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

1749 Views

See similar Economics A Level tutors

Related Economics A Level answers

All answers ▸

Discuss the possible impact of supermarket monopsony power on both food suppliers and consumers?


What is the perfect technique for reaching the top marks in the longer essay questions?


Explain how an increase in interest rates may affect aggregate demand in an economy


Please can you help me to understand the concept of price elasticity of demand (PED)?


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