{"id":3508,"date":"2015-07-17T22:28:08","date_gmt":"2015-07-17T22:28:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.candelalearning.com\/masterymacro2xngcxmasterfall2015\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=3508"},"modified":"2018-05-23T11:28:02","modified_gmt":"2018-05-23T11:28:02","slug":"inefficiency-of-price-floors-and-price-ceilings","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/oldwestbury-wm-macroeconomics\/chapter\/inefficiency-of-price-floors-and-price-ceilings\/","title":{"raw":"Inefficiency of Price Floors and Price Ceilings","rendered":"Inefficiency of Price Floors and Price Ceilings"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\r\n<h3>Learning Objectives<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Explain how price floors and price ceilings can be inefficient<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\nWe demonstrated that market equilibrium maximizes social surplus; thus, the equilibrium quantity is the most efficient quantity of output for society.\u00a0The imposition of a price floor or a price ceiling will prevent a market from adjusting to its equilibrium price and quantity, and thus will create an inefficient outcome. But there is an additional twist here. Along with creating inefficiency, price floors and ceilings also transfer some consumer surplus to producers, or some producer surplus to consumers.\r\n\r\nIn the following interactive graph (Figure 1), we can see this transfer in action:\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/h5p.org\/h5p\/embed\/171921\" width=\"1091\" height=\"560\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\r\n<strong>Figure 1 (Interactive Graph). Inefficiency of Price Ceilings.<\/strong>\r\n\r\nAs a result of the transfer of consumer surplus to producers (or producer surplus to consumers), two changes occur. First, an inefficient outcome occurs and the total surplus of society is reduced. The loss in social surplus that occurs when the economy produces at an inefficient quantity is called <strong>deadweight loss<\/strong>. In a very real sense, it is like money thrown away that benefits no one. In the last slide of the above activity, you can see the deadweight loss shown as the area U + W. When deadweight loss exists, it is possible for both consumer and producer surplus to be higher, in this case because the\u00a0<strong><span class=\"no-emphasis\">price control<\/span><\/strong> is blocking some suppliers and demanders from transactions that would be beneficial to both.\r\n\r\nA second change from the\u00a0<span class=\"no-emphasis\">price ceiling<\/span> is that some of the producer surplus is transferred to consumers. After the price ceiling is imposed, the new consumer surplus is T + V, while the new producer surplus is X. In other words, the price ceiling transfers the area of surplus (V) from producers to consumers. Note that the gain to consumers is less than the loss to producers, which is just another way of seeing the deadweight loss.\r\n\r\nLet's look at another interactive graph (Figure 2), this time with a price floor instead of a price ceiling:\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/h5p.org\/h5p\/embed\/171928\" width=\"1091\" height=\"530\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\r\n<strong>Figure 2 (Interactive Graph).\u00a0Inefficiency of Price Floors.<\/strong>\r\n\r\nThe net effect of the price floor in the above activity is that the\u00a0<span class=\"no-emphasis\">price floor<\/span> causes the area H to be transferred from consumer to producer surplus, but also causes a deadweight loss of J + K.\r\n\r\nThis analysis shows that a price ceiling, like a law establishing rent controls, will transfer some producer surplus to consumers\u2014which helps to explain why consumers often favor them. Conversely, a price floor like a guarantee that farmers will receive a certain price for their crops will transfer some consumer surplus to producers, which explains why producers often favor them. However, both price floors and price ceilings block some transactions that buyers and sellers would have been willing to make, and creates deadweight loss. Removing such barriers, so that prices and quantities can adjust to their equilibrium level, will increase the economy's social surplus.\r\n<h2>Summary<\/h2>\r\nConsumer surplus is the gap between the price that consumers are willing to pay, based on their preferences, and the market equilibrium price. Producer surplus is the gap between the price for which producers are willing to sell a product, based on their costs, and the market equilibrium price. Social surplus is the sum of consumer surplus and producer surplus. Social surplus is greater\u00a0at the equilibrium quantity and price than it will be at any other quantity and price. Deadweight loss is loss in social surplus that occurs when the economy produces at an inefficient quantity.\r\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\r\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\r\nhttps:\/\/assessments.lumenlearning.com\/assessments\/7140\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\r\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\r\nThis next question allow you to get as much practice as you need, as you can click the link at the top of the question (\u201cTry another version of this question\u201d) to get a new version of the question. Practice until you feel comfortable with this concept.