In a perfectly competitive market, the market demand curve is Qd= 100-10P and the market supply curve is Qs= 15P.
a. Calculate the market equilibrium price and quantity without any governmental intervention in the market.
b. Calculate the consumer surplus, the producer surplus, and the total welfare for the competitive equilibrium determined in part (a) of this question.
c. Suppose that the government sets a price ceiling of $1 per unit. Determine the price and quantity in this market with the existence of the price ceiling.
d. Calculate the consumer surplus, the producer surplus, and the total welfare for the price ceiling case.
e. Suppose, instead of the price ceiling the government imposes a subsidy (a negative tax) of $5 per unit paid to producers. Determine the price and quantity in the subsidy situation.
f. Calculate the consumer surplus, the producer surplus, the governmental expenditures, and the total welfare for the subsidy situation.
g. Are the quantity supplied and demanded the same with either the price ceiling or the subsidy? Why or why not?
h. Which governmental intervention results in the lower deadweight loss? Justify your answer with numerical results.