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The law of demand states that as the price of a good or service increases (ceteris paribus), the quantity demanded by consumers will decrease (and vice versa).

The law of supply states that as the price of a good or service increases (ceteris paribus), the quantity supplied by producers will increase (and vice versa).

Consumers have limited means (personal resources). One of these resources is money. As consumers have many needs and unlimited wants, they naturally desire to obtain as much as possible for as little money as possible, in order to satisfy as many needs and wants as they can. Therefore, consumers will demand more of a good or service as the price decreases, and less of a good or service if the price increases (ceteris paribus).

Producers usually have the goal of profit maximisation. They aim to achieve the greatest profit that they possibly can. The higher the price of a good or service, the more revenue a producer will earn when they sell the good or service. An increase in revenue increases total profit. Therefore, producers will supply more of a good or service as the price increases, and less of a good or service as the price decreases (ceteris paribus).

As such, producers/manufacturers and consumers/buyers are always at odds even though they have an inter-dependent relationship. Most of the time, this inherent conflict between producers/manufacturers and consumers/buyers remains a silent back-drop as selling and buying continues. But every so often, the consumers/buyers become vocal about prices or limited supplies that they feel are unwarranted or improper, and consumers/buyers use other means to drive their protests. For example, boycotts against buying certain goods or services is often used as a threat or an actual attempt to force producers/ manufacturers to reduce prices or increase production. One of the most prominent examples that has occurred many times since the 1970s is the vocal protests and boycotts against high gasoline prices.

Ceteris paribus is a Latin term. It means that all demand and supply factors other than price remain unchanged. Ceteris paribus has been applied to the above statements and examples.

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Virgil Connelly

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3y ago

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