# Jen values her time at $60 an hour. She spends 2 hours giving Colleen a massage. Colleen was willing to pay as much at$300 for the massage, but they negotiate a price of $200. In this transaction, a. consumer surplus is$20 larger than producer surplus. b. consumer surplus is $40 larger than producer surplus. c. producer surplus is$20 larger than consumer surplus. d. producer surplus is $40 larger than consumer surplus. BuyFind ### Principles of Microeconomics 7th Edition N. Gregory Mankiw Publisher: Cengage Learning ISBN: 9781305156050 BuyFind ### Principles of Microeconomics 7th Edition N. Gregory Mankiw Publisher: Cengage Learning ISBN: 9781305156050 #### Solutions Chapter Section Chapter 7, Problem 1CQQ Textbook Problem ## Jen values her time at$60 an hour. She spends 2 hours giving Colleen a massage. Colleen was willing to pay as much at $300 for the massage, but they negotiate a price of$200. In this transaction,a. consumer surplus is $20 larger than producer surplus.b. consumer surplus is$40 larger than producer surplus.c. producer surplus is $20 larger than consumer surplus.d. producer surplus is$40 larger than consumer surplus.

Expert Solution
To determine
The consumer surplus and the producer surplus.

Option 'a' is correct.

### Explanation of Solution

The equilibrium price is determined by the demand for the cost and the supply of cost, normally. The consumer surplus can be explained as the difference between the highest price that the consumer is willing to pay and the actual price that the consumer pays. The difference between these two prices is known as the surplus to the consumer. The producer surplus is the difference between the minimum willing to accept price by the seller and the actual price that the seller receives for the commodity.

The maximum willing to pay price by the consumer for the massage here is $300. The actual price that the consumer pays after the negotiation between the two is$200. Since the difference between the maximum willing to pay price and the actually paying price is the consumer surplus, it can be calculated as follows:

Consumer surplus=Maximum willing to pay priceActually paying price=300200=100

Thus, the consumer surplus is $100. Similarly, the minimum willing to accept price by the massager is$60 per hour and she spends 2 hours for the service, which totally costs $120, minimum. But the actual amount received by her is$200; this difference between the actual price received by the seller and the minimum willing to accept price is the producer surplus, which can be calculated as follows:

Producer surplus=Actually received priceMinimum willing to accept price=200(60×2)=200120=80

Thus, the producer surplus is $80. Option (a): Here, the consumer surplus is$100 from receiving the massage from the producer and the producer surplus is $80 by providing the massage service to the consumer. The difference between the consumer surplus and the producer surplus is$20. This means that the consumer surplus is higher than the producer surplus by $20 and hence, option 'a' is correct. Option (b): Here, the consumer surplus is$100 from receiving the massage from the consumer and the producer surplus is $80 by providing the massage service to the consumer. This means that the consumer surplus is higher than the producer surplus by only$20. But the given value in option 'b' is $40, which is twice the actual value. Thus, option 'b' is incorrect. Option (c): The consumer surplus is$100 from receiving the massage from the consumer and the producer surplus is $80 by providing the massage service to the consumer. This means that the consumer surplus is higher than the producer surplus by$20. Option 'c' points that the producer surplus is higher than the consumer surplus by the value of $20, which is inverse to the actual situation. Thus, option 'c' is incorrect. Option (d): The consumer surplus is$100 from receiving the massage from the producer and the producer surplus is $80 by providing the massage service to the consumer. The difference between the consumer surplus and the producer surplus is$20. The consumer surplus is $20 more than the producer surplus. Since option 'd' argues that the producer surplus is$40 larger than the consumer surplus, option 'd' is incorrect.

Economics Concept Introduction

Concept introduction:

Consumer surplus: It is the difference between the highest willing to pay price of the consumer and the actual price that the consumer pays.

Producer surplus: It is the difference between the lowest willing to accept price by the producer and the actual price that is received by the producer.

Equilibrium price: It is the market price determined by equating the supply to the demand. At this equilibrium point, the supply will be equal to the demand and there will be no excess demand or excess supply in the economy. Thus, the economy will be at equilibrium.

### Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!

Get Solutions

### Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!

Get Solutions

Find more solutions based on key concepts
Show solutions
Explain why an economys income must equal its expenditure.

Brief Principles of Macroeconomics (MindTap Course List)

What does double taxation of corporate income mean? Could income ever be subject to triple taxation? Explain yo...

Fundamentals of Financial Management, Concise Edition (with Thomson ONE - Business School Edition, 1 term (6 months) Printed Access Card) (MindTap Course List)

Why must some employers file Form 1096?

PAYROLL ACCT.,2019 ED.(LL)-TEXT

What is a tangible product?

Cornerstones of Cost Management (Cornerstones Series)