Ch:3 Supply Flashcards
Meaning of supply
Supply means the quantity of a commodity offered for sale in market at a certain price during a given period of time. For example
If the price of flour us RS 15 per kg in the market and 1000 kg flour is offered at market for sale, then the supply of flour will be 1000 kgs
Differentiate between supply and stock
The total quantity of a commodity available in the market or in the possession of the sellers at some period of time is called stock.
Whereas supply is the quantity which is offered for sale at a certain price out of the present stock.
For example: if the sellers have total 500 tons of sugar at some period of time, it is called stock
If they offer 300 tons of sugar out of 500 tons for sale at price rs 30 per kg in the market, it will be called supply.
Differentiate between extension and contraction of supply
According to law of supply,
When the price if a commodity increases, its supply increases. It is called extension of supply.
Conversely, when the price of commodity decreases, its supply also decreases . It is called contraction of supply.
Different between rise and fall of supply
When supply of a commodity increases owing to other factors rather than price, it is called rise of supply.
When supply of a commodity decreases owing to other factors rather than price, it is called fall of supply.
Define elasticity of supply
Elasticity of supply is the degree of responsiveness of supply of a commodity to a change in it’s price.
Law of supply
If all other things remain constant, the quantity supplied if a commodity increases as a result of an increase in it’s price and vice versa.
Write formula of measurement of elasticity of supply
Following is the formula to measure the elasticity of supply
∆q/∆p × p/q
What is the tendency of supply curve
Supply curve has the tendency to move from left to right upward
It means it’s slope is positive.
Why is slope of supply curve positive
Positive slope of supply curve means that supply of a commodity increases due to the increase in it’s price. The following are it’s reasons.
Due to increase in price, profit of the seller increases. So they increase the supply.
In future there is a chance if falling the price, so at the current increase in price, the sellers increase the supply
In order to cover the increase in per unit cost of production, it is necessary to offer more quantity of commodity to sell in the market.
Write exceptions limitations of the law of supply
The law of supply does not prove true under following circumstances:
When the sellers are extremely in need of cash
When there are strikes or lock outs due to resentment between the labourers and entrepreneurs or there is situation of anarchy and war in the country
When entrepreneurs and sellers have to shift themselves suddenly from one place to another place
When the means of transport are badly effected due to bad weather and floods etc
Write the methods of measurement of elasticity of supply
The method of measurement of elasticity of supply are three
Percentage method
Proportional method
By mathematical formula
What is meant by zero elasticity of supply
If the change in price doesn’t affect the quantity supplied and the quantity supplied remains constant, it is said that elasticity of supply is zero. In this case, supply curve is vertical or parallel bto OY axis
What is meant by infinite elasticity of supply
If the quantity supplied reduces to zero at slight decrease in price, and the quantity supplied extends to infinity at a slight increase in price. The elasticity of supply is said to be infinite. The curve if this kind of supply is horizontal and parallel to ox axis
What is meant by elasticity of supply equal to unity
If the rate of change in supply and price is equal, elasticity of supply is said to be equal to unity
Elasticity of supply greater than unity
If the ratio of change in supply is greater than that of price, elasticity of supply is said to be greater than unit.