Question

In an analysis of the market for paint, an economist discovers the facts listed below. State whether each of these changes will affect supply or demand, and in what direction. a. There have recently been some important cost-saving inventions in the technology for making paint. b. Paint is lasting longer, so that property owners need not repaint as often. c. Because of severe hailstorms, many people need to repaint now. d. The hailstorms damaged several factories that make paint, forcing them to close down for several months.

Answer 1

A) Rightward shift of the supply curve. When a company is able to produce its goods at a lower cost, the whole supply curve sill shift to the right. This can be accomplished through a new technology or a decrease in the price of inputs.

B) On the short run, the quantity demanded of paint will increase, since a better product usually means higher demand, so the demand curve will shift to the right. But on the long run, the quantity demanded for the product will decrease since the customers will not need to paint their houses as often as before, shifting the demand curve to the left.

C) This will shift the demand curve to the right, increasing the quantity demanded at every price level.

D) This will definitely reduce the quantity supplied and shift the supply curve to the left. It has a similar effect to a cost increase. This shift will last until the factories start producing again.