marknadsjämvikt

Marknadsjämvikt, often translated as market equilibrium, describes a state in a market where the quantity of a good or service that consumers are willing and able to buy at a certain price is exactly equal to the quantity that producers are willing and able to sell at that same price. This price is known as the equilibrium price, and the corresponding quantity is the equilibrium quantity.

At this point of equilibrium, there is no inherent pressure for the price or quantity to change. If the price were set above the equilibrium price, a surplus would occur, meaning the quantity supplied would exceed the quantity demanded. This surplus would typically lead producers to lower their prices to sell off excess inventory. Conversely, if the price were set below the equilibrium price, a shortage would arise, where the quantity demanded exceeds the quantity supplied. This shortage would encourage consumers to bid prices up, and producers would respond by increasing supply and potentially raising prices.

The concept of market equilibrium is a fundamental principle in microeconomics. It helps economists understand how prices are determined in competitive markets and how markets tend to move towards a stable state. Changes in factors such as consumer preferences, production costs, or the availability of substitute goods can shift the demand or supply curves, leading to a new market equilibrium.