curves
intersect.
Supply and Demand Together
Demand Supply
Schedule Schedule
Price Quantity Price Quantity
$0.00 19 $0.00 0
0.50 16 0.50 0
1.00 13 1.00 1
1.50 10 1.50 4
2.00 7 2.00 7
2.50 4 2.50 10
3.00 1 3.00 13
At $2.00, the quantity demanded is
equal to the quantity supplied!
Equilibrium of
Price of Supply and Demand
Ice-Cream
Cone
Supply
$3.0
0
2.5 Equilibriu
0 m
2.0
0
1.5
0
1.0
0
0.5 Demand
0 Quantity
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 of Ice-
Cream
Excess Supply
Price of
Ice-Cream
Cone
Supply
$3.0 Surplus
0
2.5
0
2.0
0
1.5
0
1.0
0
0.5 Demand
0 Quantity
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 11 12 of Ice-
0 Cream
Surplus
When the price is above the equilibrium
price, the quantity supplied exceeds the
quantity demanded. There is excess supply
or a surplus. Suppliers will lower the price
to increase sales, thereby moving toward
equilibrium.
Excess Demand
Price of
Ice-Cream
Cone
Supply
$2.00
$1.50
Shortage Demand
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Quantity of
Ice-Cream Cones
Shortage
When the price is below the equilibrium
price, the quantity demanded exceeds the
quantity supplied. There is excess demand
or a shortage. Suppliers will raise the price
due to too many buyers chasing too few
goods, thereby moving toward equilibrium.
Three Steps To Analyzing
Changes in Equilibrium
◆ Decide whether the event shifts the
supply or demand curve (or both).
◆ Decide whether the curve(s) shift(s) to
the left or to the right.
◆ Examine how the shift affects
equilibrium price and quantity.
Harcourt, Inc. items and derived items copyright © 2001 by Harcourt, Inc.
How an Increase in Demand
Affects the Equilibrium
Price of 1. Hot weather increases
Ice-Cream the demand for ice cream...
Cone
Supply
$2.50 New equilibrium
2.00
2. ...resulting Initial
in a higher equilibrium
price...
D2
D1
0 7 10 Quantity of
3. ...and a higher Ice-Cream Cones
quantity sold.
Shifts in Curves versus
Movements along Curves
◆ A shift in the supply curve is called a
change in supply.
◆ A movement along a fixed supply curve is
called a change in quantity supplied.
◆ A shift in the demand curve is called a
change in demand.
◆ A movement along a fixed demand curve is
called a change in quantity demanded.
How a Decrease in Supply Affects
the Equilibrium
Price of
Ice-Cream 1. An earthquake reduces
Cone the supply of ice cream...
S2
S1
New
$2.50 equilibrium
2.00 Initial equilibrium
2. ...resulting
in a higher
price...
Demand
0 1 2 3 4 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Quantity of
3. ...and a lower Ice-Cream Cones
quantity sold.
What Happens to Price and Quantity
When Supply or Demand Shifts?
No Change An Increase A Decrease
In Supply In Supply In Supply
No Change P same P down P up
In Demand Q same Q up Q down
An Increase P up P ambiguous P up
In Demand Q up Q up Q ambiguous
A Decrease P down P down P ambiguous
In Demand Q down Q ambiguous Q down
Summary
◆ Economists use the model of supply
and demand to analyze competitive
markets.
◆ The demand curve shows how the
quantity of a good depends upon the
price.
Summary
◆ According to the law of demand, as the
price of a good rises, the quantity
demanded falls.
◆ In addition to price, other
determinants of quantity demanded
include income, tastes, expectations,
and the prices of complements and
substitutes.
Summary
◆ The supply curve shows how the
quantity of a good supplied depends
upon the price.
◆ According to the law of supply, as
the price of a good rises, the quantity
supplied rises.
Summary
◆ In addition to price, other
determinants of quantity supplied
include input prices, technology, and
expectations.
