Page 1
Elasticity Of Demand & Supply
1
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi
Subject: Microeconomics
Lesson: Elasticity Of Demand & Supply
Lesson Developer: S.K Gupta
College/Department: Dept. of Eco, University of Delhi
Page 2
Elasticity Of Demand & Supply
1
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi
Subject: Microeconomics
Lesson: Elasticity Of Demand & Supply
Lesson Developer: S.K Gupta
College/Department: Dept. of Eco, University of Delhi
Elasticity Of Demand & Supply
2
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi
1. LEARNING OUTCOMES
After you have read this chapter, you should be able to
? define elasticity of demand and supply
? understand different types of elasticity of demand
? identify different determinants of elasticity of demand
? apply the knowledge of elasticity of demand and supply in real file.
2. INTRODUCTION
Amount of a commodity demanded per unit of time is a function of many variables
such as price of that commodity, price of related commodities, income of the consumer,
wealth of the buyers, distribution of income & wealth among buyers, number of
buyers. A change in any one of the above mentioned variables (independent variable)
is likely to bring a change in the amount of commodity purchased (dependent variable)
per unit of time. The elasticity of demand measures the relative responsiveness in the
amount of the commodity purchased per unit of time to a change in any one of the
variables while keeping the other variables constant. Thus the coefficient of elasticity
of demand may be defined as the proportionate change in the demand for a commodity
divided by the proportionate change in the price of the commodity, related
commodity or the income of the consumer
Alfred Marshall defined “Elasticity of demand as the percentage change in the
quantity demanded divided by the percentage change in the price.”
Elasticity of demand is found to be of three kinds (1) Price Elasticity of Demand (2)
cross Elasticity of Demand (3) Income Elasticity of Demand
3. PRICE ELASTICITY OF DEMAND
Other things being constant price elasticity of demand is the ratio of percentage
charge in demand due to the percentage change in the price of the commodity. The
concept of price-elasticity of demand is expressed as under:
price its in e ch percentage or e oportionat
demanded ity com of amount the in e ch percentage or e oportionat
E
p
arg ) / ( Pr
mod arg ) / ( Pr
?
Since there exists an inverse relation between the change in quantity demanded
(extension or contraction) and the change in price of the commodity, price elasticity
of demand is represented by negative sign (-). In the words of Lipsey “Because of the
Page 3
Elasticity Of Demand & Supply
1
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi
Subject: Microeconomics
Lesson: Elasticity Of Demand & Supply
Lesson Developer: S.K Gupta
College/Department: Dept. of Eco, University of Delhi
Elasticity Of Demand & Supply
2
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi
1. LEARNING OUTCOMES
After you have read this chapter, you should be able to
? define elasticity of demand and supply
? understand different types of elasticity of demand
? identify different determinants of elasticity of demand
? apply the knowledge of elasticity of demand and supply in real file.
2. INTRODUCTION
Amount of a commodity demanded per unit of time is a function of many variables
such as price of that commodity, price of related commodities, income of the consumer,
wealth of the buyers, distribution of income & wealth among buyers, number of
buyers. A change in any one of the above mentioned variables (independent variable)
is likely to bring a change in the amount of commodity purchased (dependent variable)
per unit of time. The elasticity of demand measures the relative responsiveness in the
amount of the commodity purchased per unit of time to a change in any one of the
variables while keeping the other variables constant. Thus the coefficient of elasticity
of demand may be defined as the proportionate change in the demand for a commodity
divided by the proportionate change in the price of the commodity, related
commodity or the income of the consumer
Alfred Marshall defined “Elasticity of demand as the percentage change in the
quantity demanded divided by the percentage change in the price.”
Elasticity of demand is found to be of three kinds (1) Price Elasticity of Demand (2)
cross Elasticity of Demand (3) Income Elasticity of Demand
3. PRICE ELASTICITY OF DEMAND
Other things being constant price elasticity of demand is the ratio of percentage
charge in demand due to the percentage change in the price of the commodity. The
concept of price-elasticity of demand is expressed as under:
price its in e ch percentage or e oportionat
demanded ity com of amount the in e ch percentage or e oportionat
E
p
arg ) / ( Pr
mod arg ) / ( Pr
?
