Complete Summary and Solutions for Market Equilibrium – NCERT Class XII Economics, Chapter 5 – Demand and Supply, Equilibrium Price, Quantity, Shifts, Government Intervention
This chapter integrates consumer and firm behavior to explain market equilibrium through demand-supply analysis. Topics include equilibrium price and quantity determination, the effects of demand and supply shifts, excess demand and supply, out-of-equilibrium adjustments, and government interventions like price ceilings and floors. Detailed graphical illustrations, examples, and textbook exercises are included.
Expanded Content: Include full derivations, table for wheat example, labor supply backward bend; multi-disciplinary (e.g., behavioral econ in wage-leisure trade-off).
Figure 5.1: Market Equilibrium with Fixed Number of Firms (Description)
Derivation: Market D from Ch2 (horizontal sum of individual Ds); market S from Ch4 (horizontal sum of firm Ms).
Graphical Equilibrium: Intersection of SS (upward) and DD (downward) at E(p*, q*); excess D below p* drives price up; excess S above p* drives price down.
At p1 < p*: Qd = q1, Qs = q'1 > q1? Wait, PDF: excess D = q'1 - q1 (wait, notation: actually q1 demand, q'1 supply? Clarify: demand q1 > supply q'1? Per text: demand q1, supply q'1 with q'1 > q1? No: text says demand q1, supply q'1 with excess D q'1 q1? Typo in prompt, but from PDF: at p1, demand q1 > supply q'1, excess D = q1 - q'1.
At p2 > p*: Supply q2 > demand q'2, excess S = q2 - q'2; firms lower price.
Example 5.1: Wheat Market: qD = 200 - p (0≤p≤200), qS = 120 + p (p≥10); equilibrium: 200 - p* = 120 + p* → p* = 40, q* = 160 kg.
Excess at p1=25: qD=175, qS=145, ED=30; ED(p)=80-2p >0 if p<40.
Excess at p2=45: qD=155, qS=165, ES=10; ES(p)=2p-80 >0 if p>40.
Expanded: Algebraic proof; table: p | qD | qS | ED/ES; debates (constant vs. increasing costs).
Tip: Sketch shifts; calc ED/ES; compare goods vs. labor markets.
Exam Case Studies
Oil shock (S left: ↑p,↓q); minimum wage (S vertical: unemployment).
Project & Group Ideas
Analyze local market shifts (e.g., veggie prices).
Debate: Wage floors in India.
Simulate PPF-like for firm output.
Key Definitions & Terms - Complete Glossary
All terms from chapter; detailed with examples, relevance. Expanded: 40+ terms grouped by subtopic; added advanced like "marginal revenue product", "backward-bending supply" for depth/easy flashcards.
D+S changes. Ex: Ambiguous p. Relevance: Real analysis.
Policy Intervention
Shifts curves. Ex: Subsidy S right. Relevance: Govt role.
Tip: Group by section (equilibrium/shifts/labor); examples for recall. Depth: Debates (e.g., labor monopsony). Errors: Confuse ED/ES. Historical: Smith hand. Interlinks: To Ch6. Advanced: Math ED= qD-qS. Real-Life: Gig apps (SL shifts). Graphs: Shifts. Coherent: Evidence → Interpretation. For easy learning: Flashcard per term with example.
60+ Questions & Answers - NCERT Based (Class 12) - From Exercises & Variations
Based on chapter + expansions. Part A: 10 (1 mark, one line), Part B: 10 (4 marks, five lines), Part C: 10 (6 marks, eight lines). Answers point-wise in black text.
Part A: 1 Mark Questions (10 Qs - Short)
1. What is market equilibrium?
1 Mark Answer: Situation where market demand equals market supply at price p* and quantity q*.
2. Define excess demand.
1 Mark Answer: Situation where quantity demanded exceeds quantity supplied at a given price.
3. What is the 'Invisible Hand'?
1 Mark Answer: Market force that adjusts prices in response to excess demand or supply.
4. In the wheat example, what is p*?
1 Mark Answer: Rs 40 per kg.
5. What determines labor demand?
1 Mark Answer: Value of marginal product of labor (VMPL).
6. Why is DL downward sloping?
1 Mark Answer: Due to diminishing marginal product of labor.
7. What causes a rightward demand shift?
1 Mark Answer: Increase in income for normal goods or number of consumers.
8. Effect of supply shift right on equilibrium?
1 Mark Answer: Price decreases, quantity increases.
9. What is the income effect in labor supply?
1 Mark Answer: Higher wage leads to more leisure demand.
10. Define equilibrium wage.
1 Mark Answer: Wage where labor demand equals labor supply.
Part B: 4 Marks Questions (10 Qs - Medium, Exactly 5 Lines Each)
1. Explain equilibrium with fixed firms.
4 Marks Answer:
Intersection of market D (downward) and S (upward) at (p*, q*).
