What does the term 'market failure' refer to?

The term 'market failure' refers to a situation where goods and services are allocated inefficiently. This inefficiency typically arises when the free market, left to its own devices, does not result in an optimal distribution of resources. It can occur due to various factors, such as externalities, public goods, monopoly power, or information asymmetries, which prevent the market from reaching equilibrium where supply equals demand at a socially optimal price.

In the context of market failure, one common scenario is when a product's production or consumption negatively impacts third parties not involved in the transaction, leading to overproduction or underproduction relative to what would be considered socially optimal. Thus, option B accurately captures this concept by highlighting the inefficiency that characterizes market failures, distinguishing it from scenarios where the market operates as intended or where consumers are devoid of choices.