Law of Supply: Meaning, Assumptions, Reason and Exceptions

What is Law of Supply?

Economists have studied the behaviour of both buyers and sellers. They have discovered the law of supply as a result of their findings. The law of supply describes the relationship between price and amount supplied when all other variables remain constant (ceteris paribus).

Price is a dominant factor in the determination of the supply of a commodity. As the price of a commodity increases, the supply of that commodity in the market also increases and vice-versa. This behaviour of the producers is studied through the law of supply.

Key Takeaways:

• The Law of Supply states that there is a positive relationship between the price of a good and the quantity supplied by producers.
• While price is a significant factor, other determinants such as production costs, technology, input prices, government policies, and expectations also impact supply.
• The Law of Supply, along with the Law of Demand, determines the market equilibrium price and quantity.
• While the Law of Supply generally holds true, there can be exceptions due to sudden technological advancements, natural disasters, changes in resource availability, or government interventions that disrupt market dynamics.

Assumptions of Law of Supply 

The phrase “keeping other factors constant or ceteris paribus” is used when describing the law of supply. This expression refers to the following presumptions that the law is based on:

1. The price of other commodities is constant.
2. The state of technology has not changed.
3. The price of factors of production is constant.
4. The taxation laws remain the same.
5. The producer’s objectives are constant.

Graphical Presentation of Law of Supply

The Law of Supply can be better understood with the help of the following table and graph.

The above table indicates that when the price of the commodity rises, an increasing number of units are offered for sale.

In the above graph, the rising slope of the supply curve (SS) indicates a clear relationship between price and quantity supplied.

Important Points about Law of Supply

• The law of supply states the positive relationship between price and quantity supplied of a commodity after assuming that the other factors remain constant.
• As the law of supply indicates the direction of the changes in quantity supplied of a commodity and not the magnitude of the change. It is considered as a quantitative statement.
• The law of supply does not establish any proportional relationship between the change in price and the respective change in quantity supplied of the commodity.
• The law of supply is one sided. It is because the law explains only the effect of change in price on the supply of the commodity and not the effect of change in supply on the price of the commodity.

Reason for Law of Supply

The main reasons behind the law of supply are as follows:

1. Profit Motive:

Maximising profits is the primary goal of producers when they supply a good or service. Their profits grow when the price of a commodity rises without a change in costs. Therefore, by increasing production, manufacturers increase the commodity’s supply. On the other hand, as price fall, supply also declines since low price result in lower profit margins.

2. Change in Number of Firms:

When the price of a specific commodity increases, potential producers are encouraged to enter the market and produce the good to make money. The market supply rises as the number of businesses increases. However, once the price begins to decline, some businesses that do not anticipate making any money at a low price may stop production or cut it back. As the number of businesses in the market declines, it decreases the supply of the given commodity.

3. Change in Stock:

When the price of an item rises, sellers are eager to supply additional things from their stocks. However, the producers do not release significant amounts from their stock at a significantly cheaper price. They work on building up their inventory in anticipation of potential price increases in the future.

Exceptions to the Law of Supply

Generally, the slope of the supply curve is upwards, showing that with the rise in the price of a commodity, its quantity supplied also rises. However, there may be some cases when there is no positive relationship between the supply and price of a commodity. These cases are as follows:

1. Future Expectations:

The law of supply is not valid if sellers expect a fall in the price in the future. The sellers will be willing to sell more in this situation, even at a cheaper price. However, if sellers expect an increase in the future price, they will reduce supply to deliver the item later at a higher price.

2. Agricultural Goods:

Agricultural products are exempted from the rule of supply as they are produced in response to climatic circumstances. If the production of agricultural goods is low because of unexpected weather changes, supply cannot be expanded, even at higher prices.

3. Perishable Goods:

Sellers are willing to offer more perishable commodities, such as fruits, vegetables, and other foods, even if prices are dropping. This occurs because sellers cannot keep such things for an extended period.

4. Rare Articles:

The law of supply does not apply to precious, rare, or artistic items. For example, even if the price increases, the number of rare items like the Mona Lisa artwork cannot be increased.

5. Backward Countries:

Due to the scarcity of resources, output and supply cannot be enhanced in economically underdeveloped countries.

Law of Supply – FAQs

How does the Law of Supply relate to price?

According to the Law of Supply, as the price of a good increases, producers are incentivized to supply more of that good to the market, aiming to maximize profits. Similarly as the price decreases, the incentive to supply diminishes.

What is the role of producers in the Law of Supply?

Producers play a critical role in the Law of Supply as they determine the quantity of goods they are willing and able to supply at various price levels.

Does the Law of Supply hold true in all situations?

While the Law of Supply generally holds true, there can be exceptions due to factors such as sudden changes in technology, resource availability, or government intervention.

How does elasticity affect the Law of Supply?

The elasticity of supply measures the responsiveness of quantity supplied to changes in price. If supply is elastic, producers can quickly adjust production levels in response to price changes. If it’s inelastic, they may struggle to adjust production.

How does the Law of Supply interact with the Law of Demand?

The Law of Supply and the Law of Demand jointly determine the market equilibrium price and quantity. When supply increases and demand remains constant, prices tend to fall, and vice versa.

Can government policies influence the Law of Supply?

Yes, government policies such as taxes, subsidies, regulations, and trade restrictions can impact the cost of production and alter the incentives for producers, thereby affecting the Law of Supply.

and Types of Elasticity of Supply