From the perspective of consumer surplus and willingness to pay, which statement best evaluates the claim: 'You should buy a home, even if you can't afford it just yet. Renting is a waste of money.'?

• A. You should always buy a home regardless of your budget, since ownership maximizes consumer surplus.
• B. Buying a home only increases consumer surplus if your willingness to pay equals or exceeds the price and you can afford it.
• C. Consumer surplus is irrelevant to housing decisions; only future property values matter.
• D. Renting always results in zero consumer surplus because you do not own the asset.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of consumer surplus. Consumer surplus is the difference between what a consumer is willing to pay for a good or service and what they actually pay. It represents the net benefit or satisfaction the consumer receives from a purchase.
2. Step 2: Apply this concept to housing decisions. Buying a home creates consumer surplus only if the buyer's willingness to pay (the value or satisfaction they expect from owning the home) is at least as high as the price they pay. If the price exceeds their willingness to pay, consumer surplus is negative or zero, meaning no net benefit.
3. Step 3: Consider affordability. Even if the willingness to pay is high, if the buyer cannot afford the home, they may face financial strain, which reduces overall welfare. Therefore, affordability is a crucial factor alongside willingness to pay when deciding to buy.
4. Step 4: Evaluate the claim that renting is a waste of money. Renting can still provide consumer surplus if the renter values the housing services more than the rent paid. Ownership is not the only way to gain consumer surplus; renting can be beneficial depending on individual preferences and financial situations.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the best evaluation is that buying a home increases consumer surplus only if the willingness to pay equals or exceeds the price and the buyer can afford it. This balances the economic concept of consumer surplus with practical financial considerations.