In the context of consumer surplus and willingness to pay, changes in consumption and gross investment can:

• A. only influence producer surplus, not consumer surplus
• B. have no impact on the equilibrium price
• C. affect the overall level of consumer surplus in a market
• D. decrease willingness to pay for all consumers

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of consumer surplus, which is the difference between what consumers are willing to pay for a good or service and what they actually pay. It measures the net benefit to consumers from participating in the market.
2. Step 2: Recognize that willingness to pay reflects the maximum price a consumer is ready to pay for a good. Changes in consumption or investment can shift demand or supply, thereby affecting willingness to pay and consumer surplus.
3. Step 3: Analyze how changes in gross investment (such as investment in capital goods) can influence production capacity, potentially affecting supply and market prices, which in turn impact consumer surplus.
4. Step 4: Consider that changes in consumption patterns directly affect demand, which can shift the demand curve and alter the equilibrium price and quantity, thereby changing consumer surplus.
5. Step 5: Conclude that because both consumption and investment influence market equilibrium and willingness to pay, they affect the overall level of consumer surplus in the market, rather than only producer surplus or having no impact.