Stable and Unstable Equilibrium
Stable and unstable equilibrium
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The Concept of Equilibrium
The term ‘equilibrium’ is derived from two Latin words called “acqui” and “libra”. “Acqui” means equal, and “libra” refers to balance. Hence, equilibrium means ‘equal balance’.
The term ‘equilibrium’ is substantially used in physics, where equilibrium refers to a state of balance. An object is considered to be in a state of equilibrium when two opposing forces balance each other on the object under review.
The importance of the equilibrium concept is not just limited to physics. The application of the concept of equilibrium is vital in economics which makes some economists call economics as equilibrium economics. In economics, equilibrium denotes a state in which the two opposite forces are unable to influence each other.
In simple words, equilibrium is a position in which no further change is possible.
The concepts of stable equilibrium, unstable equilibrium, and neutral equilibrium apply to both physics and economics.
Types of Equilibrium
There are three types of equilibrium, namely stable, neutral and unstable equilibrium. Prof. Schumpeter explains the three positions with a simple illustration of a ball placed in three different states.
According to Schumpeter, “A ball that rests at the bottom of a bowl illustrates the first case; a ball that rests on a billiard table, the second case, and a ball that is perched on the top of an inverted bowl, the third case.”
Figure 1
In Figure 1(a), the ball is comfortable at the base of the bowl. It remains in stable equilibrium. If interfered, the ball is going to rest at its original position again. In Figure 1(b), the ball is located on a billiard table. It shows a neutral equilibrium. If perturbed, the ball is going to find its balance at another new position. In Figure 1(c), the ball is stabilized on top of the upturned bowl.
It is basically in unstable equilibrium. If interrupted, the ball will certainly move down either side of the bowl and fail to get back to its original position.
Figure 2
Stable Equilibrium in Economics
In Figure 2, DD represents a negatively sloped demand curve, and SS denotes a positively sloped supply curve. The equilibrium occurs at point E. At this point, the supply and demand are in balance; the equilibrium price OP and the equilibrium quantity OQ are determined. It is a classic example of stable equilibrium in economics.
What happens at prices above equilibrium level?
Let us assume that the market price is OP1. At this price, P1B is the quantity supplied while the quantity demanded is only P1A. Hence, the quantity supplied is more than the quantity demanded. The surplus quantity in the market is to the extent of AB. This creates a downward pressure on price. The downward pressure applies until the price reaches the equilibrium level at which the quantity supplied equals the quantity demanded.
What happens at prices below equilibrium level?
In the diagram, let us consider the price OP2. At this price level, the quantity supplied is less than the quantity demanded. CE1 denotes the volume of commodity shortages. Due to this excess demand, an upward pressure on the price applies. This upward pressure pushes up the price to the equilibrium level at which the quantity supplied equals the quantity demanded.
Unstable Equilibrium in Economics
In supply and demand analysis, unstable equilibrium can occur at two occasions: (1) when there is a negatively sloped supply curve and (2) when there is a positively sloped demand curve.
1. Negatively Sloped Supply Curve
Unstable equilibrium occurs when there is a negatively sloped demand curve, which is normal, and a negatively sloped supply curve, which is a rare and exceptional case. This negatively sloping supply curve is possible when both increasing production and decreasing costs occur simultaneously due to various internal and external economies of scale enjoyed by the firm.
Figure 3
In Figure 3, the point E represents equilibrium. OP is the equilibrium price, and OM is the equilibrium quantity. If the price goes above the equilibrium price, the quantity demanded is more than the quantity supplied. Because of this excess demand, the price goes up further and moves away from equilibrium.
Similarly, at prices below equilibrium, the quantity supplied is more than the quantity demanded. Due to excess supply, the price goes down further and continues to move away from the equilibrium. In both cases, there is no possibility for the price to move towards equilibrium. Hence, E represents an unstable equilibrium position.
Figure 4
2. Positively Sloped Demand Curve
A second scenario of unstable equilibrium exists while the supply curve is usual and the demand curve is positively sloping. Such a demand curve is applicable in the event of ‘giffen goods’. In the instance of giffen goods, demand goes up while the price of the commodity rises and vice versa.
In Figure 4, the rare demand curve intersects the regular supply curve at E, which establishes the equilibrium price at OP and the equilibrium quantity at OM. A rise in price above OP causes an excessive amount of demand oversupply. This excess demand over supply provokes another great increase in the price. A reduction in price below OP contributes to excess supply over demand. This excess supply over demand triggers a further decrease in the price.
Hence, E in the above diagram is in unstable equilibrium since there is no chance for the original equilibrium to be restored.
Neutral Equilibrium in Economics
The situation of neutral equilibrium crops up when demand and supply curves go together in a range of prices or in a range of quantities. The Neutral equilibrium is finely detailed in the following diagram:
Figure 5
In figure 5(a), demand curve DD and supply curve SS correspond over a range of prices between OP to OP1. OP is the original equilibrium price and OM is the quantity. When the price goes down from OP to OP1, the equilibrium quantity OM stays unchanged. The market is in neutral equilibrium in the EE1 range of prices.
Similarly, the demand curve DD and supply curve SS coincide over the range of output from M to M1 as shown in figure 5(b). A change in demand or supply within the MM1 range of output has no influence to modify the equilibrium price level. Hence, the equilibrium price is neutral to changes in demand for or supply of commodities within the range of MM1.
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
Questions & Answers
Question: Why is equilibrium both unstable and stable?
Answer: Equilibrium formed by positively sloped supply curve and negatively sloped demand curve is a perfect example for stable equilibrium. If a stable equilibrium is disturbed, it will come to its original position after a slight oscillation. Any change in the supply or demand may cause temporary chaos in the equilibrium. However, the restoration of equilibrium does occur in this case.
There are occasions in which a market may witness a negatively sloped supply curve or positively sloped demand curve. Equilibrium formed by negatively sloped supply curve and negatively sloped demand curve or positively sloped supply curve and positively sloped demand curve is going to be unstable, which means the equilibrium, if disturbed, will never come to its original position. Though this kind of situation is very rare, we cannot negate the possibility of it completely. Therefore, we have both stable and unstable equilibrium in economics.
© 2013 Sundaram Ponnusamy
Comments
Wekesa Arthur on October 31, 2019:
Thank you so much sir
musa yero on April 27, 2019:
I really appreciate about this great contribution. sir.
Raashidiin on November 20, 2018:
Thanks
Hira nisar on November 15, 2018:
Physics my type of equilibrium post kryn
Rupan kumar mandal on November 03, 2018:
Thank you so much sir
Pradeep Gyawali on June 05, 2018:
Thank you.
Its totally simple and easy to understand.
Sundaram Ponnusamy (author) from TamilNadu, India on May 22, 2018:
hi Joydev, you are right. But I have explained only stable and unstable equilibrium.
wilkins on May 03, 2018:
just thinking....can the cobweb theorem be used to explain stable and unstable equilibrium i.e the clamped cob web& the explosive with the former depicting a stable equilibrium and the later an unstable equilibrium?
Taslima on April 20, 2018:
Thank you so much for giving such things easy to understand
Jeff k on October 30, 2017:
Nice one and helpful
Sonu moun on September 24, 2017:
Thanks it's very nice and easy to understand and helpful for me
Olofin Olabode Philip on May 25, 2017:
exceedingly educative.
DEEPAK KASHYAP on November 03, 2016:
Really helpful,useful...
