Economics - Price Elasticity of Demand

Essay by 12whuzurdaddyUniversity, Master'sA+, April 2006

download word file, 2 pages 5.0

The four key concepts in this simulation focused on the following:

Price Elasticity

The percent change in demand quantity can be more or less than the change in its price. Relative elasticity/inelasticity of demand indicates whether the percent change in demand quantity is less than percent change in price. In the long-term, demand for any product tends to be more "price elastic" due to the availability of substitutes. Elasticity of Demand also indicates whether revenue will increase or decrease.

Substitute

Cross-price elasticity of demand is calculated as the percent change in demand divided by the percent change in price of the substitute and will determine the magnitude of the shift in the demand curve. Price elasticity is always positive for two substitutes.

Complement

Cross-price elasticity of demand is calculated as the percent change in demand divided by the percent change in price. A change in price of a complement will determine the magnitude of the shift in the demand curve.

Price elasticity is always negative for complements.

Income

A change in income causes a shift in demand. Income elasticity of demand is calculated as the percent change in demand divided by the percent change in income. This change determines the magnitude of the shift. Demand can increase or decrease with the increase or decrease in income.

1) Was the product price elastic or price inelastic? What was the impact of raising the price of the product or lowering the price of the product based this determination?

Along any straight-line demand curve, elasticity decreases from infinity to zero. In the range of the demand curve where elasticity is more than 1, decreasing price increases revenue. In the rage where elasticity is less than 1, however, decreasing price decreases revenue. My service selection is Doggie Day Care and I have found it...