Market clearing is also characterized by equality between the demand price and supply price. This equality generates an efficient allocation of resources (presuming competition and no market failures).

In common everyday use, market clearing is the common everyday term for market equilibrium. When Aunt Rita, for example, talks about the market-clearing price of gold bullion on the Swiss exchange, she is referring to the price that achieves an equilibrium balance between quantity demanded and quantity supplied.

Clearing the Market

Market Clearing

Market clearing achieves a balance in the market, which is equality between quantity demanded and quantity supplied. In other words, it clears the market of any shortage or surplus. This is accomplished at the intersection of the demand curve and supply curve. This intersection point can be identified by clicking the [Market Clearing] button in the exhibit.

Doing so reveals that the market is cleared at a price of 50 cents. At this price, 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.