MARKET: The organized exchange of commodities (goods, services, or resources) between buyers and sellers within a specific geographic area and during a given period of time. Markets are the exchange between buyers who want a good--the demand-side of the market--and the sellers who have it--the supply--side of the market. In essence, a buyer gives up money and gets a good, while a seller gives up a good and gets money. From a marketing context, in order to be a market the following conditions must exist. The target consumers must have the ability to purchase the goods or services. They must have a need or desire to purchase. The target group must be willing to exchange something of value for the product. Finally, they must have the authority to make the purchase. If all these variables are present, a market exits. See also | exchange | goods | services | scarcity | resource allocation | three questions of allocation | demand | supply | price | quantity | equilibrium | production | consumption | capitalism | market-oriented economy | comparative statics | demand shock | supply shock | competitive market | equilibrium price | equilibrium quantity | barter | market adjustment | market clearing | market control | market failure | marketing mix | product | consumer behavior | target market | marketing plan |
