Rare earth metals are used to manufacture some important electronic components in popular products like cell phones. These metals are not really rare, but they are expensive to extract from the ground. What happens to the market for the rare earth metals if these extraction costs increase?

A) Demand curve shifts leftward
B) Demand curve shifts rightward
C) Supply curve shifts leftward
D) Supply curve shifts rightward

Extraction Costs

The expenses associated with the removal of raw materials from the earth, such as labor, energy, and equipment costs.

Rare Earth Metals

Rare earth metals are a group of seventeen elements used in the manufacture of a variety of advanced technological devices, characterized by their scarcity and unique electronic properties.

Supply Curve

represents the relationship between the price of a good or service and the quantity of that good or service that suppliers are willing to offer for sale, holding all else constant.