Since there exists an inverse relation between the change in quantity demanded
(extension or contraction) and the change in price of the commodity, price elasticity
of demand is represented by negative sign (-). In the words of Lipsey “Because of the
Elasticity Of Demand & Supply
3
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi
negative slope of the demand curve, price and quantity will always change in
opposite direction. One change will be positive and the other negative.”
In practice, negative sign is not used before showing the coefficient price elasticity of
demand. In general while comparing two elasticities we compare only their absolute
numbers and not algebraic values.
A 20 percentage change in price of a commodity if it causes 10 percentage change in
quantity demanded, it means
5 . 0 ) (
20
10
? ? ?
price in Percentage
demand quantity in change Percentage
E
P
Thus price elasticity of demand is measured by a ratio; the percentage change in
quantity demanded divided by the percentage change in price. For a negatively sloping
demand curve, elasticity is negative and the size of the elasticity is measured by
comparing the absolute values of demand and price.
In symbols, the definition of price elasticity of demand can be expressed as
q
p
p
q
change
change
p
p
q
q
E or E
P d
?
?
?
? ?
? ?
?
?
?
%
%
% %
%
%
Where E
d
or E
P
is price elasticity of demand
P = initial price
q = quantity demanded at initial price
?p = % change in price
?q = % change in quantity demanded
This formula can be explained with the help of an example:- let us assume at a price
of Rs. 20 per loaf of bread 10 breads are bought when the price is reduced to Rs 18 per
bread, 15 breads are bought.
Page 4
Elasticity Of Demand & Supply
1
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi
Subject: Microeconomics
Lesson: Elasticity Of Demand & Supply
Lesson Developer: S.K Gupta
College/Department: Dept. of Eco, University of Delhi
Elasticity Of Demand & Supply
2
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi
1. LEARNING OUTCOMES
After you have read this chapter, you should be able to
? define elasticity of demand and supply
? understand different types of elasticity of demand
? identify different determinants of elasticity of demand
? apply the knowledge of elasticity of demand and supply in real file.
2. INTRODUCTION
Amount of a commodity demanded per unit of time is a function of many variables
such as price of that commodity, price of related commodities, income of the consumer,
wealth of the buyers, distribution of income & wealth among buyers, number of
buyers. A change in any one of the above mentioned variables (independent variable)
is likely to bring a change in the amount of commodity purchased (dependent variable)
per unit of time. The elasticity of demand measures the relative responsiveness in the
amount of the commodity purchased per unit of time to a change in any one of the
variables while keeping the other variables constant. Thus the coefficient of elasticity
of demand may be defined as the proportionate change in the demand for a commodity
divided by the proportionate change in the price of the commodity, related
commodity or the income of the consumer
Alfred Marshall defined “Elasticity of demand as the percentage change in the
quantity demanded divided by the percentage change in the price.”
Elasticity of demand is found to be of three kinds (1) Price Elasticity of Demand (2)
cross Elasticity of Demand (3) Income Elasticity of Demand
3. PRICE ELASTICITY OF DEMAND
Other things being constant price elasticity of demand is the ratio of percentage
charge in demand due to the percentage change in the price of the commodity. The
concept of price-elasticity of demand is expressed as under:
price its in e ch percentage or e oportionat
demanded ity com of amount the in e ch percentage or e oportionat
E
p
arg ) / ( Pr
mod arg ) / ( Pr
?
Since there exists an inverse relation between the change in quantity demanded
(extension or contraction) and the change in price of the commodity, price elasticity
of demand is represented by negative sign (-). In the words of Lipsey “Because of the
Elasticity Of Demand & Supply
3
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi
negative slope of the demand curve, price and quantity will always change in
opposite direction. One change will be positive and the other negative.”
In practice, negative sign is not used before showing the coefficient price elasticity of
demand. In general while comparing two elasticities we compare only their absolute
numbers and not algebraic values.
A 20 percentage change in price of a commodity if it causes 10 percentage change in
quantity demanded, it means
5 . 0 ) (
20
10
? ? ?
price in Percentage
demand quantity in change Percentage
E
P
Thus price elasticity of demand is measured by a ratio; the percentage change in
quantity demanded divided by the percentage change in price. For a negatively sloping
demand curve, elasticity is negative and the size of the elasticity is measured by
comparing the absolute values of demand and price.
