The term “quantity demanded” refers to the A) total amount of a good that is actually purchased during a given period of time. B) total amount of a good that people wish to buy, regardless of price. C) total amount of a good that purchasers wish to purchase at a given price during a given period of time. D) product of advertising, and is unrelated to price. E) entire relationship between desired purchases and possible prices.
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: C) total amount of a good that purchasers wish to purchase at a given price during a given period of time.
Explanation:
The term “quantity demanded” is a fundamental concept in economics that refers to the specific amount of a good or service that consumers are willing and able to purchase at a particular price during a defined period of time. It is crucial to distinguish quantity demanded from demand. Quantity demanded is a single point on the demand curve, while demand refers to the entire curve, which represents the relationship between all possible prices and the corresponding quantities that buyers would purchase.
For example, if the price of oranges is $1.00 per pound and consumers are willing to buy 100 pounds at that price in one week, the quantity demanded is 100 pounds for that price and time frame. If the price changes to $1.50 and people only buy 70 pounds, the quantity demanded also changes accordingly. This change occurs along the demand curve and is driven by the price factor only.
Answer A is incorrect because it refers to the actual purchases, not what buyers are willing to purchase. Quantity demanded may differ from actual sales due to constraints like limited supply.
Answer B is incorrect because it ignores the role of price, which is central to the concept of quantity demanded.
Answer D is incorrect because it falsely claims that advertising replaces the role of price in demand, which is not supported by economic theory.
Answer E is incorrect because it defines demand, not quantity demanded. Demand refers to the full set of possible prices and corresponding quantities.
Understanding quantity demanded helps businesses and policymakers anticipate how consumers will react to changes in price, which is vital for setting prices, planning production, and developing economic policy.