How markets work - Elasticity and its application - The elasticity of demand

5 important questions on How markets work - Elasticity and its application - The elasticity of demand

What does the price elasticity of demand measure?


  • How much the quantity demanded of a good, responds to a change in price > How buyers and sellers respond to changes in market conditions.
  • It's calculated as the % change in quantity demanded divided by % change in price.

Because there is no universal rule for what determines a demand curve's elasticity, which factors usually influence the price elasticity of demand?

  1. Availability of close substitutes: goods with close substitutes have more elastic demand; consumers easily switch to substitutes.
  2. Necessities vs Luxuries: necessities have inelastic demands, luxuries have elastic demands.
  3. Definition of the Market: narrowly defined markets have more elastic demand because its easier to find close substitutes. Broad markets have more inelastic demand (no substitutes).
  4. Time Horizon: goods have more elastic demand over longer time periods

Why do economists use the concept of elasticity when studying markets and policy-making effects?

Because with the concept of elasticity we can measure the magnitude of the effects, rather than just the direction of the effects.
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What is the problem when calculating the price elasticity of demand? And which method can we use that avoids this problem?

  • When calculating using the simple method, the price elasticity of demand from point A to point B, will turn out differently than from point B to point A. Even though they are the same thing.
  • The midpoint method avoids this problem.

How does the midpoint method work when calculating the price elasticity of demand?

Taking the averages of the price and quantity demanded and using them instead of the starting point and end point.

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