Saturday, November 12, 2011

Class Lecture #29 - 11/9

Elasticity (sensitivity: how responsive we are to changes)

n = (% change in Quantity Demanded)/(% change in own price)

- What impacts n?
     (1) Time      (2) Budgets        (3) Substitutes

If n is:
Demand at that point is:
“Picture”
“Words”
Total Revenue Changes
>1
“elastic”
flat
sensitive
ΔTR moves in opp. Direction than ΔP
= 1
Unit elastic
X
X
X
<1
“inelastic”
steep
Not very sensitive
ΔTR same as ΔP



1) Time: long run = elasticity higher, short run = elasticity lower
2) Budget: higher elasticity for things that make up a great % of budget
3) Substitutes: higher elasticity if more substitutes

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