ECON 1201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Lifesaving

From the scenario for Katrina’s Candies, examine the procedure Herb will use to estimate the "demand model" for this product and comment on the expected price elasticity, income elasticity, and cross price elasticity of demand. That is, do you expect demand to be price elastic or inelastic? Will the income elasticity suggest Katrina Candies is a luxury or a necessary good? And, is there likely to be a strong cross price elasticity with the other products that Herb included in his demand model? Explain your answers. What can you determine about consumer demand for a product whose estimated demand elasticities are as follows: Price Elasticity of demand is -0.85 Income Elasticity of demand is 2.5 Cross Price Elasticity of demand with this product and your product is -2 I would like you to think about this simple formula for predicting the change in total revenue when there is a given percentage change in price. Using the example above, if ED (price elasticity of demand) is -.85, then a 10% increase in price will cause the quantity demanded to fall by 8.5%, (-8.5% / 10% = -.85). The Formula for Predicting % Changes in Total Revenue is: %ΔTR = %ΔQ + %ΔP where TR = Total Revenue, Q is Quantity Demanded and P = price. Using this formula, what would be the % Δ in TR if ED is -.85 and the %ΔP is 10%?

When quantity demanded decreases in response to a change in price,

A. the demand curve shifts to the right.
B. the demand curve shifts to the left.
C. there is a movement down along the demand curve.
D. there is a movement up along the demand curve.
E. the supply curve shifts to the right.

Technical Questions

Using the elasticity table (above), you have the following information for your product: (1) The price elasticity of demand is -2.0; (2) The income elasticity of demand is 1.5; and, (3) The cross-price elasticity of a related good is -3.5. What can you determine about consumer demand for your product from this information?



Using the elasticity table (above), you have the following information for your product: (1) The price elasticity of demand is -.9; (2) The income elasticity of demand is .5; and, (3) The cross-price elasticity of a related good is 2.0. What can you determine about consumer demand for your product from this information?

What are the three determinants of price elasticity of demand

What are the three determinants of price elasticity supply?

Name and describe the three kinds of product innovation.

Name and describe a marketing approach (that we discussed in class) that can be used to understand consumer behavior and/or estimate demand.

Name and describe a statistical approach (that we discussed in class) or technique that can be used to understand consumer behavior and/or estimate demand.

Name a psychological model (that we discussed in class) that can be used to understand consumer behavior and/or estimate demand.

Name and describe the six types of consumers.

How do fixed and variable costs differ in the short-run and long-run?

Jim is considering quitting his job and using his savings to start a small business. He expects that his costs will consist of a lease on the building, inventory, wages, electricity, and insurance.

11A. Identify which costs are explicit and which are opportunity (implicit) costs.

11B. Identify which costs are fixed and which are variable.

What is the law of diminishing returns? What are economies of scale and diseconomies of scale? Be sure to note the terms apply to the short run and the long run.

Application Questions

1. How can entrepreneurs shift elasticity of demand and elasticity of supply? Draw on the three determinants for each in your answer.

2. How can entrepreneurs be innovative in production for the short-term and the long-term? Draw on concepts like diminishing returns, diseconomies of scale, and economies of scale in your answer.