There are a number of things that will happen to prices set below market equilibrium. They will cause a high demand and this will result in limited supply due to the low prices.
Price equilibrium, or market equilibrium, occurs when the quantity of a good or service demanded by consumers equals the quantity supplied by producers at a specific price level. At this point, there is no tendency for the price to change, as the market clears, meaning all goods produced are sold. If the price is above equilibrium, excess supply leads to downward pressure on prices, while prices below equilibrium create excess demand, pushing prices up. Thus, market equilibrium represents a stable state in economic transactions.
If the price ceiling is above equilibrium: no effect. If the price ceiling is below equilibrium: price lowers to the ceiling level and supply falls. There is too much demand for the current level of supply. A black market forms to capture unmet demand at high prices.
Quantity of demand increases and supplies decreases.
Market prices tend to an equilibrium where buyers' demand for the good is worth less than the sellers' cost of supplying the good. Put another way, buyers are willing to pay less than the amount producers are willing to accept. Government sets its prices above or below this point. If the price is above the equilibrium buyers will demand less than producers supply. On the other hand, if price is below the equilibrium sellers will supply less than buyers demand.
The market price is below the equilibrium price.
Price equilibrium, or market equilibrium, occurs when the quantity of a good or service demanded by consumers equals the quantity supplied by producers at a specific price level. At this point, there is no tendency for the price to change, as the market clears, meaning all goods produced are sold. If the price is above equilibrium, excess supply leads to downward pressure on prices, while prices below equilibrium create excess demand, pushing prices up. Thus, market equilibrium represents a stable state in economic transactions.
If the price ceiling is above equilibrium: no effect. If the price ceiling is below equilibrium: price lowers to the ceiling level and supply falls. There is too much demand for the current level of supply. A black market forms to capture unmet demand at high prices.
Quantity of demand increases and supplies decreases.
Market prices tend to an equilibrium where buyers' demand for the good is worth less than the sellers' cost of supplying the good. Put another way, buyers are willing to pay less than the amount producers are willing to accept. Government sets its prices above or below this point. If the price is above the equilibrium buyers will demand less than producers supply. On the other hand, if price is below the equilibrium sellers will supply less than buyers demand.
The market price is below the equilibrium price.
The price ceiling is located below the equilibrium price on a graph depicting market equilibrium.
A price ceiling will undermine the rationing function of market-determined prices by creating a shortage. This is a price which is below equilibrium which will lead to more demand that supply that will cause a shortage.
He or She will be arrested.
Consumer surplus is located above the market price and below the demand curve on a graph depicting market equilibrium.
Excess Supply
In a competitive market, when the price is initially below the equilibrium level, there will be excess demand as consumers are willing to buy more at the lower price. This increased demand will lead to upward pressure on the price, as suppliers respond to the higher demand by raising their prices. Eventually, the price will rise until it reaches the equilibrium level, where quantity supplied equals quantity demanded.
The most likely market response would be that competitors in the market would lower their prices to match or undercut the new price so they don't risk losing sales. If the competition is intense enough it could start a discount or price war resulting in prices continuing to fall.