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Policies
CONTROLS ON PRICES
Are usually enacted when policymakers believe
the market price is unfair to buyers or sellers.
Result in government-created price ceilings and
floors.
CONTROLS ON PRICES
Price Ceiling
A legal maximum on the price at which a good can
be sold.
Price Floor
A legal minimum on the price at which a good can
be sold.
Price of
Ice-Cream
Cone
Supply
$4
Price
ceiling
3
Equilibrium
price
Demand
0
100
Equilibrium
quantity
Quantity of
Ice-Cream
Cones
Supply
Equilibrium
price
nonprice rationing
$3
2
Price
ceiling
Shortage
Demand
0
75
125
Quantity
supplied
Quantity
demanded
Quantity of
Ice-Cream
Cones
Copyright2003 Southwestern/Thomson Learning
Price of
Gasoline
Supply, S1
1. Initially,
the price
ceiling
is not
binding . . .
Price ceiling
P1
Demand
0
S2
2. . . . but when
supply falls . . .
S1
P2
Price ceiling
3. . . . the price
ceiling becomes
binding . . .
P1
4. . . .
resulting
in a
shortage.
Q1
Quantity of
Gasoline
Copyright2003 Southwestern/Thomson Learning
Demand
0
QS
QD Q1
Quantity of
Gasoline
Copyright2003 Southwestern/Thomson Learning
Figure 3 Rent Control in the Short Run and in the Long Run
Figure 3 Rent Control in the Short Run and in the Long Run
Supply
Supply
Controlled rent
Controlled rent
Demand
Shortage
Shortage
Demand
0
Quantity of
Apartments
Quantity of
Apartments
Price of
Ice-Cream
Cone
Supply
Equilibrium
price
$3
Price
floor
Demand
0
100
Equilibrium
quantity
Quantity of
Ice-Cream
Cones
Copyright2003 Southwestern/Thomson Learning
Supply
Surplus
$4
Price
floor
3
Equilibrium
price
Demand
0
80
120 Quantity of
Quantity Quantity Ice-Cream
Cones
demanded supplied
Copyright 2004 South-Western/Thomson Learning
Wage
Wage
Labor
Supply
Labor
Supply
Labor surplus
(unemployment)
Minimum
wage
Equilibrium
wage
Labor
demand
0
Equilibrium
employment
Labor
demand
Quantity of
Labor
Quantity
demanded
Quantity
supplied
Quantity of
Labor
TAXES
Governments levy taxes to raise revenue for
public projects.
Supply, S1
Tax ($0.50)
A tax on buyers
shifts the demand
curve downward
by the size of
the tax ($0.50).
Equilibrium
with tax
D1
D2
0
90
100
Quantity of
Ice-Cream Cones
Copyright2003 Southwestern/Thomson Learning
S2
Equilibrium
with tax
S1
Tax ($0.50)
A tax on sellers
shifts the supply
curve upward
by the amount of
the tax ($0.50).
Wage
Labor supply
tax
Tax wedge
Wage without tax
Price
sellers
receive
Wage workers
receive
Demand, D1
Labor demand
0
90
100
Quantity of
Ice-Cream Cones
Quantity
of Labor
Price
1. When supply is more elastic
than demand . . .
Price buyers pay
Supply
Tax
Price sellers
receive
3. . . . than
on producers.
0
2. . . . the
incidence of the
tax falls more
heavily on
consumers . . .
Demand
Quantity
Supply
3. . . . than on
consumers.
Tax
Price sellers
receive
2. . . . the
incidence of
the tax falls
more heavily
on producers . . .
Demand
Quantity
Summary
Summary
Summary
The incidence of a tax refers to who bears the
burden of a tax.
The incidence of a tax does not depend on
whether the tax is levied on buyers or sellers.
The incidence of the tax depends on the price
elasticities of supply and demand.
The burden tends to fall on the side of the
market that is less elastic.
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