Which of the following best describes consumer surplus in relation to a buyer's willingness to pay?

• A. Consumer surplus is the sum of all buyers' willingness to pay in the market.
• B. Consumer surplus is the difference between what a buyer is willing to pay and what the buyer actually pays.
• C. Consumer surplus is the total amount a buyer spends on a good.
• D. Consumer surplus is the difference between the market price and the seller's cost of production.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of willingness to pay (WTP), which is the maximum amount a buyer is ready to pay for a good or service.
2. Step 2: Recognize that consumer surplus measures the benefit a buyer receives when they pay less than their willingness to pay.
3. Step 3: Express consumer surplus mathematically as the difference between the buyer's willingness to pay and the actual price paid: \(\text{Consumer Surplus} = \text{WTP} - \text{Price Paid}\).
4. Step 4: Note that consumer surplus is not the total amount spent or the sum of all buyers' willingness to pay, but rather the extra value or 'surplus' gained by paying less than the maximum willingness to pay.
5. Step 5: Differentiate consumer surplus from producer surplus, which relates to the difference between market price and seller's cost, to avoid confusion.