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ECON 1050 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Demand Curve

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orangehorse997
27 Oct 2018
School
University of Guelph
Department
Economics
Course
ECON 1050
Professor
Pat Martin

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Document Summary

Price elasticity of demand: unit free measurement of the responsiveness of the quantity demanded to the change in price when all other influences remain the same (cid:2187)(cid:2200)(cid:2185)(cid:2187)(cid:2196)(cid:2202)(cid:2189)(cid:2187) (cid:2185)(cid:2190)(cid:2196)(cid:2189)(cid:2187) (cid:2191)(cid:2196) (cid:2198)(cid:2200)(cid:2191)(cid:2185)(cid:2187)= cane n ce. A(cid:2932)e(cid:2928)a(cid:2917)e (cid:2927)(cid:2931)an(cid:2930)(cid:2919)(cid:2930)y (cid:883)(cid:882)(cid:882) (cid:2187)(cid:2200)(cid:2185)(cid:2187)(cid:2196)(cid:2202)(cid:2189)(cid:2187) (cid:2185)(cid:2190)(cid:2196)(cid:2189)(cid:2187) (cid:2191)(cid:2196) (cid:2199)(cid:2203)(cid:2196)(cid:2202)(cid:2191)(cid:2202)= c(cid:2918)an(cid:2917)e (cid:2919)n (cid:2927)(cid:2931)an(cid:2930)(cid:2919)(cid:2930)y (cid:2200)(cid:2191)(cid:2185)(cid:2187) (cid:2187)(cid:2194)(cid:2201)(cid:2202)(cid:2191)(cid:2185)(cid:2191)(cid:2202) (cid:2197)(cid:2188) (cid:2186)(cid:2187)(cid:2195)(cid:2196)(cid:2186) = % (cid:1866)(cid:1859)(cid:1857) (cid:1866) (cid:1869)(cid:1873)(cid:1866)(cid:1872)(cid:1872) Price elasticity of demand can be a negative number, but it is written as absolute value. Perfectly inelastic demand: if the quantity demanded remains constant despite a price change (i. e price elasticity of demand = 0) e. g insulin for diabetes. Inelastic demand: the percentage change in quantity is less than the percentage change in price (food and shelter) Unit elastic demand: if the percentage change in quantity demanded is equal to the percentage change in price = 1. Elastic demand: percentage change in quantity is greater than the percentage change in price (cars, furniture)

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Related Questions

Discussion #1

The law of demand states that a fall in the price of a good raises the quantity demanded, and the increase in price leads to a decrease in quantity demanded. The price elasticity of demand measures the responsiveness of the quantity demanded to a change in price. Demand for a good is said to be elastic if the quantity demanded responds substantially to changes in the price, and the percentage change in quantity demanded is greater than the percentage change in price. Demand is said to be inelastic if the quantity demanded responds only slightly to changes in the price, which indicates that the percentage in price is greater than the percentage in quantity demanded.

However, the extent of responsiveness of quantity demanded to a change in price depends on the nature of a particular good or service in the market. The price elasticity of demand partly depends on the availability of close substitutes. When a large number of substitutes are available, consumers respond to a higher price of a good by buying more of the substitute goods and less of the relatively more expensive good. In addition, goods or services that are considered necessities tend to have less elastic (more inelastic) demand, whereas goods or services that are considered luxuries have more elastic (less inelastic) demands.

  • Explain why the demand for the good or service provided by the organization you work for is elastic or inelastic. How does this influence pricing decisions?
  • Provide examples on how the availability of close substitutes affects price elasticity of demand.
  • Give specific examples of necessities or luxuries, and explain how they affect price elasticity of goods or services.

Please answer ALL bulletins and place the answers under the correct bulletin.

Determinants of the price elasticity of demand Consider some determinants of the price elasticity of demand:
• Number of substitutes
• Whether the good is a necessity or a luxury
• Percentage of one's budget spent on the good
• Time horizon being considered
 
A. A good with many close substitutes is likely to have relatively ___________ demand since consumers can easily choose to purchase one of the close substitutes if the price of the good rises.
 
B. A good's price elasticity of demand depends in part on how necessary it is relative to other goods. If the following goods are priced approximately the same, which one has the least elastic demand?
1. Chemotherapy for cancer patients
2. Yacht
 
The price elasticity of demand for good also depends on how you define the good.
 
C. Organize the goods found in the following table by indicating which is likely to have the most elastic demand, which is likely to have the least elastic demand, and which will have demand that falls in between.
1. Beverages
2. Merlot
3. Wine
 
D. The price elasticity of demand is also affected by the given time horizon. Other things being equal, the demand for natural gas will tend to be _________ elastic in the short run than in the long run.

 

Consider some determinants of the price elasticity of demand:

  • The availability of close substitutes
  • Whether the good is a necessity or a luxury
  • How broadly you define the market?
  • The time horizon being considered
 

A good without any close substitutes is likely to have relatively ___________(inelastic/elastic) demand since consumers cannot easily switch to a substitute good if the price of the good rises.

A good's price elasticity of demand depends in part on how necessary it is relative to other goods. If the following goods are priced approximately the same, which one has the least elastic demand?

A. Diamond necklace

B. A heart value for heart attack victims

The price elasticity of demand for good also depends on how you define the good.

Organize the goods found in the following table by indicating which is likely to have the most elastic demand, which is likely to have the least elastic demand, and which will have demand that falls in between.

Categories Most Elastic In Between Least Elastic
Food      
Red Bell Peppers      
Vegetables      
 

The price elasticity of demand is also affected by the given time horizon.

If the price of gasoline is relatively high for a long time, consumers are more likely to buy more fuel-efficient cars or switch to alternatives like public transportation. Therefore, the demand for gasoline is__________ (less, more, no more, nor less) elastic in the short run than in the long run.