Which term is the economic concept describing how prices respond to supply and demand?

• A. Sustainability
• B. Supply and Demand
• C. Trend
• D. Purebred

Answer: (B)

This question tests how prices respond to changes in supply and demand in a market. The term that captures that dynamic is supply and demand—the basic market mechanism. Prices adjust based on how much of a good is available and how much people want it. If demand rises or supply falls, prices tend to go up, signaling producers to raise output and encouraging buyers to purchase less. If demand falls or supply rises, prices tend to fall, which can stimulate more consumption or discourage production. At equilibrium, the quantity supplied equals the quantity demanded, and the market-clearing price is reached.

Sustainability isn’t about price signals or market balancing; it concerns maintaining resources over time. A trend describes a general direction of change, not the specific mechanism by which prices adjust. Purebred refers to lineage in animals, not economic behavior.