1. The Market System Demand, Supply and Price Determination

2. Our Market Economy Basic economic decisions are based on the actions of buyers and sellers What goods/services should be produced Price plays an important role in our economy The consumer tells the market to produce more or less of a certain product

3. The Market System Market consists of: Consumers creating a demand for a product. Demand the amount consumers are willing and able to buy at various prices

4. Individual and Market Demand The Law of Demand Generally the higher the price, the less consumers will buy of an item Generally the lower the price, the more consumers will buy Demand Curve – negative slope, downward sloping from left to right

5. The Demand Curve Price Quantity Demanded Demand 10 5 100150 The demand curve slopes downwards from left to right (a negative slope) indicating an inverse relationship between price and the quantity demanded. Demand will be higher at lower prices than at higher prices. As price falls, demand rises. As price rises, demand falls.

6. The Demand Curve Dependent on a variety of factors the Demand Curve moves in response to changing factors Factors influencing Demand Prices of Other Goods – Substitutes and Complements Incomes – the level and distribution of income Tastes and fashions The level and structure of the population Advertising Expectations of Consumers

7. The Supply Curve The Law of Supply Generally the lower the price, the less producers will supply Generally the higher the price, the more producers will supply Supply Curve – positive slope

8. The Supply Curve Price Quantity Bought and Sold Supply 3 200 7 800 The supply curve slopes upwards from left to right indicating a positive relationship between supply and price. As price rises, it encourages producers to offer more for sales whereas a fall in price would lead to the quantity supplied to fall.

9. The Supply Curve Factors Influencing Supply: Profitability of other goods in production and prices of goods in joint supply Technology Costs of production Expectations of producers Social Factors For food items: floods, droughts, cold weather

10. The Market Price Quantity Bought and Sold S D 5 600 D1 300 3 450 Equilibrium point

11. The Supply Curve Changes in any of the factors OTHER than price cause a shift in the supply curve A shift in supply to the left – the amount producers offer for sale at every price will be less. A shift in supply to the right – the amount producers wish to sell at every price increase

12. The Market Price Quantity Bought and Sold S D 5 600 D1 300 Surplus 3 450 A shift in the demand curve to the left will reduce the demand to 300 from 500 at a price of £5. Suppliers do not have the information or time to adjust supply immediately and still offer 600 for sale at £5. This results in a market surplus (S > D) In an attempt to get rid of surplus stock, producers will accept lower prices. Lower prices in turn attract some consumers to buy. The process continues until the surplus disappears and equilibrium is once again reached.

13. The Market Price Quantity Bought and Sold S D £5 600 S1 100 Shortage £8 350 A shift in the supply curve to the left would lead to less products being available for sale at every price. Suppliers would only be able to offer 100 units for sale at a price of £5 but consumers still desire to purchase 600. This creates a market shortage. (S < D) The shortage in the market would drive up prices as some consumers are prepared to pay more. The price will continue to rise until the shortage has been competed away and a new equilibrium position has been reached.

14. The Demand Curve Price Quantity Demanded Demand 10 100 D1 D2 10200 Changes in any of the factors affecting demand other than price cause the entire demand curve to shift to the left (less demanded at each price) or to the right (more demanded at each price).

15. The Supply Curve Price Quantity Bought and Sold Supply £4 400 S1 100 S2 900 Changes in any of the factors affecting supply other than price will cause the entire supply curve to shift. A shift to the left results in a lower supply at each price; a shift to the right indicates a greater supply at each price.