Correct option is C
The correct answer is (c) Positive.
According to the law of supply, there is a direct (positive) relationship between the price of a commodity and its quantity supplied.
- As the price of the commodity increases, the quantity supplied also tends to increase, and vice versa.
- Producers are generally willing to supply more of a good at a higher price.
Positive Relationship:
- The law of supply states that when the price of a good rises, producers are incentivized to produce and supply more of that good.
Additional Information:
Law of Supply:
- States that ceteris paribus (all other things being equal), an increase in the price of a commodity leads to an increase in the quantity supplied, and a decrease in price leads to a decrease in quantity supplied.
- This is because higher prices provide producers with an incentive to produce more due to the expectation of greater profitability.
Factors Influencing Supply (Apart from Price):
- Production Costs: If production costs decrease, supply increases even if prices remain constant.
- Technological Advancements: New technologies can reduce costs, increasing supply.
- Government Policies: Subsidies, taxes, and regulations can affect the quantity supplied.
- Expectations of Future Prices: If producers expect prices to rise in the future, they may reduce current supply, anticipating higher profits later.
Example:
- If the price of smartphones increases, manufacturers are likely to produce and supply more smartphones because they anticipate higher revenues.
- Conversely, if prices fall, supply decreases since the cost-benefit of production becomes less favorable.
Elasticity of Supply:
- The extent to which supply reacts to price changes is measured by the elasticity of supply.
- A supply is elastic if a small change in price leads to a significant change in quantity supplied.
- A supply is inelastic if the change in quantity supplied is small despite price changes.