IEM Supply, Demand and Equilibrium Unit
Assignment 1: Graphing a demand curve
In the table below, we have provided a list of consumers who are in the market for a new product.
Next to their name, we list the quantity of the new product each one wants to buy. In the last
column, we list the maximum price each one is willing and able to pay for the new product.
Name
Quantity
Mary
Bob
Jane
Ed
Alice
1
1
1
1
1
Maximum price
willing to pay
4
1
5
3
2
Using these data and the blank table below, we want you to construct a demand schedule and graph
the results on a separate sheet of paper.
Step 1: Sort the data above by price.
Step 2: For the last column, compute the total quantity demanded at each given price.
Quality check: Look at your table. Is the total quantity demanded largest at the highest price or at
the lowest price?
Step 3: Using the Price and Total Quantity Demanded data from the table below, graph the demand
curve on the axes provided.
Price
Quantity
Total Quantity
Demanded
Price
Quantity
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IEM Supply, Demand and Equilibrium Unit
Assignment 2: Graphing a demand curve using real data
In the spreadsheet Bradley_demand, you are provided with data on prices and quantity demanded
for a number of individuals interested in buying a political futures contract in the fall of 1999.
This contract pay $1 if Bill Bradley is the Democratic nominee for the election in 2000. It will pay
$0 if he is not.
Part 1: Following the same procedure as in Assignment 1, use Excel to construct a demand curve
for the Bradley contract. (Is the quantity demanded highest at the lowest price?)
Part 2: Using Excel, plot the data with the prices as the Y axis and the total quantity demanded as
the Y axis. Use the Chart Wizard. This should be an X-Y chart (with lines). You may have to move
the columns around to get the right axes.
Part 3: In November 1999, Bill Bradley had a political rally in Madison Square Garden in New
York City. Among the featured speakers were many current and former NBA players. Bill Bradley
is a former professional basketball player himself. What effect do you think this political rally
would have on the demand curve for Bradley contracts? Sketch (by hand) the new demand curve on
the same graph from Part 2.
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IEM Supply, Demand and Equilibrium Unit
Assignment 3: Graphing a supply curve
In the table below, we have provided a list of companies who are willing to sell a new product. Next
to their company name, we list the quantity of the new product each one is willing to sell. In the last
column, we list the minimum price each one is willing accept for the new product.
Name
Quantity
ADC
SSW
QWL
YYJ
AQD
1
1
1
1
1
Maximum price
willing to pay
3
2
5
1
4
Using these data and the blank table below, we want you to construct a supply schedule and graph
the results on a separate sheet of paper.
Step 1: Sort the data above by price.
Step 2: For the last column, compute the total quantity supplied at each given price.
Quality check: Look at your table. Is the total quantity supplied largest at the highest price or at the
lowest price?
Step 3: Using the Price and Total Quantity Supplied data from the table below, graph the demand
curve on the axes provided.
Price
Quantity
Total Quantity
Supplied
Price
Quantity
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IEM Supply, Demand and Equilibrium Unit
Assignment 4: Graphing a supply curve using real data
In the spreadsheet Bradley_supply, you are provided with data on prices and quantity willing to
supply for a number of individuals interested in selling a political futures contract in the Fall of
1999.
This contract pay $1 if Bill Bradley is the Democratic nominee for the election in 2000. It will pay
$0 if he is not.
Part 1: Following the same procedure as in Assignment 1, use Excel to construct a supply curve for
the Bradley contract. (Is the quantity supplied highest at the highest price?)
Part 2: Using Excel, plot the data with the prices as the Y axis and the total quantity supplied as the
Y axis. Use the Chart Wizard. This should be an X-Y chart (with lines). You may have to move the
columns around to get the right axes.
Part 3: Assume these contracts will be bought and sold over the internet. In November 1999, a
number of politicians proposed taxing all transactions over the internet which would include the
buying and selling of the Bradley political futures contract. If this tax were to go into effect
immediately, what effect would there be on the supply curve for the Bradley contract? Sketch (by
hand) the new supply curve on the same graph from Part 2.
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IEM Supply, Demand and Equilibrium Unit
Assignment 5: Graphing Demand and Supply curves on the same axes
Step 1: Using the data from Assignments 1 and 3, determine the total quantity demanded and the
total quantity supplied at each price level. Enter the results in the table below.
Quality check: Look at your table. Is the total quantity demanded (supplied) largest at the lowest
(highest) price?
Price
Total Quantity
Demanded
Total Quantity
Supplied
Step 2: Using the Price, Total Quantity Demanded and Total Quantity Supplied data from the table
below, graph the demand and supply curves on the axes provided.
Price
Quantity
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IEM Supply, Demand and Equilibrium Unit
Assignment 6: Market equilibrium using the Bradley contract demand and supply data
Using the demand curve and supply curve data from Assignments 2 and 4, copy the price and total
quantity demanded (supplied) columns to a new spreadsheet. You should have four columns: price
and total quantity demanded (sorted with price ascending and quantity descending), price and total
quantity supplied (sorted with price ascending and quantity ascending). Sort the price and quantity
demanded data so that total quantity demanded is ascending.
You should be able to tell at this point how many contracts were sold in the market and at what
prices. (Tip: How much did the first contract sell for? How much did the suppliers want in order to
supply 2 contracts?)
What is the equilibrium quantity in this market?
What is the equilibrium price in this market?
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IEM Supply, Demand and Equilibrium Unit
Assignment 7: Observing and Predicting Prices in the IEM
Choose one of the current markets running at the IEM
Read the prospectus to make sure you understand how the contracts work
Using various news sources, try to determine what events will affect prices in the IEM for twoweeks
Using your understanding of supply and demand, predict how prices should change
Determine if your predictions were correct and reconcile any discrepancies
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