📚 Learning Guide
Price Discrimination and Efficiency
easy

What is the effect of price discrimination on consumer surplus in a market economy?

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Choose the Best Answer

A

It increases consumer surplus for all consumers.

B

It decreases consumer surplus for all consumers.

C

It can increase consumer surplus for some consumers while decreasing it for others.

D

It has no effect on consumer surplus.

Understanding the Answer

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Answer

Price discrimination occurs when a seller charges different prices to different consumers for the same product or service. This practice can reduce consumer surplus, which is the difference between what consumers are willing to pay and what they actually pay. For example, if a movie theater charges students less than adults for tickets, students benefit from lower prices while adults pay more, potentially reducing the overall consumer surplus. As a result, some consumers might end up paying higher prices than they would in a single-price market, leading to a loss in the total benefit consumers receive from the product. However, price discrimination can also allow companies to maximize their profits and offer services to more people, which can have mixed effects on the overall economy.

Detailed Explanation

Price discrimination means charging different prices to different people. Other options are incorrect because This answer suggests everyone benefits equally; This answer assumes everyone loses out.

Key Concepts

consumer surplus
Topic

Price Discrimination and Efficiency

Difficulty

easy level question

Cognitive Level

understand

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