EC120 Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: Ice Cream, Price Ceiling, Price Floor

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EC120 CHAPTER : SUPPLY, DEMAND, AND GOV’T POLICIES
CONTROL ON PRICES (ICE CREAM EXAMPLE)
Ice cream is sold in a competitive market free of gov’t regulations
The outcome of a free market does not make everyone happy
o Association of IC Eaters complain that the equilibrium price ($3) is
set too high
o Association of IC Makers argue that the equilibrium price is too low
o BOTH of these groups lobby the gov’t to pass laws that control the
price of ice cream, and there is conflict due to two separate wants
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
HOW PRICE CEILINGS AFFECT MARKETS
Gov’t can impose a price ceiling of $/cone, which would not be binding
because it is above the equilibrium. The market would naturally force the
economy to the equilibrium
o Therefore, there is no effect on the price or quantity sold
Gov’t can also impose a price ceiling of $/cone, which is binding because it
is below the equilibrium. S & D move the price towards equilibrium, but
when it hits the ceiling it can go no further.
o QD > QS and there is a shortage
In a shortage, a method of rationing the product will naturally develop (e.g.
Buyers willing to wait in line for a cone will do so, those who are not will not
get any)
Price ceiling was meant to help buyers of ice cream, however not all buyers
benefit from the policy.
Rationing mechanisms that are caused by price ceilings are undesirable
Free markets ration goods with prices
HOW PRICE FLOORS AFFECT THE MARKET OUTCOMES
Back to ice cream example
Association of IC Makers think that a $ equilibrium is too low, so the gov’t
might institute a price floor
Price floors are another method of attempting to control prices, by imposing
a legal minimum
A price floor of $2/cone means that the floor is below the equilibrium, and
the market will force the economy towards it without interruption it is not
binding
If a price floor is set at $4/cone then the equilibrium is below the floor. As the
market pushes the price towards the equilibrium, the price floor will stop it
it is binding
o QS > QD and there is a surplus
Creates undesirable rationing mechanisms (e.g. sellers appeal to the personal
biases of the buyers)
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