In symbols, the definition of price elasticity of demand can be expressed as
q
p
p
q
change
change
p
p
q
q
E or E
P d
?
?
?
? ?
? ?
?
?
?
%
%
% %
%
%
Where E
d
or E
P
is price elasticity of demand
P = initial price
q = quantity demanded at initial price
?p = % change in price
?q = % change in quantity demanded
This formula can be explained with the help of an example:- let us assume at a price
of Rs. 20 per loaf of bread 10 breads are bought when the price is reduced to Rs 18 per
bread, 15 breads are bought.
Elasticity Of Demand & Supply
4
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi
5
10
20
2
5
? ? ? ?
?
?
?
q
p
q
q
E
P
Two extreme situations of price elasticity of demand need to be mentioned before
discussing normal situations of price elasticity of demand.
Two Extreme situations of Price Elasticity of Demand are Zero and Infinity.
(1) Zero Price Elasticity of Demand (Perfectly Inelastic) is there where due to any
change in price of the commodity, no change is noticed in the quantity demanded of
that commodity this situation in expressed as Perfectly Inelastic Demand. This can be
represented with the help of following Fig 1.
In Figure 1, vertical straight line DD shows that , there may be any change in the
price of the commodity but the quantity demanded remains OD. Thus the demand curve
DD shows neither any extension nor contraction.
(2) Infinite Price Elasticity of Demand (Perfectly Elastic Demand) is found when due to a
negligible change in price of the commodity, there is infinite change in the quantity
demanded. (Fig 2.)
At price OP, any amount of commodity can be bought
which is represented by PD horizontal straight line.
There is infinite change in quantity demanded due to
negligible or no change in price.
Page 5
Elasticity Of Demand & Supply
1
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi
Subject: Microeconomics
Lesson: Elasticity Of Demand & Supply
Lesson Developer: S.K Gupta
College/Department: Dept. of Eco, University of Delhi
Elasticity Of Demand & Supply
2
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi
1. LEARNING OUTCOMES
After you have read this chapter, you should be able to
? define elasticity of demand and supply
? understand different types of elasticity of demand
? identify different determinants of elasticity of demand
? apply the knowledge of elasticity of demand and supply in real file.
2. INTRODUCTION
Amount of a commodity demanded per unit of time is a function of many variables
such as price of that commodity, price of related commodities, income of the consumer,
wealth of the buyers, distribution of income & wealth among buyers, number of
buyers. A change in any one of the above mentioned variables (independent variable)
is likely to bring a change in the amount of commodity purchased (dependent variable)
per unit of time. The elasticity of demand measures the relative responsiveness in the
amount of the commodity purchased per unit of time to a change in any one of the
variables while keeping the other variables constant. Thus the coefficient of elasticity
of demand may be defined as the proportionate change in the demand for a commodity
divided by the proportionate change in the price of the commodity, related
commodity or the income of the consumer
Alfred Marshall defined “Elasticity of demand as the percentage change in the
quantity demanded divided by the percentage change in the price.”
Elasticity of demand is found to be of three kinds (1) Price Elasticity of Demand (2)
cross Elasticity of Demand (3) Income Elasticity of Demand
3. PRICE ELASTICITY OF DEMAND
Other things being constant price elasticity of demand is the ratio of percentage
charge in demand due to the percentage change in the price of the commodity. The
concept of price-elasticity of demand is expressed as under:
price its in e ch percentage or e oportionat
demanded ity com of amount the in e ch percentage or e oportionat
E
p
arg ) / ( Pr
mod arg ) / ( Pr
?
Since there exists an inverse relation between the change in quantity demanded
(extension or contraction) and the change in price of the commodity, price elasticity
of demand is represented by negative sign (-). In the words of Lipsey “Because of the
Elasticity Of Demand & Supply
3
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi
negative slope of the demand curve, price and quantity will always change in
opposite direction. One change will be positive and the other negative.”
In practice, negative sign is not used before showing the coefficient price elasticity of
demand. In general while comparing two elasticities we compare only their absolute
numbers and not algebraic values.