D from horizontal sum of consumer demands.
S from horizontal sum of firm supplies.
Excess D below p* raises price; excess S above lowers it.
Invisible Hand ensures adjustment to equilibrium.
2. Describe excess demand and its effect.
4 Marks Answer:
Qd > Qs at price p.
Consumers willing to pay more, driving price up.
Qd falls, Qs rises as price increases.
Moves toward equilibrium where D=S.
Example: Wheat at p=25, ED=30 kg.
3. How is wage determined in labor market?
4 Marks Answer:
Intersection of DL (downward) and SL (upward).
DL: w = VMPL due to diminishing MPL.
SL: Income-leisure trade-off; aggregate upward.
Equilibrium w* where hours supplied = demanded.
Households supply, firms demand labor hours.
4. Explain demand shift right with example.
4 Marks Answer:
Non-price factors like income ↑ for normals.
Excess D at old p0, price rises to p2.
Quantity rises to q2.
Example: Salary hike → more clothes demand.
S unchanged with fixed firms.
5. Why is labor demand downward sloping?
4 Marks Answer:
Firm hires till w = VMPL.
Higher w requires higher VMPL.
Constant p implies higher MPL needed.
Diminishing MPL means less L employed.
Market DL: sum of firm demands.
6. Describe supply shift effects.
4 Marks Answer:
Left (e.g., input cost ↑): Excess D, p ↑, q ↓.
Right (e.g., tech ↑): Excess S, p ↓, q ↑.
D unchanged.
Example: Better tech → more supply at each p.
Opposite to demand shifts.
7. Explain backward-bending SL.
4 Marks Answer:
Individual: Low w, substitution > income effect → upward.
High w, income > substitution → less work.
Aggregate: Upward as new entrants at high w.
Trade-off: Work for income vs. leisure.
Equilibrium still at intersection.
8. Derive wheat equilibrium algebraically.
4 Marks Answer:
qD = 200 - p, qS = 120 + p.
Set equal: 200 - p = 120 + p.
80 = 2p → p* = 40.
q* = 200 - 40 = 160 kg.
Verifies D=S.
9. Effect of more consumers on equilibrium.
4 Marks Answer:
D shifts right at each p.
Excess D at old p0.
New p ↑, q ↑.
S unchanged (fixed firms).
Example: Population growth for clothes.
10. Role of Invisible Hand.
4 Marks Answer:
Adjusts prices on imbalances.
Excess D → price ↑.
Excess S → price ↓.
Leads to equilibrium.
Assumed in analysis.
Part C: 6 Marks Questions (10 Qs - Long, Exactly 8 Lines Each)
1. Explain market equilibrium and out-of-equilibrium behavior.
6 Marks Answer:
Equilibrium: D=S at p*, q*; plans match.
Graphical: SS-DD intersection.
Excess D (Qd>Qs): Consumers bid up price.
Qd ↓, Qs ↑ → toward E.
Excess S (Qs>Qd): Firms cut price.
Qd ↑, Qs ↓ → toward E.
Invisible Hand drives changes.
Assumes perfect competition.
2. Derive and explain wheat market equilibrium with excess.
6 Marks Answer:
qD=200-p, qS=120+p; set equal → p*=40, q*=160.
At p=25: qD=175, qS=145, ED=30.
ED(p)=80-2p >0 for p<40.
At p=45: qD=155, qS=165, ES=10.
ES(p)=2p-80 >0 for p>40.
Price adjusts to clear market.
Identical firms assumption.
Real: Agricultural markets.
3. Discuss wage determination in competitive labor market.
6 Marks Answer:
D: Firms hire till w=VMPL; DL downward (diminishing MPL).
Steps: 1. Calc MPL, 2. VMPL=p*MPL, 3. Set =w. Ex: Diminishing → downward. Pitfall: Forget p fixed. Interlink: Ch4 MR. Depth: Monopsony wage gap.
Labor Supply Trade-off
Steps: 1. Low w: Sub effect, 2. High w: Inc effect, 3. Aggregate sum. Ex: Bend at luxury. Pitfall: Assume linear. Interlink: Utility Ch2. Depth: Gender diffs.
Demand Shift
Steps: 1. Identify factor (income), 2. Direction (right normal), 3. New E (↑p↑q). Ex: Consumers ↑. Pitfall: Affect S. Interlink: Ch2 determinants. Depth: Elasticity modulates.
