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Questions and Answers
If the PED is equal to 1, what does this imply?
If the PED is equal to 1, what does this imply?
- Demand is not sensitive to substitutes
- Quantity demanded changes proportionally to price changes (correct)
- Demand is perfectly inelastic
- Price changes have no effect on quantity demanded
Which factor would make the demand for a good more elastic according to the text?
Which factor would make the demand for a good more elastic according to the text?
- Higher price for the good
- Increased competition in the market (correct)
- Decreased availability of substitutes
- Less necessity of the product
What does a PED of infinity indicate?
What does a PED of infinity indicate?
- Demand is highly sensitive to price changes
- Perfectly elastic demand (correct)
- No change in quantity demanded regardless of price
- Perfectly inelastic demand
If the quantity demanded of a product increases from 120 units to 150 units when the price decreases from $8 to $6, what is the price elasticity of demand?
If the quantity demanded of a product increases from 120 units to 150 units when the price decreases from $8 to $6, what is the price elasticity of demand?
In which situation would the PED be less than 1?
In which situation would the PED be less than 1?
In price elasticity of demand, what does a value of -1 signify?
In price elasticity of demand, what does a value of -1 signify?
How does price elasticity of demand help in predicting consumer behavior?
How does price elasticity of demand help in predicting consumer behavior?
If the percentage change in quantity demanded is -10% and the percentage change in price is 5%, what is the price elasticity of demand for the product?
If the percentage change in quantity demanded is -10% and the percentage change in price is 5%, what is the price elasticity of demand for the product?
When does a product exhibit perfectly inelastic demand?
When does a product exhibit perfectly inelastic demand?
What type of demand elasticity is described by a value greater than 1?
What type of demand elasticity is described by a value greater than 1?
In a market where both demand and supply are elastic, why would an excise tax on cigarettes be less effective in generating revenue?
In a market where both demand and supply are elastic, why would an excise tax on cigarettes be less effective in generating revenue?
Why would the tax incidence of a new tax on fine jewelry likely fall on the producers?
Why would the tax incidence of a new tax on fine jewelry likely fall on the producers?
Why do labor taxes fall on workers when labor supply is less elastic than labor demand?
Why do labor taxes fall on workers when labor supply is less elastic than labor demand?
What happens to the tax burden when supply is more elastic than demand?
What happens to the tax burden when supply is more elastic than demand?
Which of the following is a key benefit of understanding elasticity and tax incidence for policymakers?
Which of the following is a key benefit of understanding elasticity and tax incidence for policymakers?
Study Notes
Elasticity: The Concept of Price Demand Responsiveness
Elasticity, a fundamental concept in microeconomics, measures the responsiveness of the quantity demanded or supplied of a good to a change in its price. This concept is crucial in understanding how consumers and producers react to fluctuations in market conditions and plays a significant role in shaping economic analysis and forecasting.
In the context of price elasticity of demand (PED), two subtopics are essential to discuss:
- Calculating elasticity
- Categorizing demand elasticities
Calculating Elasticity
To measure elasticity, economists use the percentage change in quantity demanded (Qd) or supplied (Qs) divided by the corresponding percent change in price (P). The formula for the price elasticity of demand is:
$$\text{PED} = \frac{%\text{ change in quantity demanded}}{%\text{ change in price}}$$
For example, if the quantity demanded of a product decreases from 100 units to 80 units when the price increases from $10 to $12, the elasticity calculation would be as follows:
$$\text{PED} = \frac{\frac{80 - 100}{100}\times 100%}{\frac{12 - 10}{10}\times 100%} = \frac{-20%}{20%} = -1$$
Since the elasticity is equal to -1, the demand is inelastic (as the absolute value is less than 1).
Categorizing Demand Elasticities
Elasticities can be categorized into five broad categories:
- Perfectly Elastic: The demand is infinitely sensitive to price changes, which means that the PED is either positive infinity or -infinity.
- Elastic: The PED is greater than 1, indicating that a change in price leads to a substantial change in quantity demanded or supplied.
- Unitary: The PED is equal to 1, which implies that the percentage change in quantity demanded or supplied is proportional to the percentage change in price.
- Inelastic: The PED is less than 1, indicating that a change in price leads to a smaller change in quantity demanded or supplied.
- Perfectly Inelastic: The demand is not sensitive to price changes, which means that the PED is 0.
Factors that can influence the elasticity of demand include the availability of substitutes (substitute goods make demand more elastic), the necessity of the product (demand for health-related items tends to be inelastic), and competition in the market (competitive markets tend to have more elastic demand).
In conclusion, elasticity is a vital concept in microeconomics that enables us to analyze and predict consumer and producer behavior in response to price changes. The price elasticity of demand and supply can help us determine how much a good or service's demand or supply will change when its price increases or decreases. By understanding these principles, economists, businesspeople, and policymakers can make more informed decisions regarding market dynamics and price setting.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the concept of price elasticity of demand and how changes in price influence consumer behavior. Explore the calculation of elasticity using percentage changes and learn about the categorization of demand elasticities into different categories.
