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

1746 Views

See similar Economics A Level tutors

Related Economics A Level answers

All answers ▸

The UK suffers from a persistent balance of trade deficit. what can the government do to rectify this and balance the trade figures?


Describe the equilibrium point in the market


In November 2017, the Bank of England raised interest rates for the first time in 10 years, increasing the base rate from 0.25% to 0.5%. Please highlight a possible effect of this change on Aggregate Demand in the UK's economy.


With the help of a diagram, outline the long run effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the United Kingdom if there is no government intervention


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