Site icon Econ Eye

Finding a Covid Test Kit

It used to be hard to find a coronavirus test. Now there are too many

Last year, amid consecutive surges of coronavirus infection, Americans couldn’t find enough tests. Now, as infections have plummeted, kits are piling up on pharmacy shelves.—washingtonpost.com

Answer the following questions to check your understanding of the story.

Why are kits piling up on pharmacy shelves?

Kits are piling up on pharmacy shelves because the __________________ test kits __________________.

As infections decreased, consumers changed their test kit buying plans. Did this change of plans influence supply?

As infections decreased, consumers changed their test kit buying plans. Did this change of plans influence both the demand for and supply of test kits?

As infections decreased, consumers changed their test kit buying plans. Did this change of plans influence supply?

The decrease in infections decreased the value that people place on test kits and demand for the test kits decreased. Supply didn’t change.

How will the market for test kits return to equilibrium?

The price will ________________, which will ________________.

The quantity supplied exceeds the quantity demanded, so there is a surplus of test kits. What happens in a market when there is a surplus? The price changes, which creates a change in the quantity demanded and the quantity supplied. Demand and supply do not change.

The quantity supplied exceeds the quantity demanded, so there is a surplus of test kits. How will the market price change to eliminate the surplus? A rising price would create an even larger surplus.

The quantity supplied exceeds the quantity demanded, so there is a surplus of test kits. How will the market price change to eliminate the surplus? The demand and supply do not change.

The quantity supplied exceeds the quantity demanded, so there is a surplus of test kits. The market price will start to fall and as it does, the quantity demanded increases, the quantity supplied decreases, and the surplus is eliminated.

0%

Exit mobile version