ECNS 201 PRINTOUT
ECNS 201 PRINTOUT
8th Edition
ISBN: 9781337096553
Author: Mankiw
Publisher: CENGAGE L
Question
Book Icon
Chapter 7, Problem 1CQQ
To determine

The consumer surplus and the producer surplus.

Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark

Answer to Problem 1CQQ

Option 'a' is correct.

Explanation of Solution

The equilibrium price is determined by the demand for the cost and the supply of cost, normally. The consumer surplus can be explained as the difference between the highest price that the consumer is willing to pay and the actual price that the consumer pays. The difference between these two prices is known as the surplus to the consumer. The producer surplus is the difference between the minimum willing to accept price by the seller and the actual price that the seller receives for the commodity.

The maximum willing to pay price by the consumer for the massage here is $300. The actual price that the consumer pays after the negotiation between the two is $200. Since the difference between the maximum willing to pay price and the actually paying price is the consumer surplus, it can be calculated as follows:

Consumer surplus=Maximum willing to pay priceActually paying price=300200=100

Thus, the consumer surplus is $100.

Similarly, the minimum willing to accept price by the massager is $60 per hour and she spends 2 hours for the service, which totally costs $120, minimum. But the actual amount received by her is $200; this difference between the actual price received by the seller and the minimum willing to accept price is the producer surplus, which can be calculated as follows:

Producer surplus=Actually received priceMinimum willing to accept price=200(60×2)=200120=80

Thus, the producer surplus is $80.

Option (a):

Here, the consumer surplus is $100 from receiving the massage from the producer and the producer surplus is $80 by providing the massage service to the consumer. The difference between the consumer surplus and the producer surplus is $20. This means that the consumer surplus is higher than the producer surplus by $20 and hence, option 'a' is correct.

Option (b):

Here, the consumer surplus is $100 from receiving the massage from the consumer and the producer surplus is $80 by providing the massage service to the consumer. This means that the consumer surplus is higher than the producer surplus by only $20. But the given value in option 'b' is $40, which is twice the actual value. Thus, option 'b' is incorrect.

Option (c):

The consumer surplus is $100 from receiving the massage from the consumer and the producer surplus is $80 by providing the massage service to the consumer. This means that the consumer surplus is higher than the producer surplus by $20. Option 'c' points that the producer surplus is higher than the consumer surplus by the value of $20, which is inverse to the actual situation. Thus, option 'c' is incorrect.

Option (d):

The consumer surplus is $100 from receiving the massage from the producer and the producer surplus is $80 by providing the massage service to the consumer. The difference between the consumer surplus and the producer surplus is $20. The consumer surplus is $20 more than the producer surplus. Since option 'd' argues that the producer surplus is $40 larger than the consumer surplus, option 'd' is incorrect.

Economics Concept Introduction

Concept introduction:

Consumer surplus: It is the difference between the highest willing to pay price of the consumer and the actual price that the consumer pays.

Producer surplus: It is the difference between the lowest willing to accept price by the producer and the actual price that is received by the producer.

Equilibrium price: It is the market price determined by equating the supply to the demand. At this equilibrium point, the supply will be equal to the demand and there will be no excess demand or excess supply in the economy. Thus, the economy will be at equilibrium.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!
Students have asked these similar questions
??!!
. What the heck is this GDP thingy? It is Thursday afternoon, just a few days before the holiday season starts in your region, and you decided to visit your uncle Chao who owns a local delivery company. While sitting in the living room watching the evening news with your uncle, you heard the news reporter stating the following with an optimistic tone: "According to recent studies, gross domestic product (GDP) is rising due to an increase in consumer spending. The increase in spending was due to an increase in consumer confidence because the job market has shown a positive increase in both employment and income." Immediately, your uncle Chao looked at you with some confusion on his face and asked: What the heck is GDP, and why does the news dude seem excited about its increase? Does this “good” change in this GDP thingy have any effect on my delivery business? How? Do I need to do something different to prepare for the rise in GDP? How?
3. I need people who don’t want me! As an operations manager at a factory that produces manual tools, you were tasked with preparing a new site for expansion. The plan is to start production in the new location within 6 months from the current date. The new location requires 100 workers to operate fully. The workers you need don’t require any form of education or special skills because the tasks at the factory are simple and straightforward. In other words, you typically hire lower-skilled workers. In recent years, your company has been having problems finding workers who meet those criteria because the demand for them is so high. While sitting in your office, your teammate, Alejandra, walked to your office and said, "Have you heard the recent news about the economy? They said that investment has declined, and government spending has declined too. They also said that GDP is expected to shrink in the next 6 to 10 months. I wonder what is next." Then, she looked at you and said: How…
Knowledge Booster
Background pattern image
Similar questions
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Text book image
Essentials of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:9781337091992
Author:N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
MACROECONOMICS FOR TODAY
Economics
ISBN:9781337613057
Author:Tucker
Publisher:CENGAGE L
Text book image
Micro Economics For Today
Economics
ISBN:9781337613064
Author:Tucker, Irvin B.
Publisher:Cengage,
Text book image
Economics For Today
Economics
ISBN:9781337613040
Author:Tucker
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:9781337617383
Author:Roger A. Arnold
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Macroeconomics
Economics
ISBN:9781337617390
Author:Roger A. Arnold
Publisher:Cengage Learning