What is defined as the minimum price set by the government?

The definition of a minimum price set by the government corresponds to price floors. Price floors are regulatory measures whereby the government establishes a lowest price for a good or service, which is above the market equilibrium price. This is often done to ensure that producers receive a minimum income level for their products, particularly in sectors like agriculture. When the government sets a price floor, it prevents prices from falling below a designated level, which can help protect the livelihoods of producers and can also be a method to combat issues like market failures or to promote fair wages.

In contrast, price ceilings are maximum prices set by the government to prevent prices from rising too high, subsidies involve government financial support to lower the cost of a product or encourage its production, and market equilibrium refers to the point where supply equals demand without any government intervention. Understanding the role and implications of price floors is crucial for analyzing government interventions in markets.