📚 Learning Guide
Long Response Questions in AP Economics
medium

In a perfectly competitive market for potatoes, what is the likely outcome if a price floor is set above the equilibrium price?

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Learning Path
Learning Path

Question & Answer
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Choose the Best Answer

A

Surplus of potatoes will occur due to excess supply

B

Demand for potatoes will increase as prices rise

C

The market will reach a new equilibrium at the price floor

D

Consumers will pay less for potatoes than before

Understanding the Answer

Let's break down why this is correct

Answer

In a perfectly competitive market, the equilibrium price is where the quantity of potatoes that buyers want to purchase equals the quantity that sellers want to sell. If a price floor is set above this equilibrium price, it means that sellers cannot sell their potatoes for less than this higher price. As a result, some consumers may decide not to buy potatoes because they are now too expensive, leading to a decrease in the quantity demanded. Meanwhile, farmers will be encouraged to produce more potatoes because they can sell them at this higher price, increasing the quantity supplied. This situation can create a surplus of potatoes, where there are more potatoes available than people are willing to buy at that price, causing waste and inefficiency in the market.

Detailed Explanation

When a price floor is set above the equilibrium price, sellers can charge more than what buyers are willing to pay. Other options are incorrect because Some might think higher prices mean more people want to buy; It's a common mistake to think the market will adjust to the new price floor.

Key Concepts

Price Floors
Market Equilibrium
Perfect Competition
Topic

Long Response Questions in AP Economics

Difficulty

medium level question

Cognitive Level

understand

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