Economics: Elasticity Concepts

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Questions and Answers

A good typically exhibits a small price elasticity of demand when it is considered a:

  • Market-defined item
  • Luxury item
  • Necessity (correct)
  • Non-essential good

Total spending on a good decreases with an increase in its price when the price elasticity of demand is:

  • Negative one
  • Equal to one
  • Greater than one
  • Less than one (correct)

A linear demand curve can differ in elasticity; at certain points, it is classified as:

  • Inelastic at some points and elastic at others (correct)
  • Always elastic
  • Unit elastic
  • Always inelastic

If the citizens of Rohan disproportionately spend on food due to lower incomes, which statement regarding income elasticity is accurate?

<p>Income elasticity of 0.5 indicates food is a necessity. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Given a price increase from $16 to $24, if quantity supplied rises from 90 to 110 units, what is the price elasticity of supply based on the midpoint method?

<p>2 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic shape of the supply curve when the price elasticity of supply is zero?

<p>Vertical (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is likely to happen to the demand curve in the long run if firms are able to freely enter and exit the market?

<p>The demand curve becomes more elastic. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

An increase in the supply of grain leads to a drop in total revenue for grain producers when the demand curve is:

<p>Elastic (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why might farmers adopt new technologies that ultimately reduce their revenue in competitive markets?

<p>They do not anticipate long-term market changes. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the price elasticity of demand measure?

<p>The percentage change in quantity demanded relative to the percentage change in the price (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When is demand considered elastic?

<p>When the percentage change in quantity demanded is greater than the percentage change in price (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a determinant of price elasticity of demand?

<p>Availability of substitutes (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a good with inelastic demand?

<p>It takes a small portion of the consumer's budget (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

If the price elasticity of demand is measured as unit elastic, what does this imply?

<p>The percentage change in quantity demanded is equal to the percentage change in price (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is income elasticity of demand defined?

<p>The percentage change in quantity demanded divided by the percentage change in consumer income (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary factor affecting price elasticity of supply?

<p>Flexibility of production (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of cross-price elasticity, what does a positive value indicate?

<p>The two goods are substitutes (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes perfectly inelastic demand?

<p>The quantity demanded does not change regardless of price changes (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a good with perfectly elastic demand?

<p>A slight change in price results in an infinite change in quantity demanded. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When is demand considered inelastic?

<p>When price decreases and total revenue decreases. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the Total Revenue Rule, if demand is unit elastic, what happens to total revenue when price decreases?

<p>Total revenue remains unchanged. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario describes the Quantity Effect and Price Effect relationship when demand is elastic?

<p>Quantity Effect dominates and total revenue increases. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What effect does a decrease in price generally have when demand is inelastic?

<p>Total revenue decreases. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What determines the distribution of the tax burden in the market?

<p>The absolute value of elasticity of both supply and demand. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does a perfectly inelastic demand curve signify?

<p>Quantity demanded is constant regardless of price changes. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of elasticity, what happens when a subsidy is applied to a good with inelastic demand?

<p>The entity receiving the subsidy experiences a larger benefit than the consumer. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When comparing price elasticity between two intersecting curves, what initial step should be taken?

<p>Draw a fixed change in price level. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What indicates that demand is elastic when relating price and quantity?

<p>A small increase in price results in a larger decrease in quantity demanded. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Elasticity

  • Elasticity measures the responsiveness of quantity demanded or supplied to changes in its determinants.

Price Elasticity of Demand (Ed)

  • Measures the percentage change in quantity demanded divided by the percentage change in price.
  • Elastic demand: |Ed| > 1 (large response in quantity to price change).
  • Inelastic demand: |Ed| < 1 (small response in quantity to price change).
  • Unit elastic demand: |Ed| = 1 (change in quantity equals change in price).

Determinants of Price Elasticity of Demand

  • Availability of close substitutes: More substitutes, more elastic demand.
  • Necessities vs. luxuries: Luxuries tend to have more elastic demand.
  • Market definition: Broadly defined markets have more substitutes, leading to more elastic demand.
  • Time horizon: Longer time period allows consumers to adjust, making demand more elastic.

Other Elasticities

  • Income Elasticity of Demand (EI): Measures sensitivity of quantity demanded to changes in consumer income.
  • Cross-Price Elasticity of Demand (EXY): Measures the response in demand for good X when the price of good Y changes.

Price Elasticity of Supply (Es)

  • Measures how much quantity supplied responds to changes in price.
  • Determinants include production flexibility and time horizon.

Elasticity: Definition

  • EX,Y denotes the X elasticity of Y.
  • Perfectly elastic: |EX,Y| = ∞ (infinite response).
  • Elastic: |EX,Y| > 1 (large response).
  • Unit elastic: |EX,Y| = 1 (equal response).
  • Inelastic: |EX,Y| < 1 (small response).
  • Perfectly inelastic: |EX,Y| = 0 (no response).

Calculating Elasticity: Midpoint Formula

  • Used to avoid different elasticity values depending on the direction of change.

Price Elasticity of Demand: Total Revenue Rule

  • Quantity Effect: When price decreases, more units are sold.
  • Price Effect: When price decreases, revenue per unit decreases.
  • When Ed is elastic, Quantity Effect dominates, leading to increased total revenue.
  • When Ed is unit elastic, the two effects cancel out, leading to no change in total revenue.
  • When Ed is inelastic, Price Effect dominates, leading to decreased total revenue.

Elasticity and Tax Incidence

  • The burden of a tax is greater on the side of the market with less elasticity.

Elasticity and Surplus

  • The side with more inelastic demand or supply bears a greater burden of a tax and benefits more from a subsidy.

Comparing Price Elasticity of Two Intersecting Curves

  • Draw two intersecting curves and a fixed change in price.
  • The curve with a larger change in quantity has a higher price elasticity.

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