Supply refers to the quantity of a good that the producer plans to sell in the market. Supply will be determined by factors such as price, the number of suppliers, the state of technology, government subsidies, weather conditions and the availability of workers to produce the good. Movement along the supply curve As price increases …
Definition of Bertrand Competition A market structure where it is assumed that there are two firms, who both assume the other firm will keep prices unchanged. Therefore, each firm has an incentive to cut prices, but this actually leads to a price war. If products are perfect substitutes this assumes the price will be driven …
Definition of Consumer Surplus This is the difference between what the consumer pays and what he would have been willing to pay. For example: If you would be willing to pay £50 for a ticket to see the F. A. Cup final, but you can buy a ticket for £40. In this case, your consumer …
Readers Question: What is the role and function of price in the economy? The price of goods plays a crucial role in determining an efficient distribution of resources in a market system. Price acts as a signal for shortages and surpluses which help firms and consumers respond to changing market conditions. If a good is …
A typical supply curve shows an increase in supply as wages rise. It slopes from left to right. However, in labour markets, we can often witness a backward bending supply curve. This means after a certain point, higher wages can lead to a decline in labour supply. This occurs when higher wages encourage workers to …
Microeconomics is concerned with the economic decisions and actions of individuals and firms. Within the broad church of microeconomics, there are different theories that emphasise certain assumptions and expectations of economic behaviour. The most important theory is neo-classical theory, which places emphasis on free-markets and the assumption individuals are rational and seek to maximise utility. …
Supply-side policies are government attempts to increase productivity and increase efficiency in the economy. If successful, they will shift aggregate supply (AS) to the right and enable higher economic growth in the long-run. There are two main types of supply-side policies. Free-market supply-side policies involve policies to increase competitiveness and free-market efficiency. For example, privatisation, …
Readers Question: Explain the terms monetary policy and fiscal policy and compare the ways in which they influence the UK economy. Monetary Policy Monetary policy involves influencing the supply and demand for money through interest rates and other monetary tools. Monetary policy is usually conducted by the Central Bank, e.g. UK – Bank of England, …