In a standard supply and demand diagram, the total surplus is represented by which area?

• A. The area between the demand curve and the supply curve, from the origin up to the equilibrium quantity
• B. The area above the equilibrium price and below the demand curve
• C. The area below the supply curve up to the equilibrium price
• D. The area above the demand curve and below the supply curve

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of total surplus in microeconomics. Total surplus is the sum of consumer surplus and producer surplus, representing the overall net benefit to society from the production and consumption of a good.
2. Step 2: Recall that consumer surplus is the area between the demand curve and the equilibrium price, up to the equilibrium quantity. This area represents the difference between what consumers are willing to pay and what they actually pay.
3. Step 3: Recall that producer surplus is the area between the supply curve and the equilibrium price, up to the equilibrium quantity. This area represents the difference between the price producers receive and their minimum acceptable price.
4. Step 4: Combine these two surpluses to find total surplus. Graphically, total surplus is the area between the demand curve and the supply curve, from the origin (zero quantity) up to the equilibrium quantity.
5. Step 5: Therefore, the total surplus corresponds to the entire area bounded above by the demand curve, below by the supply curve, and vertically by the equilibrium quantity.