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Beer Market Equilibrium Analysis KZN

The document consists of tutorial questions related to the demand and supply of beer in KZN, including short answer and multiple-choice questions. It covers concepts such as equilibrium price, price elasticity of demand, and market dynamics influenced by changes in supply and demand. The questions require analysis of market conditions and the effects of price changes on equilibrium.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
15 views5 pages

Beer Market Equilibrium Analysis KZN

The document consists of tutorial questions related to the demand and supply of beer in KZN, including short answer and multiple-choice questions. It covers concepts such as equilibrium price, price elasticity of demand, and market dynamics influenced by changes in supply and demand. The questions require analysis of market conditions and the effects of price changes on equilibrium.

Uploaded by

sbisikuanele
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Tutorial 5 2025 (Sessions 5 – 8)

Short Questions
1. The monthly demand and supply schedule of beer for KZN is given below.

a) Would a price of R5.50 represent excess supply or excess demand in the market for beer
in the province? Why would the price not remain at this level if the market was free to
adjust?
b) Explain how you would determine the equilibrium price and equilibrium quantity in the
market for beer in KZN (do not do the actual calculation).

2. What does the price elasticity of demand measure?

MCQ Questions
1. The unique point at which the demand curve and supply curve intersect is called:
a) point of interest.
b) market harmony.
c) coincidence.
d) cohesion.
e) equilibrium.

2. If the demand schedule is Q = 900 - 50P, and the supply schedule is Q = -350 + 75P, then
the equilibrium values for price and quantity are:
a) P = 4 Q = 680
b) P = 9 Q = 450
c) P = 10 Q = 400
d) P = 11 Q = 350
e) P = 50 Q = 2

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3. All grapefruit juice producers have decided to blend orange juice with the grapefruit juice. This
blend results in a higher cost of production, but studies and surveys show that consumers
prefer the taste of the blend to straight grapefruit juice. What will happen to the equilibrium
price and quantity of the “new” blended juice?
a) Price and quantity will both increase.
b) Price will decrease but quantity will increase.
c) Price will increase, but quantity will decrease.
d) The effect on price is uncertain but quantity will increase.
e) Price will increase, but the effect on quantity is uncertain.

Refer to the figure below to answer Question 4. 5 and 6.

4. At the price of R15,


a) we would achieve maximum producer surplus.
b) there would be a shortage of 400 units.
c) there would be a surplus of 400 units.
d) there would be a shortage of 200 units.
e) there would be an excess demand of 200 units.

5. At the price of R35,


a) there would be a shortage and the price would tend to fall from R35 to a lower price.
b) there would be a surplus and the price would tend to rise from R35 to a higher price.
c) there would be a surplus and the price would tend to fall from R35 to a lower price.
d) there would be a market-clearing quantity of 200 units.
e) there would be excess demand and the price would tend to fall from R35 to a lower
price.

2
6. In the figure above, equilibrium price and quantity are:
a) R25 and 400 units respectively.
b) R35 and 200 units respectively.
c) R15 and 600 units respectively.
d) R30 and 300 units respectively.
e) Not clear because not enough information is given.

7. Holding demand constant, a reduction in the price of inputs for producing cell phones will
cause:
a) both the equilibrium quantity and equilibrium price for cell phones to decrease.
b) both the equilibrium quantity and equilibrium price for cell phones to increase.
c) the equilibrium quantity for cell phones to increase, and its equilibrium price to decrease.
d) the equilibrium quantity for cell phones to decrease, and its equilibrium price to increase.
e) neither an increase nor a decrease in the equilibrium quantity and equilibrium price for
cell phones.

8. If, in the market for roses, demand decreases as a result of a decline in their romantic appeal,
but at the same time, the flower producers are hit by excessive rains, which hinders their
output then:
a) the equilibrium quantity and price of roses will both decrease.
b) the equilibrium quantity and price of roses will both increase.
c) the equilibrium quantity of roses will decrease, but the change in the equilibrium price is
uncertain.
d) the equilibrium price of roses will increase, but the change in equilibrium quantity is
uncertain.
e) the change in both the equilibrium quantity and the price of roses is uncertain.

The figure below shows the demand and supply curves for potatoes.
Use this figure to answer question 9.

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9. If the potato price is arbitrarily set at R4.50, is there any reason to expect the price to change?
a) Yes, because there would be a shortage of potatoes at this price.
b) Yes, because there would be a surplus of unsold potatoes at this price.
c) No, because consumers are buying as many potatoes as they can at this price.
d) No, because at this price consumers are willing to purchase what producers are willing to
sell.
e) No, because suppliers are selling as many potatoes as they can at this price.

The figure below shows the demand and supply curves for chocolate.
Use this figure to answer question 10.

