Question

Does a price floor attempt to make a price higher or lower?

Short answer

A price floor attempts to make a price higher, not lower, by setting a minimum price above the market equilibrium to protect producers or workers' interests and ensure fair minimum compensation.

Step-by-step solution

Introduction to Price Floor

A price floor is a minimum price set by a government or regulatory authority below which the market price cannot legally go. It is usually set to ensure a fair minimum payment to producers/ workers, primarily in markets prone to exploitation or low compensation.

Price Floor Impact

By setting a minimum price, a price floor prevents the market price from falling below that level. It is essential to highlight that the price floor is effective only if it is set above the market equilibrium price, where the quantity supplied equals the quantity demanded. In this case, the price floor maintains a price higher than the market would otherwise determine.

Conclusion

Based on the understanding of price floor, we can conclude that a price floor attempts to make a price higher, not lower. It aims to protect the interests of producers or workers by ensuring a minimum compensation not to be undermined by market forces.