Postwar pent-up demand refers to...

• A. People spent freely during wartime
• B. Demand stayed constant after war
• C. People saved money during wartime but couldn't spend, creating pent-up demand after war
• D. Pent-up demand is a myth

Answer: (C)

Pent-up demand is what happens when people accumulate savings and defer purchases during a period of shortages or restrictions, and then rush to buy once those limits ease. In the postwar period, rationing and limited goods kept consumer spending low, so households saved money that wasn’t spent. After the war, those savings are used to purchase big-ticket items and other goods that were previously inaccessible, creating a surge in demand. That surge is the essence of pent-up demand.

Spending freely during wartime isn’t typical because controls and shortages curb consumption. Demand staying constant after would ignore the observed surge as people release saved funds, and calling it a myth denies real postwar economic activity.