What does a perfectly elastic supply curve imply?

A perfectly elastic supply curve implies that suppliers are willing to provide any quantity of a good or service at a specific price, but will not supply anything at prices above this level. This means that if demand increases and the price remains the same, suppliers will immediately increase production to meet the demand without any price change.

In this framework, a perfectly elastic supply means that minor changes in price lead to significant changes in the quantity supplied. Thus, demand shifts would not affect the price, as producers will adjust their output rather than the market price itself. This characteristic demonstrates how suppliers react to demand signals in a market with perfectly elastic supply.

The other options do not accurately represent the implications of a perfectly elastic supply curve. Price decreases do not occur with increased demand; rather, the price remains constant while suppliers adjust their output. Furthermore, the idea that there will always be a shortage of goods is inconsistent with the nature of perfectly elastic supply, where suppliers can meet any demand at the existing price.