Case 6- Supply of salt
At the start of 2010 the UK was hit by extremely cold weather including snow and ice. As a
result there was a major increase in demand for salt to put on the roads to make them safer.
However, the supply of salt in the UK comes mainly from three salt mines; one in Cheshire, one
in Cleveland, and one in County Antrim. The shortage was so great that at one point the
government ordered councils to use less grit on the roads and stopped gritting the hard shoulder
of the motorways. Problems in the past meant councils had been instructed to hold a few days
worth of stock of salt but this was not enough to make the roads safe in what was the coldest
period since 1963
Questions
1. Sketch a supply curve that represents the supply of salt in the short run. Explain your diagram
Answers
Explanation:
Case 6- Supply of salt
At the start of 2010 the UK was hit by extremely cold weather including snow and ice. As a
result there was a major increase in demand for salt to put on the roads to make them safer.
However, the supply of salt in the UK comes mainly from three salt mines; one in Cheshire, one
in Cleveland, and one in County Antrim. The shortage was so great that at one point the
government ordered councils to use less grit on the roads and stopped gritting the hard shoulder
of the motorways. Problems in the past meant councils had been instructed to hold a few days
worth of stock of salt but this was not enough to make the roads safe in what was the coldest
period since 1963
Questions
1. Sketch a supply curve that represents the supply of salt in the short run. Explain your diagram