Consumer surplus is equal to the difference between:

• A. total revenue and total cost
• B. the market price and the equilibrium price
• C. producer surplus and consumer surplus
• D. a consumer's willingness to pay and the actual price paid

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of consumer surplus: it measures the difference between what a consumer is willing to pay for a good or service and what they actually pay.
2. Identify the consumer's willingness to pay as the maximum price a consumer is ready to pay for a product, which reflects the value they place on it.
3. Recognize the actual price paid as the market price or equilibrium price at which the consumer purchases the good.
4. Express consumer surplus mathematically as: \[\text{Consumer Surplus} = \text{Willingness to Pay} - \text{Actual Price Paid}\]
5. Note that consumer surplus is not related to total revenue and total cost, market price and equilibrium price difference, or producer surplus; it specifically captures the benefit to consumers from paying less than their maximum willingness to pay.