What is a common result of a shortage in economics?

In economics, a shortage occurs when the demand for a good or service exceeds its supply at a given price point. When this happens, consumers are willing to pay more for the limited available quantity, leading to an increase in prices. This price increase serves to balance supply and demand by signaling producers to create more of the good, until the market reaches a new equilibrium.

In this context, the other options do not accurately reflect the dynamics of a shortage. A decrease in the cost of goods does not occur during a shortage; instead, prices typically rise due to increased demand. Similarly, a shortage implies less availability rather than more, contradicting the idea of more availability of resources. Finally, market stabilization is generally a result of balanced supply and demand, which is not the case during a shortage, where the imbalance prompts price adjustments.