\r\n[ohm_question sameseed=1]154876-154877-154878-154879[\/ohm_question]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\r\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\r\nThis next question allow you to get as much practice as you need, as you can click the link at the top of the question (\u201cTry another version of this question\u201d) to get a new version of the question. Practice until you feel comfortable with this concept.\r\n[ohm_question sameseed=1]154880-154881-154882-154883[\/ohm_question]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\r\n<h3>Glossary<\/h3>\r\n[glossary-page][glossary-term]deadweight loss:\u00a0[\/glossary-term]\r\n[glossary-definition]the loss of economic value (i.e. social surplus) that occurs when a market operates at an inefficient quantity of output[\/glossary-definition][\/glossary-page]\r\n\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\n<h3>Learning Objectives<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Explain how price floors and price ceilings can be inefficient<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>We demonstrated that market equilibrium maximizes social surplus; thus, the equilibrium quantity is the most efficient quantity of output for society.\u00a0The imposition of a price floor or a price ceiling will prevent a market from adjusting to its equilibrium price and quantity, and thus will create an inefficient outcome. But there is an additional twist here. Along with creating inefficiency, price floors and ceilings also transfer some consumer surplus to producers, or some producer surplus to consumers.<\/p>\n<p>In the following interactive graph (Figure 1), we can see this transfer in action:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/h5p.org\/h5p\/embed\/171921\" width=\"1091\" height=\"560\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<strong>Figure 1 (Interactive Graph). Inefficiency of Price Ceilings.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As a result of the transfer of consumer surplus to producers (or producer surplus to consumers), two changes occur. First, an inefficient outcome occurs and the total surplus of society is reduced. The loss in social surplus that occurs when the economy produces at an inefficient quantity is called <strong>deadweight loss<\/strong>. In a very real sense, it is like money thrown away that benefits no one. In the last slide of the above activity, you can see the deadweight loss shown as the area U + W. When deadweight loss exists, it is possible for both consumer and producer surplus to be higher, in this case because the\u00a0<strong><span class=\"no-emphasis\">price control<\/span><\/strong> is blocking some suppliers and demanders from transactions that would be beneficial to both.<\/p>\n<p>A second change from the\u00a0<span class=\"no-emphasis\">price ceiling<\/span> is that some of the producer surplus is transferred to consumers. After the price ceiling is imposed, the new consumer surplus is T + V, while the new producer surplus is X. In other words, the price ceiling transfers the area of surplus (V) from producers to consumers. Note that the gain to consumers is less than the loss to producers, which is just another way of seeing the deadweight loss.<\/p>\n<p>Let&#8217;s look at another interactive graph (Figure 2), this time with a price floor instead of a price ceiling:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/h5p.org\/h5p\/embed\/171928\" width=\"1091\" height=\"530\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<strong>Figure 2 (Interactive Graph).\u00a0Inefficiency of Price Floors.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The net effect of the price floor in the above activity is that the\u00a0<span class=\"no-emphasis\">price floor<\/span> causes the area H to be transferred from consumer to producer surplus, but also causes a deadweight loss of J + K.<\/p>\n<p>This analysis shows that a price ceiling, like a law establishing rent controls, will transfer some producer surplus to consumers\u2014which helps to explain why consumers often favor them. Conversely, a price floor like a guarantee that farmers will receive a certain price for their crops will transfer some consumer surplus to producers, which explains why producers often favor them. However, both price floors and price ceilings block some transactions that buyers and sellers would have been willing to make, and creates deadweight loss. Removing such barriers, so that prices and quantities can adjust to their equilibrium level, will increase the economy&#8217;s social surplus.<\/p>\n<h2>Summary<\/h2>\n<p>Consumer surplus is the gap between the price that consumers are willing to pay, based on their preferences, and the market equilibrium price. Producer surplus is the gap between the price for which producers are willing to sell a product, based on their costs, and the market equilibrium price. Social surplus is the sum of consumer surplus and producer surplus. Social surplus is greater\u00a0at the equilibrium quantity and price than it will be at any other quantity and price. Deadweight loss is loss in social surplus that occurs when the economy produces at an inefficient quantity.