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Multiple Choice
If a tax has caused the market-clearing quantity to fall to Q2, what is consumer surplus?
A
The area of (A)
B
The area of (A), (B), and (C)
C
The area of (A), (B), (C), (D), and (E)
D
The area of (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), and (F)
E
The area of (C) and (E)
Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the initial consumer surplus before the tax. Consumer surplus is the area between the demand curve and the price level, up to the quantity traded. Initially, this is the area above the price level P* and below the demand curve, up to Q1.
Determine the new consumer surplus after the tax. The tax causes the market-clearing quantity to fall to Q2. The new consumer surplus is the area above the new price level (which is now at PB due to the tax) and below the demand curve, up to Q2.
Examine the graph to identify the areas that represent the new consumer surplus. The area of consumer surplus after the tax is the triangle formed by the price level PB, the demand curve, and the quantity Q2.
In the graph, the area of consumer surplus after the tax is represented by the area labeled (A). This is because it is the area above the price level PB and below the demand curve, up to Q2.
Conclude that the consumer surplus after the tax is the area of (A), as it is the only area that fits the criteria of being above the price level PB and below the demand curve, up to the new quantity Q2.