<p>When strawberries are in season they are cheaper.  </p>

<p>The only thing that has changed is the supply.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-11T23:31:31.610Z
2015-02-11T23:31:31.610Z
The Beachdancer
<p>This is a common problem among students first learning economics. The way these graphs are displayed are not meant to tell you anything about causality, let along the direction of causality. The reason that price is on the y-axis is partly because of tradition and partly because that's what makes the most sense from the perspective of developing economic theory. </p>

<p>One of the central questions of economics is the determination of prices. What causes prices to be what they are? So, it maybe seems natural to write relationships that give a price as the dependent variable. However, the layout is not meant to convey any information about causality.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-21T04:46:27.587Z
I will add that you should perhaps read a bit about supply-shift factors and demand-shift factors. That should give a bit of additional insight.
123
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-20T21:43:24.250Z
2015-01-20T21:43:24.250Z
jmbejara
<p>On nearly all graphs found within economics textbooks, quantity is label on the x-axis and price on the y-axis, implying that the quantity supplied affects the price. Is this really so? Intuition would tell you (or me at least!) that the quantity someone wishes to buy is dictated by the price, which in turn is decided by whoever is selling the item.</p>

<macroeconomics><microeconomics>
Does price affect quantity or vice versa?
Nick
# Does price affect quantity or vice versa?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-01-20)

On nearly all graphs found within economics textbooks, quantity is label on the x-axis and price on the y-axis, implying that the quantity supplied affects the price. Is this really so? Intuition would tell you (or me at least!) that the quantity someone wishes to buy is dictated by the price, which in turn is decided by whoever is selling the item.

**Tags:** macroeconomics, microeconomics

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-01-20. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

This is a common problem among students first learning economics. The way these graphs are displayed are not meant to tell you anything about causality, let along the direction of causality. The reason that price is on the y-axis is partly because of tradition and partly because that's what makes the most sense from the perspective of developing economic theory.

One of the central questions of economics is the determination of prices. What causes prices to be what they are? So, it maybe seems natural to write relationships that give a price as the dependent variable. However, the layout is not meant to convey any information about causality.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: I will add that you should perhaps read a bit about supply-shift factors and demand-shift factors. That should give a bit of additional insight.  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2015-02-11. Score: -2

When strawberries are in season they are cheaper.

The only thing that has changed is the supply.


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