Suppose That the Market for Coffee Is in Equilibrium at a Price

question 297

Essay

Suppose that the market for coffee is in equilibrium at a price of $9.50 per pound and a monthly quantity of 20 million pounds. News of a drought in Brazil arrives so that people know that the supply of coffee months from now will be sharply reduced. What, if anything, will happen in the coffee market now? Explain.

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Definitions:

Standard Factory Overhead Rate

A predetermined rate used to assign manufacturing overhead costs to individual units of output on a consistent basis.

Normal Capacity

The average operating capacity a company can sustain under normal circumstances, taking into account seasonal and cyclical demand fluctuations.

Direct Labor Hour

The amount of time spent by employees directly working on producing goods or services.

Direct Labor Rate Variance

The difference between the actual cost of direct labor and the expected (or standard) cost, used to manage labor costs more effectively.