A Teaching Topic in Economic Analysis
Supply and Demand
This topic explores the phenomena produced by different combinations of consumer demand for a good or service and producer supply in a market. It examines the properties of different types of goods, such as Giffen goods, luxury goods, normal goods, and ordinary goods. This topic runs through the process of aggregating the supply and demand of individual producers and consumers into the total market supply and demand.
Topic Learning Outcome: Appropriately utilize and interpret results of applying to the analysis of public policy and management problems the basic principles of supply and demand, including following concepts.
Core Concepts associated with this Topic: Net Demand; Demand Curve; Diminishing Marginal Rate of Substitution; Diminishing Technical Rate of Substitution; Engel Curve; Equilibrium Principle; Extensive Margin; Giffen Good; Income Elasticity of Demand; Income Offer Curve; Indifference Curve; Inferior Good; Inverse Demand Function; Law of Demand; Luxury Good; Market Demand Curve; Necessary Good; Normal Good; Ordinary Good; Perfect Complements; Perfect Substitutes; Short Run Industry Supply.
Recommended Reading
University of Toronto: PPG-1002
Varian, Hal R., and Jack Repcheck. Intermediate microeconomics: a modern approach. Vol. 6. New York, NY: WW Norton & Company, 2010. Chapter 6
Carleton Unversity: PADM-5111
Frank, Robert, Ian Parker, and Igela Alger. Microeconomics and Behaviour, 5th Canadian Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2013. Chapters 1 and 2
Harvard Kennedy School: API-101
Pindyck, Robert S. and Daniel L. Rubinfeld. Microeconomics, 8th Edition. Prentice-Hall, 2012. Chapter 1 and 2
NYU Wagner: GP-1018
Krugman, Paul and R. Wells, Microeconomics, 3rd edition. London: Worth Publishers, 2012. . Chapter 3
Johnson-Shoyama: JS-805
Krugman, Paul, Robin Wells, and Anthony Myatt. Microeconomics: 1st Canadian Edition. London: Worth Publishers, 2006. Chapters 3 and 5
Ford School of Public Policy: Public Policy 555
Pindyck, Robert S., and D. Rubinfeld. Microeconomics, 7th edition. Upper Saddle River: Patience-Hall, 2007. Chapter 2
George Washington: PPPA-6003
Mankiw, N. Gregory. Principles of Microeconomics, 6th edition. Mason: South-Western College Publishers, 2011. Chapter 2 Appendix and Chapter 4
Wheelan, Charles. Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science. New York: W. W. Norton
& Company, 2010. Chapter 1
American: PAUD-630
Krugman, Paul and R. Wells, Microeconomics, 3rd edition. London: Worth Publishers, 2012. Chapter 3
UCLA: PLC-201
Goolsbee, Austan, Steven Levitt, and Chad Syverson. Microeconomics. New York: Worth Publishers, 2013. Chapter 2
Rutgers- Economics in Public Policy
Pindyck, Robert S., and D. Rubinfeld. Microeconomics, 7th edition. Upper Saddle River: Patience-Hall, 2007. Chapter 1
Sample Assessment Questions:
1.) What do economists mean when they refer to a "perfectly competitive market." Using a diagram, please illustrate how prices and quantities are determined in a perfectly competitive market.
2.) What are complementary goods? Use a diagram to show an individual's utility function for a pair of complementary goods.
3.) What is the law of demand? Why is this an important concept for public policy students to understand?
Page updated by Sean Goertzen on 16 April 2015.