When the government imposes a price ceiling below the equilibrium price, it can lead to a situation where the quantity demanded exceeds the quantity supplied, resulting in a _____ of goods in the market.

When the government sets a price ceiling, it means they are putting a limit on how high the price of a good can go. If this price ceiling is set below the equilibrium price, where supply and demand naturally meet, it can create a problem. In this case, more people want to buy the good at the lower price, but producers are not willing to supply enough because they can't make enough money. This mismatch means that there are not enough goods available to satisfy everyone who wants to buy them, leading to a shortage. For example, if the government sets a price limit on rent for apartments that is too low, many people will want to rent, but landlords may not have enough incentive to offer enough apartments, resulting in a shortage of available rental units.