A 20 percentage change in price of a commodity if it causes 10 percentage change in
quantity demanded, it means
5 . 0 ) (
20
10
? ? ?
price in Percentage
demand quantity in change Percentage
E
P
Thus price elasticity of demand is measured by a ratio; the percentage change in
quantity demanded divided by the percentage change in price. For a negatively sloping
demand curve, elasticity is negative and the size of the elasticity is measured by
comparing the absolute values of demand and price.
In symbols, the definition of price elasticity of demand can be expressed as
q
p
p
q
change
change
p
p
q
q
E or E
P d
?
?
?
? ?
? ?
?
?
?
%
%
% %
%
%
Where E
d
or E
P
is price elasticity of demand
P = initial price
q = quantity demanded at initial price
?p = % change in price
?q = % change in quantity demanded
This formula can be explained with the help of an example:- let us assume at a price
of Rs. 20 per loaf of bread 10 breads are bought when the price is reduced to Rs 18 per
bread, 15 breads are bought.
Elasticity Of Demand & Supply
4
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi
5
10
20
2
5
? ? ? ?
?
?
?
q
p
q
q
E
P
Two extreme situations of price elasticity of demand need to be mentioned before
discussing normal situations of price elasticity of demand.
Two Extreme situations of Price Elasticity of Demand are Zero and Infinity.
(1) Zero Price Elasticity of Demand (Perfectly Inelastic) is there where due to any
change in price of the commodity, no change is noticed in the quantity demanded of
that commodity this situation in expressed as Perfectly Inelastic Demand. This can be
represented with the help of following Fig 1.
In Figure 1, vertical straight line DD shows that , there may be any change in the
price of the commodity but the quantity demanded remains OD. Thus the demand curve
DD shows neither any extension nor contraction.
(2) Infinite Price Elasticity of Demand (Perfectly Elastic Demand) is found when due to a
negligible change in price of the commodity, there is infinite change in the quantity
demanded. (Fig 2.)
At price OP, any amount of commodity can be bought
which is represented by PD horizontal straight line.
There is infinite change in quantity demanded due to
negligible or no change in price.
Elasticity Of Demand & Supply
5
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi
Normal situations of price elasticity of demand can be presented as under:
(3) Unitary Elasticity of Demand when Elasticity of Demand = 1
Unitary Elastic Demand is said to be there when the ratio of proportionate change in
quantity demand to the proportionate change in price is equal to one.
Total Expenditure = Price ? Quantity, P= Price, Q =
Quantity. DD demand curve represents unitary Elastic
Demand curve. At price OP
1
, quality demanded is OQ
1
. So
total Expenditure = OP
1
AQ
1
When price falls to OP
2
, then
total expenditure becomes OQ
2
BP
2
. Area of OP
1
AQ
1
=
OQ
2
BQ
2
. From this it becomes clear that change in price
does not cause any change in total expenditure. Therefore
Elasticity of demand = 1.
(4) Greater then unitary Elastic Demand (E
P
? 1), is there
when due to a change in the price of the commodity,
the total expenditure to be incurred on that commodity
changes in the opposite direction. Fig 4.. . In the
adjoining Fig.4, DD demand curve is showing greater
than unitary elastic demand. When the price in OP
1
,
then total expenditure is OP
1
AQ
1
& when price falls to OP
2
then the total expenditure becomes OP
2
BQ
2
. Area of OP
2
BQ
2
? OP
1
AQ
1
. Due to fall in price total expenditure incurred on
that commodity increases. From this it becomes clear that
DD demand curve in Fig. 4 represents greater than unitary
elastic demand. the DD curve in relatively flat
(5) Less than unitary Elastic Demand (E
P
? 1), is
there when due to a change in the price of the
product, the total expenditure to be incurred on that
commodity changes in the same direction as of the
price. It means that due to a fall in the price of a
commodity total expenditure to be incurred on that
commodity declines and with an increase in the price
of the commodity, total expenditure to be incurred on
that commodity increases. In Fig. 5, DD demand curve
represents less than unitary elastic demand. When the
price is OP
1
quantity is demanded and the total
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