chapter four
Elasticity of Demand and Supply
CHAPTER OVERVIEW
This is the second chapter in Part Two, “Price, Quantity, and Efficiency.” Both the elasticity coefficient and the total revenue test for measuring price elasticity of demand are presented in the chapter. The text attempts to sharpen students’ ability to estimate price elasticity by discussing its major determinants. The chapter reviews a number of applications and presents empirical estimates for a variety of products. Income elasticities of demand, and price elasticity of supply are also addressed.
INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES
After completing this chapter, students should be able to:
1. Define price elasticity of demand and compute the coefficient of
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Absolute changes depend on choice of units. For example, a change in the price of a $10,000 car by $1 and is very different than a change in the price a of $1 can of beer by $1. The auto’s price is rising by a fraction of a percent while the beer rice is rising 100 percent. b. Percentages also make it possible to compare elasticities of demand for different products. 5. The midpoint formula for elasticity is: Ed = [(change in Q)/(sum of Q’s/2)] divided by [(change in P)/(sum of P’s/2)] a. Have the students calculate each of the percentage changes separately to determine whether the demand is elastic or inelastic. After the students have determined the type of elasticity, then have them insert the percentage changes into the formula. b. Students should practice this using numbers you provide, or using the table in end- of-chapter question 4-2. 6. Because of the inverse relationship between price and quantity demanded, the actual elasticity of demand will be a negative number. However, we ignore the minus sign and use absolute value of both percentage changes. D. Interpretations of Ed 1. If the coefficient of elasticity of demand is a number greater than one, we say demand is elastic; if the coefficient is less than one, we say demand is inelastic. In other words, the quantity demanded is “relatively responsive” when Ed is greater than 1 and “relatively unresponsive” when Ed is less
Price elasticity of demand is a Theory of the relationship between a change in the quantity demanded of a
The elasticity of demand measures the buyer’s reaction to price as its changing. “Economists measure the degree to which demand is price elastic or inelastic with the coefficient E d, defined as E d = percentage change in quantity demanded of product X/ percentage change in price of product X” (McConnell, C. 2011). Therefore, Ed=∆Qd/∆Pd. When elasticity of demand is measured less than one, demand is considered to be inelastic. The coefficient in an inelastic range is less than one. When this takes place the percentage change in price is more than the percentage change in quantity. It can be said that when inelastic demand is present that quantity becomes less effected by price changing.
Income elasticity of demand is used to measure how consumers respond to changes to their income and their buying power or demand of a product. To better understand how changes of income affect consumers decisions to either buy less of a specific product or more of a specific product we use the income elasticity formula. The income elasticity formula is to divide the percentage change of the quantity of a particular product demanded over the percentage of change in a person’s income. The answer will result in either a positive or negative coefficient with a threshold of zero. If the results are a positive coefficient then that specific product is considered a normal/superior good; if the results are a negative coefficient that product is considered an inferior good.
Unlike the price elasticity of demand, the price elasticity of supply plays an important role on how producers respond to the change in price. I argue that all bread sold in Canada has more elasticity than all shoes sold in Canada owning to three main factors, which are the availability of raw materials, length and complexity of production and mobility of factors.
Using the simulation as a guide the price elasticity of demand is reviewed to determine the effects of pricing strategies. Demand can either decrease or increase based on price of a product or service (Colander, 2010). Consumers tend to buy products were there is a decrease in price (Colander, 2010).
Elasticity of demand is measured as the percentage change in quantity demand divided by the percentage change in price .
There are three kinds of elasticity. There is elastic demand, where the elasticity is over 1. There is unitary elastic, where it is at 1.0. There is inelastic demand, where the elasticity is under 1 (Investopedia, 2013).
Elasticity is a measure of the responsiveness of demand to changes in the price of a good or service. In the case of Steam Scot, when the price rises from 4 to 5, demand falls from 60,000 to 40,000 units. The original equilibrium market price of 4 pounds resulted in demand of 60,000 units and this generated revenue of 240,000 pounds. When the prices increased to 5 pounds the resulting demand is 40,000 units, and this generates total revenue of 200,000 pounds. When market price changes from 4 pounds to 5 pounds 40,000 pounds of revenue are lost in this indicates an elastic price elasticity of demand.
Based on the above description, forms of elasticity will affect business decisions and pricing strategies differently depending on the nature and type of products or services being offered. Business organizations whose product offerings have elastic and perfectly elastic price elasticities of demand should not attempt to raise prices of their products because it will cause the quantity demanded and consequently total revenues to drop drastically. Businesses can there use the price elasticities of demand to determine whether the proposed changes in their prices will raise or reduce their total revenue. The following expression may be useful in helping business organizations to determine the impacts of elasticities on their total revenues based on the suggested price changes.
Elasticity of demand helps the sales manager in fixing the price of his product, deciding the sales, pricing policies and optimal price for their products. The evaluation of this measure is a useful tool for firms in making decisions about pricing and production which will determine the total
Elasticity of demand represented as “Ed” is defined as a “measure of the response of a consumer to a change in price on the quantity demanded of a good” (McConnell, 2012). Determinants for elasticity of demand would include the substitutability of a good, proportion of a consumer 's income spent on a good, the nature of the necessity of a good and the time a purchase is under consideration by the consumer. Furthermore, elasticity of demand is calculated with this formula:
Explain the relationship between the price elasticity of demand and total revenue. What are the impacts of various forms of elasticities (elastic, inelastic, unit elastic, etc.) on business decisions and strategies to maximize profit? Explain using empirical examples.
Recall that the elasticity of demand, which measures the responsiveness of demand to price, is given by
Since the value is less than one we can say that PS3s are elastic. This means that an increase in price of 1% will lead to a greater than 1% change in demand.
Elasticity of demand is shown when the demands for a service or goods vary according to the price. Cross-price elasticity is shown by a change in the demand for an item relative to the change in the price of another. For substitutes, when there is a price increase of an item, there is an increase in the demand for another item. When viewing complements, if there is an increase in the price of an item, the demand for another item decreases. Income elasticity is shown when there is a change in the demand for a good relative to a change in income. This concept is shown in how people will change their spending habits when their income levels change. For