What describes the relationship between price and the quantity supplied?

The relationship between price and quantity supplied is characterized as a direct relationship. This means that as the price of a good or service increases, the quantity suppliers are willing and able to offer to the market also increases. Conversely, if the price decreases, the quantity supplied typically decreases as well.

This positive correlation occurs because higher prices generally incentivize producers to produce more of a good, as the potential for greater revenue makes it more attractive to increase production efforts. This principle is supported by the law of supply, which posits that all else being equal, an increase in price results in an increase in quantity supplied due to the willingness of suppliers to take advantage of higher selling prices.

Understanding this relationship is essential in economics as it helps to explain producer behavior in the marketplace and forms one of the foundational concepts in supply theory.