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January 23, 2025 

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LAW OF DIMINISHING MARGINAL RETURNS: A principle stating that as more and more of a variable input is combined with a fixed input in short-run production, the marginal product of the variable input eventually declines. This is THE economic principle underlying the analysis of short-run production for a firm. Among a host of other things, it offers an explanation for the upward-sloping market supply curve. How does the law of diminishing marginal returns help us understand supply? The law of supply and the upward-sloping supply curve indicate that a firm needs to receive higher prices to produce and sell larger quantities. Why do they need higher prices?

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EQUILIBRIUM QUANTITY:

The quantity that exists when a market is in equilibrium. Equilibrium quantity is simultaneously equal to both the quantity demanded and quantity supplied. In a market graph, the equilibrium quantity is found at the intersection of the demand curve and the supply curve. Equilibrium quantity is one of two equilibrium variables. The other is equilibrium price.
Equilibrium quantity is the quantity exchanged when a market is in balance. Because quantity demanded and quantity supplied are equal, there is no shortage nor surplus in the market, which means that neither buyers nor sellers are inclined to change the price or the quantity, which is an essential condition for equilibrium.

The Market

The market model',500,400)">model displayed in the exhibit here can be used to identify the equilibrium quantity. This particular model represents the market for 8-track tapes, which are filled with the works of classic performers such as The Carpenters and Englebert Humperdink. The buyers and sellers happen to be folks attending the 88th Annual Trackmania 8-Track Tape Collectors Convention at the Shady Valley Exposition Center.

Equilibrium Quantity

Before getting to the equilibrium quantity consider the market itself.

  • First, the demand curve (D) is negatively sloped--higher prices correspond with smaller quantities. This negative slope indicates the law of demand.

  • Second, the supply curve (S) is positively sloped--higher prices correspond with large quantities. This positive slope indicates the law of supply.

Clearing the Market

Equilibrium quantity results when the market is in balance, which is equality between quantity demanded and quantity supplied. The market is clear of any shortage or surplus. The only quantity that accomplishes this task is at the intersection of the demand curve and supply curve. This intersection point, and the quantity that results, can be identified by clicking the [Equilibrium Quantity] button in the exhibit.

Doing so reveals that the equilibrium quantity is 400 tapes. At this quantity, the demand curve and supply curve intersect. The quantity demanded is 400 tapes and the quantity supplied is 400 tapes. The quantity demanded is equal to the quantity supplied. The buyers can buy all that they want, so there is no shortage. The sellers can sell all that they want, so there is no surplus. Neither buyers nor sellers are motivated to change the price. The forces of demand and supply are in balance.

This is the ONLY quantity that has a balance between these two quantities. Best of all, because this is equilibrium, the equilibrium quantity of 400 tapes does not change and the equilibrium price of 50 cents does not change unless or until an external force intervenes.

<= EQUILIBRIUM PRICEEQUILIBRIUM, SHORT-RUN AGGREGATE MARKET =>


Recommended Citation:

EQUILIBRIUM QUANTITY, AmosWEB Encyclonomic WEB*pedia, http://www.AmosWEB.com, AmosWEB LLC, 2000-2025. [Accessed: January 23, 2025].


Check Out These Related Terms...

     | equilibrium price | market equilibrium | equilibrium | market equilibrium, numerical analysis | market equilibrium, graphical analysis | market clearing | disequilibrium price | shortage | surplus |


Or For A Little Background...

     | quantity | quantity demanded | quantity supplied | demand price | supply price | demand curve | supply curve | market | demand | supply | law of demand | law of supply |


And For Further Study...

     | stable equilibrium | unstable equilibrium | market disequilibrium | self correction, market | comparative statics | market demand | market supply | exchange | competitive market | demand determinants | supply determinants | ceteris paribus | market-oriented economy | efficiency |


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