Consumer Surplus. Producer Surplus. Total Surplus.
Consumer Surplus. Producer Surplus. Total Surplus. How are these concepts used to explain welfare economics? How are these concepts used to explain the benefits of trade? How are these concepts used to explain why restricting trade reduces societal wellbeing?
(Should trade be restricted in some circumstances, like the sale of organs ect, or should these ideas apply to these circumstances too?)
Sample Answer
Consumer surplus, producer surplus, and total surplus are three important concepts in welfare economics. They are used to measure the economic well-being of consumers, producers, and society as a whole.
Consumer surplus is the difference between the maximum price a consumer is willing to pay for a good and the price they actually pay. It is a measure of the consumer’s satisfaction from purchasing the good.
Producer surplus is the difference between the minimum price a producer is willing to sell a good for and the price they actually receive. It is a measure of the producer’s profit from selling the good.
Total surplus is the sum of consumer surplus and producer surplus. It is a measure of the total economic well-being generated from the production and consumption of a good.