In: Economics
For each of the following, identify whether total revenue rises, falls, or remains constant:
(a) Demand is inelastic and price falls. |
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(b) Demand is elastic and price rises |
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(c) Demand is unit elastic and price rises |
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(d) Demand is inelastic and price rises |
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(e) Demand is elastic and price falls. |
Price Elasticity of Demand = % Change in Quantity Demanded / % Change in Price
a) Demand is inelastic and price falls.
When demand is inelastic i.e (Ep is < 1 in absolute terms) the quantity demanded is relatively unresponsive to changes in price.
If Price falls from P1 to P2, as you can see the quantity demanded will be the same. Due to price decrease and quantity demanded unchanged, the revenue will fall.
b) Demand is elastic and price rises
Elastic demand - when demand is elastic ( Ep>1 in absolute terms) , The % change quantity demanded decreases more than the % change in price.
Since less quantity will be demanded the revenue will fall.
When P2 is increased to P1, the demand falls from Q2 to Q1.
The change in demand is greater than the change in price hence revenue will fall
c) Unit elastic. Describes a supply or demand curve which is perfectly responsive to changes in price. That is, the quantity supplied or demanded changes according to the same percentage as the change in price.
Ep = 1
Hence the revenue will stay the same.
d) Demand is inelastic and price rises
When demand is inelastic i.e (Ep is < 1 in absolute terms) the quantity demanded is relatively unresponsive to changes in price.
If Price falls from P2 to P1, as you can see the quantity demanded will be the same. Due to price increase and quantity demanded unchanged, the revenue will rise.
e)
Demand is elastic and price falls.
Elastic demand - when demand is elastic ( Ep>1 in absolute terms) ,
When price decreases the quantity demanded increases
Since morevquantity will be demanded the revenue will increase
When P1 is decreased to P2, the demand rises from Q1 to Q12
The change in demand is greater than the change in price hence revenue will increase