When Economists Refer to "The Invisible Hand," What Do They

question 280

Essay

When economists refer to "the invisible hand," what do they mean?

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Definitions:

Monopoly

A market structure characterized by a single seller who has exclusive control over the supply of a good or service, and where there are high barriers to entry for potential competitors.

Price

The cost associated with acquiring a good or service.

Deadweight Loss

A loss in total surplus that occurs when a market is not in equilibrium, often due to taxes, subsidies, or market controls suppressing the market's ability to reach an efficient allocation of resources.

Marginal Cost Curve

A curve showing how the cost of producing one additional unit of a good varies as the quantity of the good produced changes.