Which of the following is the final step in calculating consumer and producer surplus at market equilibrium?

• A. Calculating the area above the equilibrium price and below the demand curve for consumer surplus, and the area below the equilibrium price and above the supply curve for producer surplus
• B. Adding the calculated consumer surplus and producer surplus to determine total surplus
• C. Subtracting the equilibrium price from the maximum willingness to pay and minimum acceptable price, then summing the areas
• D. Identifying the equilibrium price and quantity from the intersection of supply and demand curves

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the equilibrium price and quantity by finding the intersection point of the supply and demand curves. This is where quantity demanded equals quantity supplied.
2. Calculate consumer surplus by finding the area between the demand curve and the equilibrium price line, up to the equilibrium quantity. This area represents the difference between what consumers are willing to pay and what they actually pay.
3. Calculate producer surplus by finding the area between the supply curve and the equilibrium price line, up to the equilibrium quantity. This area represents the difference between the price producers receive and their minimum acceptable price.
4. Use the appropriate geometric formulas (such as the area of a triangle or trapezoid) to compute the numerical values of consumer surplus and producer surplus based on the shapes formed on the graph.
5. Add the calculated consumer surplus and producer surplus together to determine the total surplus, which measures the overall economic welfare or gains from trade in the market.