The greater the discrepancy between a consumer's needy state and the desired state, the greater:

• A. the elasticity of demand
• B. the consumer's willingness to pay for a good or service
• C. the market equilibrium price
• D. the producer surplus

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the key terms in the problem. The 'needy state' refers to the consumer's current level of satisfaction or utility, while the 'desired state' is the level of satisfaction the consumer wants to achieve.
2. Step 2: Recognize that the discrepancy between the needy state and the desired state represents the consumer's unmet need or urgency for a good or service.
3. Step 3: Recall that consumer willingness to pay (WTP) is the maximum amount a consumer is ready to spend to move from their needy state to the desired state, reflecting the value they place on the good or service.
4. Step 4: Understand that as the discrepancy increases, the consumer's urgency or need increases, which typically raises their willingness to pay, because the good or service helps reduce that gap.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the greater the discrepancy between the needy and desired states, the greater the consumer's willingness to pay for the good or service, rather than affecting elasticity of demand, market equilibrium price, or producer surplus directly.