The government has decided that the free-market price of cheese is too low.
a. Suppose the government imposes a binding price floor in the cheese market. Draw a supply-and-demand diagram to show the effect of this policy on the price of cheese and the quantity of cheese sold. Is there a shortage or surplus of cheese?
b. Producers of cheese complain that the price floor has reduced their total revenue. Is this possible?
c. In response to cheese producers’ complaints, the government agrees to purchase all the surplus cheese at the price floor. Compared to the basic price floor, who benefits from this new policy? Who loses?