Which concept can be thought of as the wealth that trade creates for consumers in a market?

• A. Producer surplus
• B. Consumer surplus
• C. Marginal cost
• D. Deadweight loss

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of consumer surplus: it represents the difference between what consumers are willing to pay for a good or service and what they actually pay. This surplus reflects the extra benefit or 'wealth' consumers gain from participating in the market.
2. Recall that producer surplus is the benefit producers receive when they sell at a price higher than their minimum acceptable price, so it relates to producers, not consumers.
3. Marginal cost refers to the additional cost of producing one more unit of a good, which is a production-side concept and not directly related to consumer wealth.
4. Deadweight loss represents the loss of total surplus (both consumer and producer surplus) due to market inefficiencies, such as taxes or price controls, and thus is not a measure of wealth created for consumers.
5. Therefore, the concept that captures the wealth created for consumers through trade in a market is consumer surplus.