Consider the market for used university science textbooks, represented by the data in the table below. If student-to-student transactions are currently happening at a prevailing price of $50 per book, what is the state of the market?

Market Pressure in a Used Textbook Market

University Bookstore Buy-Back Price Analysis

Consequences of a Price Floor in the Used Textbook Market

Imagine the market for used physical copies of a popular introductory psychology textbook was in balance at the end of the fall semester. At the beginning of the spring semester, two things happen simultaneously: 1) The psychology department announces that a new, much cheaper e-book version will be the primary text for the course, and 2) a larger-than-usual number of students from the fall semester are trying to sell their used physical copies. True or False: If the price for used physical textbooks remains at the same level as the end of the fall semester, the market will now be in a state of excess supply.

Consider the market for a specific used textbook, which was previously in equilibrium. Now, at the original equilibrium price, there is a significant excess supply (surplus). Which of the following single events is the most likely cause of this surplus?

Calculating Market Imbalance

Consider a competitive market for a standard good. Match each price level scenario with its corresponding market condition.

In a competitive student-to-student market for a particular used textbook, a prevailing price of $60 is established. This price is above the $45 price at which the number of willing buyers would exactly equal the number of willing sellers. Arrange the following market outcomes in the logical, sequential order they would occur as a result of the $60 price.

In a competitive market for used textbooks, if the prevailing price is set higher than the level where the quantity sellers wish to sell exactly matches the quantity buyers wish to purchase, the resulting imbalance where quantity supplied exceeds quantity demanded is known as a(n) ____.