◆ Market equilibrium is determined
by the intersection of the supply and
demand curves.
Summary
◆ Supply and demand together
determine the prices of the
economy’s goods and services.
◆ In market economies, prices are the
signals that guide the allocation of
resources.
Graphical
Review
How an Increase in Demand
Affects
Price of
the Equilibrium
Ice-Cream
Cone
Supply
2.00
Initial
equilibrium
D1
0 7 10 Quantity of
Ice-Cream Cones
How an Increase in Demand
Affects the Equilibrium
Price of 1. Hot weather increases
Ice-Cream the demand for ice cream...
Cone
Supply
2.00
Initial
equilibrium
D1
0 7 10 Quantity of
Ice-Cream Cones
How an Increase in Demand
Affects the Equilibrium
Price of 1. Hot weather increases
Ice-Cream the demand for ice cream...
Cone
Supply
$2.50 New equilibrium
2.00
Initial
equilibrium
D2
D1
0 7 10 Quantity of
Ice-Cream Cones
How an Increase in Demand
Affects the Equilibrium
Price of 1. Hot weather increases
Ice-Cream the demand for ice cream...
Cone
Supply
$2.50 New equilibrium
2.00
2. ...resulting Initial
in a higher equilibrium
price...
D2
D1
0 7 10 Quantity of
Ice-Cream Cones
Harcourt, Inc. items and derived items copyright © 2001 by Harcourt, Inc.
How an Increase in Demand
Affects the Equilibrium
Price of 1. Hot weather increases
Ice-Cream the demand for ice cream...
Cone
Supply
$2.50 New equilibrium
2.00
2. ...resulting Initial
in a higher equilibrium
price...
D2
D1
0 7 10 Quantity of
3. ...and a higher Ice-Cream Cones
quantity sold.
Harcourt, Inc. items and derived items copyright © 2001 by Harcourt, Inc.
How an Increase in Demand
Affects the Equilibrium
Price of 1. Hot weather increases
Ice-Cream the demand for ice cream...
Cone
Supply
$2.50 New equilibrium
2.00
2. ...resulting Initial
in a higher equilibrium
price...
D2
D1
0 7 10 Quantity of
3. ...and a higher Ice-Cream Cones
quantity sold.
How a Decrease in Supply Affects
the Equilibrium
Price of
Ice-Cream
Cone
S1
2.00 Initial equilibrium
Demand
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Quantity of
Ice-Cream Cones
How a Decrease in Supply Affects
the Equilibrium
Price of
Ice-Cream 1. An earthquake reduces
Cone the supply of ice cream...
S1
2.00 Initial equilibrium
Demand
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Quantity of
Ice-Cream Cones
How a Decrease in Supply Affects
the Equilibrium
Price of
Ice-Cream 1. An earthquake reduces
Cone the supply of ice cream...
S1
2.00 Initial equilibrium
Demand
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Quantity of
Ice-Cream Cones
How a Decrease in Supply Affects
the Equilibrium
Price of
Ice-Cream 1. An earthquake reduces
Cone the supply of ice cream...
S1
New
$2.50 equilibrium
2.00 Initial equilibrium
Demand
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Quantity of
Ice-Cream Cones
How a Decrease in Supply Affects
the Equilibrium
Price of
Ice-Cream 1. An earthquake reduces
Cone the supply of ice cream...
S1
New
$2.50 equilibrium
2.00 Initial equilibrium
2. ...resulting
in a higher
price...
Demand
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Quantity of
Ice-Cream Cones
How a Decrease in Supply Affects
the Equilibrium
Price of
Ice-Cream 1. An earthquake reduces
Cone the supply of ice cream...
S1
New
$2.50 equilibrium
2.00 Initial equilibrium
2. ...resulting
in a higher
price...
Demand
0 1 2 3 4 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Quantity of
3. ...and a lower Ice-Cream Cones
quantity sold.