Final answer:
When the received quantity is less than what is listed on the source document, this is referred to as a shortage. Shortages can affect social surplus and may necessitate consideration of substitute goods.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the quantity received is less than the quantity shown on the source document, the term to describe this situation is a shortage. This means that the quantity demanded or expected exceeds the quantity that is actually provided or supplied. In the context of receiving goods, a shortage indicates that you have received less than what was documented or agreed upon. This can occur for various reasons, such as supplier errors, shipping issues, or inventory miscounts.
Shortages can impact the social surplus, which is the sum of consumer surplus and producer surplus. When there are persistent shortages in the marketplace at the current price, it can lead to excess demand. Moreover, one might need to consider the availability of a substitute good that can replace the short-supplied good to some extent.