📚 Learning Guide
Price Ceilings and Market Outcomes
medium

When a price ceiling is set below the equilibrium price in a market, which of the following outcomes is most likely to occur?

Master this concept with our detailed explanation and step-by-step learning approach

Learning Path
Learning Path

Question & Answer
1
Understand Question
2
Review Options
3
Learn Explanation
4
Explore Topic

Choose the Best Answer

A

A surplus of goods

B

An increase in the quantity supplied

C

A shortage of goods

D

Market equilibrium

Understanding the Answer

Let's break down why this is correct

Answer

When a price ceiling is set below the equilibrium price, it means that the maximum price allowed for a good or service is lower than what buyers and sellers would normally agree on. This often leads to a shortage because more people want to buy the product at the lower price, but producers are less willing to supply it since they make less money. For example, if the equilibrium price for a loaf of bread is $3, but the government sets a price ceiling of $2, many people will want to buy bread at that price, but bakers might produce less because it's not profitable. As a result, there may not be enough bread for everyone who wants it, leading to long lines or rationing. Overall, a price ceiling below the equilibrium price disrupts the natural balance of supply and demand.

Detailed Explanation

When the price is set too low, more people want to buy the product, but producers don't want to sell as much. Other options are incorrect because Some might think a low price means more goods are available; It's easy to think that lower prices encourage more production.

Key Concepts

Supply and demand
Shortage
Topic

Price Ceilings and Market Outcomes

Difficulty

medium level question

Cognitive Level

understand

Ready to Master More Topics?

Join thousands of students using Seekh's interactive learning platform to excel in their studies with personalized practice and detailed explanations.