📚 Learning Guide
Market Equilibrium Analysis
hard

In a perfectly competitive market, how does an increase in consumer income affect the equilibrium price and market efficiency when the demand curve shifts to the right?

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Learning Path
Learning Path

Question & Answer
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Choose the Best Answer

A

The equilibrium price increases and market efficiency is enhanced.

B

The equilibrium price decreases and market efficiency is diminished.

C

The equilibrium price remains unchanged and market efficiency is unaffected.

D

The equilibrium price decreases and market efficiency is enhanced.

Understanding the Answer

Let's break down why this is correct

Answer

In a perfectly competitive market, when consumers have more income the demand curve shifts right, meaning people want to buy more at each price. The higher demand pushes the equilibrium price up slightly because sellers can charge a bit more while still selling all their output. The higher price encourages firms to produce more, bringing the market closer to the socially optimal output where marginal cost equals marginal benefit, improving allocative efficiency. For example, if the price of coffee rises from $3 to $3. 20, more farmers grow coffee and supply increases until the new equilibrium is reached.

Detailed Explanation

Demand rises when people have more money. Other options are incorrect because Some think that more demand pushes the price down because sellers think they can sell more at a lower price; People might think that price stays the same because supply can adjust.

Key Concepts

Equilibrium price
Demand curve
Market efficiency
Topic

Market Equilibrium Analysis

Difficulty

hard level question

Cognitive Level

understand

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