|
|
DIAMOND-WATER PARADOX: The perplexing observation that water, which is more useful than diamonds, has a lower price. If price is related to utility, how can this occur? This paradox was first proposed by classical economists in the 19th century and was subsequently used as a stepping stone for developing the notion of marginal utility and the role it plays in the demand price of a good. The paradox is magically cleared up with an understanding of marginal utility and total utility. People are willing to pay a higher price for goods with greater marginal utility. As such, water which is plentiful has enormous total utility, but a low price because of a low marginal utility. Diamonds, however, have less total utility because they are less plentiful, but a high price because of a high marginal utility.
Visit the GLOSS*arama
|
|
|
|
                           DEMAND SPACE: The area on or beneath a demand curve that indicates all possible price-quantity combinations acceptable to buyers. Buyers are willing and able to purchase any price-quantity combination that places them on or below the demand curve, but not above. Demand space includes all combinations of price and quantity demanded that are acceptable to buyers. It includes every price up to the maximum demand price for a given quantity demanded. Alternatively, it includes every quantity up to the maximum quantity demanded for a given demand price.Show Me The Space| Demand Space |  |
The exhibit at the right illustrates the demand space for stuffed Yellow Tarantulas, a cute and cuddly stuffed creature from the Wacky Willy Stuffed Amigos line of collectibles. Demand space is the highlighted area below (and including) the demand curve. This space contains all price-quantity combinations acceptable to buyers.More Than A CurveWhile the demand side of the market is usually represented by a demand curve, the buying process is often best reflected by the entire demand space. Buyers can operate anywhere within this space. It could be on the demand curve itself or far below the line.The demand curve actually only represents the upper boundary of the willingness and ability to buy. Invoking the observation that people prefer more to less means that the demand price on the demand curve is the highest price, the maximum price, that buyers are willing and able to pay. However, buyers are also willing and able to pay less than the demand price for a given quantity. In fact, the lower the better. Suppose, for example, that buyers are faced with purchasing 40 Yellow Tarantulas. They are willing and able to pay $30 each, the demand price on the demand curve. Lower prices, however, are also acceptable. Is $20 each acceptable? Certainly. How about $10? No question. Are buyers willing and able to pay as little as $0? Without a doubt. All of these prices place the buyers in the demand space.
Recommended Citation:DEMAND SPACE, AmosWEB Encyclonomic WEB*pedia, http://www.AmosWEB.com, AmosWEB LLC, 2000-2025. [Accessed: July 18, 2025].
Check Out These Related Terms... | | | | | | | | |
Or For A Little Background... | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
And For Further Study... | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Search Again?
Back to the WEB*pedia
|
|
|
WHITE GULLIBON
[What's This?]
Today, you are likely to spend a great deal of time searching the newspaper want ads seeking to buy either an extra large beach blanket or a large flower pot shaped like a Greek urn. Be on the lookout for fairy dust that tastes like salt.
Your Complete Scope
This isn't me! What am I?
|
|
|
The first "Black Friday" on record, a friday marked by a major financial catastrophe, occurred on September 24, 1869 -- A FRIDAY -- when an attempted cornering of the gold market induced a financial crises and economy-wide depression.
|
|
|
"A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses those skills to accomplish his goals. " -- Larry Bird, basketball player
|
|
L/O
Letter of Offer
|
|
|
Tell us what you think about AmosWEB. Like what you see? Have suggestions for improvements? Let us know. Click the User Feedback link.
User Feedback
|
|