10. The change in equilibrium from E1 to E2 could have been brought about by:
a) an increase in the price of chocolate milkshake (a substitute in consumption for chocolate
bars) and a decrease in the price of milk (a factor of production for chocolate bars).
b) a decrease in consumers’ income and a decrease in the price of cocoa which is a factor of
production for chocolate bars.
c) greater health awareness which has resulted in less consumption of chocolate bars and a
decrease in the price of health bars (a substitute in production for chocolate bars).
d) an increase in the size of the population that eats chocolate bars and an increase in rainfall
which negatively affects cocoa yield (an input in the production of chocolate bars).
e) an increase in consumers’ income and a decrease in the number of suppliers of chocolate
bars.

4
11. A rent ceiling set above the equilibrium price:
a) has powerful effects on the market, by creating a housing shortage.
b) has no effects on the market.
c) has powerful effects on the market, eliminating price as a regulator of quantity supplied
and quantity demanded.
d) encourages the development of black markets.
e) means that it is illegal to charge the equilibrium price.

12. The price elasticity of demand equals


a) the percentage change in the quantity demanded divided by the percentage change in the
price.
b) the change in the quantity demanded divided by the change in price.
c) the change in the quantity supplied divided by the price.
d) the percentage change in the price divided by the percentage change in the quantity
demanded.
e) the change in the price divided by the change in quantity demanded.

End

Common questions

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Even though the blended juice incurs a higher cost of production, if consumers prefer it over the regular grapefruit juice, demand for the blended variant will likely increase. This consumer preference can lead to an upward shift in both the demand and supply curves for the blended juice. As both curves shift rightward—demand due to increased consumer preference and supply due to attempts by producers to meet new demand despite higher costs—the equilibrium price would increase. The equilibrium quantity would also typically increase, assuming that demand increases sufficiently to overcome the cost-driven supply constraints .

Setting a rent ceiling above the equilibrium price is ineffective in creating market change since it is non-binding. The market naturally operates at the equilibrium price unless the rent ceiling is set below it. Hence, there will be no shortage created, and no black markets will develop specifically due to this policy. Price fluctuations remain regulated by supply-demand forces unless further policy interventions are enforced .

Setting chocolate prices artificially, below equilibrium, would create excess demand because consumers would be attracted to lower prices, leading to shortages. Suppliers would not supply enough to meet the heightened demand due to low pricing incentives. If prices are set above equilibrium, excess supply occurs as suppliers produce more than consumers demand, causing unsold stock accumulations. Both situations prompt market forces to seek equilibrium through price adjustments or changes in supply-demand dynamics unless controlled by enforced regulations .

The price elasticity of demand measures how much the quantity demanded of a good changes in response to a change in its price. It is calculated as the percentage change in quantity demanded divided by the percentage change in price, indicating the sensitivity of consumers to price changes .

At a price of R5.50, there would be either an excess supply or excess demand in the market for beer in KZN, depending on the equilibrium price compared to R5.50. If R5.50 is above the equilibrium price, there would be excess supply because suppliers are willing to sell more than consumers want to buy. If it is below, then excess demand would occur as consumers wish to purchase more than what is supplied. In a free market, such a price would lead to pressures for price adjustments. Excess supply leads to price reductions as suppliers aim to sell their excess stock, while excess demand causes price increases as consumers compete for limited stock .

A price of R4.50, if not at equilibrium, would induce market changes. If R4.50 is below the equilibrium price, the lower price leads to higher consumer demand than what producers are willing to supply, creating a shortage. This shortage would pressurize the market, causing prices to rise until the shortage is alleviated or demand and supply meet at the adjusted equilibrium .

Decreased demand as a result of a decline in romantic appeal would shift the demand curve leftward, leading to a lower equilibrium price and quantity under normal circumstances. Concurrently, excessive rains that hinder production reduce supply, shifting the supply curve leftward, thereby increasing the equilibrium price but decreasing the equilibrium quantity. The actual outcome for equilibrium price in the market becomes uncertain as the price effect depends on the relative magnitude of the shifts in demand and supply curves. However, the equilibrium quantity will decrease due to both diminishing demand and supply .

An increase in consumer incomes typically raises demand as more consumers can afford to buy more products, shifting the demand curve to the right and leading to higher prices and increased equilibrium quantity. Conversely, a decrease in the number of suppliers reduces the market supply, shifting the supply curve leftward, which tends to increase prices but lower the equilibrium quantity. The combined effect on price would generally show a notable increase due to rising demand and reducing supply, while the overall effect on quantity would be more complex, potentially moderated by the extent of the demand rise relative to supply fall .

Reducing input prices while holding demand constant increases supply by lowering production costs, which shifts the supply curve to the right. This results in a lower equilibrium price because more quantity is available at each price point, fulfilling consumer demand more comfortably, and an increased equilibrium quantity as the product becomes more accessible to consumers .

A reduction in the price of inputs lowers production costs for cell phone manufacturers, effectively increasing supply. This shift in supply would move the supply curve rightward, reducing the equilibrium price and increasing the equilibrium quantity of cell phones, assuming demand remains constant. This occurs because producers can supply more at any given price, facilitating lower market prices and higher available quantities for consumers .

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