What term is used for situations where the market does not achieve the desired results?

The term "Market Failures" refers to situations in which the allocation of goods and services by a free market is not efficient. This can occur due to various reasons such as the presence of public goods, externalities, information asymmetries, or monopolies, which prevent the market from operating optimally. In a perfectly competitive market, resources are allocated in a way that maximizes overall welfare; however, when market failures occur, this efficient allocation is disrupted, leading to undesirable outcomes such as wasted resources, inequitable distribution of wealth, or negative impacts on society or the environment.

Understanding market failures is crucial for economists and policymakers because it highlights situations where government intervention may be necessary to correct inefficiencies and promote a more equitable and efficient economy. Options like redistributing income or addressing externalities might be responses to market failures but do not define the concept itself. Contest, in economic terms, usually relates to market competition rather than the inefficiencies that arise from market failures.