kuluttajahyötyn

Kuluttajahyöty, often translated as consumer surplus, is an economic term that describes the difference between what consumers are willing to pay for a good or service and what they actually pay. It represents the extra benefit or value consumers receive when they purchase a product at a price lower than their maximum willingness to pay.

This concept is a fundamental principle in microeconomics and is often used to analyze market efficiency and the impact of government policies. When the market price of a good is below a consumer's perceived value, they experience a gain. For example, if someone is willing to pay $10 for a book but can buy it for $6, they have a consumer surplus of $4 for that purchase.

Consumer surplus is calculated by subtracting the total amount consumers pay from the total amount they are willing to pay. Graphically, it is represented as the area below the demand curve and above the market price, up to the quantity consumed. Factors like price changes, increased competition, and technological advancements can influence the level of consumer surplus in a market. A higher consumer surplus generally indicates a more favorable market outcome for consumers.