Question

Suppose the government enacts a price floor on milk, which leads to a surplus in the market. How will the government then attempt to equalize supply and demand?

Answer 1

Answer:

Price Floor led Excess Supply can be solved by : Preserving goods Buffer Stock ; or processing goods to increase their shelf life (in case of perishable goods like Milk)

Explanation:

Unregulated markets are at equilibrium where : market demand , market supply are equal ; and downward sloping demand curve , upward sloping supply curve intersect.

Price Floor is minimum mandated price set by government, below which a good can't be sold in the market. It is usually set above equilibrium price, to protect interest of sellers. Example : Minimum Support Price as minimum agricultural  goods price to protect interest of farmers, Given Milk Price floor case.

Price Floor creates artificially higher prices ; so increases supply, decreases supply & hence creates Excess Supply. Government can solve this excess supply by preserving stock supply for contingent times , eg -  maintaining buffer stock. If the good is of perishable nature, as given milk case : it should be processed further to increase its shelf life, eg - cheese, such that the stock supply can be released at a slower pace.