Which statement best illustrates that money is a measure of value in the context of consumer surplus and willingness to pay?

• A. Consumer surplus is always zero when money is used as a medium of exchange.
• B. Consumers express their willingness to pay for a good in monetary terms, allowing comparison of values across different goods.
• C. Money is used only for transactions and does not reflect the value consumers place on goods.
• D. Willingness to pay cannot be measured in monetary units.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of money as a measure of value: Money allows consumers to express how much they value a good or service in a common unit, which is essential for comparing preferences across different goods.
2. Recall the definition of consumer surplus: Consumer surplus is the difference between what a consumer is willing to pay for a good and what they actually pay, measured in monetary terms.
3. Recognize that willingness to pay is expressed in money: This means consumers assign a monetary value to goods, which enables economists to quantify consumer surplus and compare values across goods.
4. Evaluate the given statements by checking if they reflect money's role in expressing value and enabling comparison of consumer preferences.
5. Conclude that the statement 'Consumers express their willingness to pay for a good in monetary terms, allowing comparison of values across different goods' best illustrates money as a measure of value in this context.