Elasticity and its applications Flashcards
Define elasticity
A measure of how much buyers and sellers respond to changes in market conditions
What does elasticity allow?
Greater accuracy when analysing supply and demand
Define price elasticity of demand
A measure of how much the quantity demanded of a good responds to a change in the price of that good.
List 5 determinants in the price of elasticity of demand
Availability of close substitutes Necessities versus luxuries Definition of the market Proportion of income devoted to the product Time horizon
How can you calculate the price elasticity of demand?
%change in quantity demanded/ % change in price
In what direction is the price elasticity of demand shown and why?
Downward slope because it is always negative
Why is it harder to measure price elasticity in real life?
It is difficult to distinguish between cause and correlation
What is the value of perfectly price inelasticity?
Ed=0
What is meant when something is perfectly price inelastic?
Quantity demanded does not respond to price changes
What is the value of perfectly price elacticity?
Ed= infinity
What is meant if something is perfectly price elastic?
Quantity demanded changes infinitively with any change in price
What is the value of unit price elasticity?
Ed= -1
What is meant if something is unit price elastic?
Quantity demanded changes by the same percentage as the price
What type of curve shows price inelastic demand?
Steep curves
What is meant by price inelastic demand?
Quantity demanded does not respond strongly to price changes
What is the absolute value of price inelastic demand?
Ed= less than 1 (between 0 and 1)
What type of curve shows price elastic demand?
Flat curves
What is meant by price elastic demand?
Quantity demanded responds strongly to changes in price
What is the absolute value of price elastic demand?
Ed= more than 1
What is meant by total expenditure?
The amount paid by buyers
How can you work out total expenditure?
price of good x quantity purchased
What is meant by total revenue?
The amount received by sellers