Question

Identify the equilibrium price and quantity of blueberries before the introduction of a price ceiling. Identify and quantify the effect of imposing a price ceiling at $5 per gallon on: 1) the quantity of blueberries that get bought and sold, 2) any existing shortage or surplus of blueberries, 3) consumer surplus, 4) producer surplus, and 5) total surplus. Be careful to put your answers in the correct units.

Answer 1

Answer: See attached file

Explanation:

a) At equilibrium, demand equals supply where the price is $6 and quantity traded is 80 units.

Consumer surplus before price ceiling is area of triangle of A6E whose area is (1/2) * (80 - 0) * (14 - 6) = 320

Producer surplus before price ceiling is area of triangle of 26E whose area is (1/2) * (80 - 0) * (6 - 2) = 160

Total surplus before price ceiling = consumer surplus + producer surplus = 320 + 160 = 480

b) At a price of $5 (price ceiling) where demand = 90 units while supply = 60 units causes shortage of 90 - 60 = 30 units in the market.

Consumer surplus after price ceiling is area of triangle A8G + area of rectangle 85DG whose sum is (1/2) * (14 - 8) * (60 - 0) + (60 - 0) * (8 - 5) = 180 + 180 = 360

Producer surplus after price ceiling is area of triangle 5DC whose sum is (1/2) * (60 - 0) * (5 - 2) = 90

Deadweight loss after price ceiling of triangle GDE whose sum is (1/2) * (80 - 60) * (8 - 5) = 30

Total surplus is consumer surplus + producer surplus after price ceiling = 360 + 90 = 450