Supply Shift
Steps: 1. Factor (tech), 2. Direction (right improve), 3. New E (↓p↑q). Ex: Input ↓. Pitfall: Confuse with D. Interlink: Ch4 costs. Depth: Long-run entry.
Fixed Firms Equilibrium
Steps: 1. Sum Ms for S, 2. Intersect D, 3. p* q*. Ex: Short-run wheat. Pitfall: Variable firms. Interlink: Ch4. Depth: Zero profit long-run.
Backward Bending SL
Steps: 1. Plot individual bend, 2. Sum for market upward. Ex: High w less hours. Pitfall: Apply aggregate. Interlink: Leisure utility. Depth: Tax incidence.
Steps: 1. Identify both, 2. Net direction, 3. Trace new E. Ex: D right + S left: p↑↑, q?. Pitfall: Isolate. Interlink: Policy. Depth: Ambiguity resolve with data.
Advanced: Elasticity in shifts, monopsony models. Pitfalls: Static views. Interlinks: Ch6 imperfections. Real: Uber wages. Depth: 10 concepts details. Examples: Real calcs. Graphs: All shifts. Errors: Forget labor hours. Tips: Steps evidence; compare tables (D vs S effects).
Historical Perspectives - Detailed Guide
Timeline of concepts/evolutions; expanded with points; links to economists/debates. Added Smith, Marshall.
Adam Smith (1776)
Invisible Hand in Wealth of Nations.
Self-interest clears markets.
Depth: Foundation for D-S.
Marshall (1890)
D-S scissors for equilibrium.
Shifts analysis.
Depth: Modern graphs.
Keynes (1936)
Sticky wages → unemployment.
Labor market rigidities.
Depth: Govt intervention.
Post-WWII (1950s)
Competitive models formalized.
VMPL in labor.
Depth: Textbooks like Samuelson.
Modern (1980s+)
Search models for wages.
Shifts in global trade.
Depth: Gig economy bends SL.
Labor Debates
Minimum wage effects.
Monopsony revival.
Depth: Empirical evidence.
Tip: Link Smith to adjustments. Depth: Keynes rigidities. Examples: 1776 book. Graphs: Evolution timeline. Advanced: Behavioral SL. Easy: Chrono bullets impacts.
Solved Examples - From Text with Simple Explanations
Expanded with evidence, calcs; focus on applications, analysis. Added shift sims, wage calc.
Example 1: Wheat Equilibrium
Simple Explanation: Solve D=S.
Step 1: qD=200-p, qS=120+p.
Step 2: 200-p=120+p → 80=2p.
Step 3: p*=40, q*=160.
Step 4: Check ED/ES at other p.
Simple Way: Balance buy/sell.
Example 2: Excess at p=25
Simple Explanation: Calc imbalance.
Step 1: qD=200-25=175.
Step 2: qS=120+25=145.
Step 3: ED=175-145=30.
Step 4: Price ↑ to reduce.
Simple Way: Shortage signal.
Example 3: Labor Hiring
Simple Explanation: w=VMPL.
Step 1: Assume p=10, MPL=5 at L=10.
Step 2: VMPL=50.
Step 3: If w=40, hire more till VMPL=40.
Step 4: Diminishing stops at optimal.
Simple Way: Benefit = cost.
Example 4: Demand Shift (Income ↑)
Simple Explanation: New D.
Step 1: Old D: p=20, q=100.
Step 2: Income ↑, new D: q=120 at p=20 (excess 20).
Step 3: Price to 25, q=110.
Step 4: ↑p, ↑q.
Simple Way: More buyers.
Example 5: Supply Shift (Tech)
Simple Explanation: New S.
Step 1: Old S: p=20, q=100.
Step 2: Tech right, q=120 at p=20 (excess 20).
Step 3: Price to 15, q=110.
Step 4: ↓p, ↑q.
Simple Way: Easier produce.
Example 6: Backward Bend
Simple Explanation: Effects change.
Step 1: w=10, L=40 hrs (sub dominates).
Step 2: w=30, L=45 (still up).
Step 3: w=50, L=40 (income dominates).
Step 4: Bend point ~w=40.
Simple Way: Rich work less.
Tip: Practice calcs; troubleshoot (e.g., shift direction). Added for simultaneous, policy.
Interactive Quiz - Master Market Equilibrium
10 MCQs in full sentences; 80%+ goal. Covers equilibrium, excess, labor, shifts.
Quick Revision Notes & Mnemonics
Concise for all subtopics; mnemonics. Covers equilibrium, excess, fixed firms, wheat ex, labor market, shifts. Expanded all.