What are the strength and weaknesses of law of supply and demand as regards to price determination?

Answer 1

The law of supply and demand effectively explains how prices are determined in a market economy, as it illustrates the relationship between the availability of goods (supply) and consumer desire (demand). A strength of this law is its ability to predict price fluctuations based on changes in market conditions. However, a weakness lies in its assumptions of perfect competition and rational behavior, which may not hold true in real-world situations, leading to market inefficiencies and distortions. Additionally, external factors such as government regulations and market monopolies can further complicate price determination beyond basic supply and demand dynamics.