What do consumer and producer surplus represent?

Consumer surplus is the benefit to people who want to buy a certain good that comes from the good being cheaper than what the consumer would be willing to pay; in other words, it is the difference between the highest price the consumer is willing to pay, and the current market price of the good. Producer surplus, similarly, is the difference between the lowest price the producer is willing to receive for the good, and the current market price. Producer surplus can be thought of as a kind of profit, and consumer surplus as savings. Together, the two make up economic surplus.

LW
Answered by Liora W. Economics tutor

1745 Views

See similar Economics A Level tutors

Related Economics A Level answers

All answers ▸

How should I answer 4 mark multi-choice questions?


Do only monopolies have monopoly power?


Explain price elasticity of demand


Amazon currently sells 100 000 copies per year of an e-book at $14.99. The company estimates that customers would buy 174 000 copies of the same e-book at a price of $9.99. What is the effect on Price elasticity of Demand and Total


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning