39 Changes in Supply and Demand
Learning Objectives
- Describe the differences between changes in demand and changes in the quantity demanded
- Describe the differences between changes in supply and changes in quantity supplied
It’s hard to overstate the importance of understanding the difference between shifts in curves and movements along curves. Remember, when we talk about changes in demand or supply, we do not mean the same thing as changes in quantity demanded or quantity supplied.
A change in demand refers to a shift in the entire demand curve, which is caused by a variety of factors (preferences, income, prices of substitutes and complements, expectations, population, etc.). In this case, the entire demand curve moves left or right:
A change in quantity demanded refers to a movement along the demand curve, which is caused only by a chance in price. In this case, the demand curve doesn’t move; rather, we move along the existing demand curve:
Similarly, a change in supply refers to a shift in the entire supply curve, which is caused by shifters such as taxes, production costs, and technology. Just like with demand, this means that the entire supply curve moves left or right:
A change in quantity supplied refers to a movement along the supply curve, which is caused only by a change in price. Similar to demand, a change in quantity supplied means that we’re moving along the existing supply curve:
Here’s one way to remember: a movement along a demand curve, resulting in a change in quantity demanded, is always caused by a shift in the supply curve. Similarly, a movement along a supply curve, resulting in a change in quantity supplied, is always caused by a shift in the demand curve.
Watch It
Watch this video for another demonstration of the important distinction between these terms.
Try It
Try graphing each of these situations to determine if they cause a shift in demand, quantity demanded, supply, or quantity supplied.
Try It
In the following simulation, you will have the opportunity to change the weather and/or change the cost of parking in order to push up the price of food from a food truck. You can play the simulation multiple times to see how different choices lead to different outcomes.
Try It
These questions allow you to get as much practice as you need, as you can click the link at the top of the first question (“Try another version of these questions”) to get a new set of questions. Practice until you feel comfortable doing the questions and then move on.
Note that you will use the information provided in the first question for all of the questions on this page.
[ohm_question sameseed=1]92760-92761-92762-92763-92765-92766-92768[/ohm_question]
Glossary
- demand:
- the relationship between the price and the quantity demanded of a certain good or service
- quantity demanded:
- the total number of units of a good or service consumers are willing to purchase at a given price
- quantity supplied:
- the total number of units of a good or service producers are willing to sell at a given price
- shift in demand:
- when a change in some economic factor (other than price) causes a different quantity to be demanded at every price
- shift in supply:
- when a change in some economic factor (other than price) causes a different quantity to be supplied at every price
- supply:
- the relationship between price and the quantity supplied of a certain good or service