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\n<p>\t<iframe id=\"lumen_assessment_7140\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/assessments.lumenlearning.com\/assessments\/load?assessment_id=7140&#38;embed=1&#38;external_user_id=&#38;external_context_id=&#38;iframe_resize_id=lumen_assessment_7140\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none;width:100%;height:100%;min-height:400px;\"><br \/>\n\t<\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\n<p>This next question allow you to get as much practice as you need, as you can click the link at the top of the question (\u201cTry another version of this question\u201d) to get a new version of the question. Practice until you feel comfortable with this concept.<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"ohm154876\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/ohm.lumenlearning.com\/multiembedq.php?id=154876-154877-154878-154879&theme=oea&iframe_resize_id=ohm154876&sameseed=1&show_question_numbers\" width=\"100%\" height=\"150\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\n<p>This next question allow you to get as much practice as you need, as you can click the link at the top of the question (\u201cTry another version of this question\u201d) to get a new version of the question. Practice until you feel comfortable with this concept.<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"ohm154880\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/ohm.lumenlearning.com\/multiembedq.php?id=154880-154881-154882-154883&theme=oea&iframe_resize_id=ohm154880&sameseed=1&show_question_numbers\" width=\"100%\" height=\"150\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\n<h3>Glossary<\/h3>\n<div class=\"titlepage\">\n<dl>\n<dt>deadweight loss:\u00a0<\/dt>\n<dd>the loss of economic value (i.e. social surplus) that occurs when a market operates at an inefficient quantity of output<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-3508\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Original<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Modification, adaptation, and original content. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Lumen Learning. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Demand, Supply, and Efficiency. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: OpenStax College. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/cnx.org\/contents\/vEmOH-_p@4.44:yi4Ycqja@2\/Demand-Supply-and-Efficiency\">https:\/\/cnx.org\/contents\/vEmOH-_p@4.44:yi4Ycqja@2\/Demand-Supply-and-Efficiency<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em>. <strong>License Terms<\/strong>: Download for free at http:\/\/cnx.org\/contents\/bc498e1f-efe9-43a0-8dea-d3569ad09a82@4.44<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section>","protected":false},"author":277,"menu_order":10,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Demand, Supply, and Efficiency\",\"author\":\"OpenStax College\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cnx.org\/contents\/vEmOH-_p@4.44:yi4Ycqja@2\/Demand-Supply-and-Efficiency\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"Download for free at http:\/\/cnx.org\/contents\/bc498e1f-efe9-43a0-8dea-d3569ad09a82@4.44\"},{\"type\":\"original\",\"description\":\"Modification, adaptation, and original content\",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"Lumen Learning\",\"url\":\"\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"\"}]","CANDELA_OUTCOMES_GUID":"1fc9703d-9ef0-4ceb-b9da-4c8fa79ff1ab,66c2061c-51e0-450a-acd5-f61cf9277bb7","pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-3508","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":3467,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/oldwestbury-wm-macroeconomics\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/3508","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/oldwestbury-wm-macroeconomics\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/oldwestbury-wm-macroeconomics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/oldwestbury-wm-macroeconomics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/277"}],"version-history":[{"count":32,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/oldwestbury-wm-macroeconomics\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/3508\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11289,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/oldwestbury-wm-macroeconomics\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/3508\/revisions\/11289"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/oldwestbury-wm-macroeconomics\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/3467"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/oldwestbury-wm-macroeconomics\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/3508\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/oldwestbury-wm-macroeconomics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3508"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/oldwestbury-wm-macroeconomics\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=3508"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/oldwestbury-wm-macroeconomics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=3508"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/oldwestbury-wm-macroeconomics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=3508"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}