Which of the following best defines producer surplus?

• A. The total revenue a producer earns from selling goods minus the total cost of production.
• B. The difference between the price a producer receives and the minimum price they are willing to accept for a good or service.
• C. The equilibrium price in a perfectly competitive market.
• D. The amount by which consumer willingness to pay exceeds the market price.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that producer surplus measures the benefit producers receive from selling a good at a market price higher than their minimum acceptable price.
2. Recall that the minimum price a producer is willing to accept corresponds to their marginal cost of production for that unit.
3. Recognize that producer surplus is calculated as the difference between the actual price received and this minimum acceptable price, summed over all units sold.
4. Note that total revenue minus total cost represents profit, which is related but not the same as producer surplus.
5. Conclude that the best definition of producer surplus is: the difference between the price a producer receives and the minimum price they are willing to accept for a good or service.