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Elasticity of Demand - examples and MCQs for CSEET

Elasticity of Demand:

Definition: Elasticity of demand measures how sensitive the quantity demanded of a good is to a change in its price. It helps us understand the responsiveness of consumers to price changes.

Types of Elasticity:

  1. Elastic Demand: When the percentage change in quantity demanded is greater than the percentage change in price (|Ed| > 1). Consumers are highly responsive to price changes.

  • Example: Luxury goods like designer handbags.

  1. Inelastic Demand: When the percentage change in quantity demanded is less than the percentage change in price (|Ed| < 1). Consumers are less responsive to price changes.

  • Example: Necessities like medications.

  1. Unitary Elasticity: When the percentage change in quantity demanded is equal to the percentage change in price (|Ed| = 1).

Factors Influencing Elasticity:

  1. Availability of Substitutes: More substitutes make demand more elastic.

  2. Necessity vs. Luxury: Necessities tend to have inelastic demand, while luxuries often have elastic demand.

  3. Time Horizon: Demand tends to be more elastic over a longer time period.

Elasticity Formula: Elasticity of Demand (Ed)=% Change in Quantity Demanded% Change in PriceElasticity of Demand (Ed)=% Change in Price% Change in Quantity Demanded​

Examples:

  1. Elastic Demand Example:

  • If the price of a specific brand of smartphones increases, and as a result, consumers switch to other brands with similar features, it shows elastic demand.

  1. Inelastic Demand Example:

  • The demand for life-saving medications is often inelastic because people may need them regardless of price changes.

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What does elasticity of demand measure?

  • A. Quantity supplied in response to price changes.

  • B. Responsiveness of quantity demanded to price changes.

  • C. Consumer preferences for goods.

  • D. Market competition.

Answer: B

2. When is demand considered elastic?

  • A. When |Ed| > 1.

  • B. When |Ed| < 1.

  • C. When |Ed| = 1.

  • D. When |Ed| is undefined.

Answer: A

3. What is the characteristic of inelastic demand?

  • A. |Ed| > 1.

  • B. |Ed| < 1.

  • C. |Ed| = 1.

  • D. No responsiveness to price changes.

Answer: B

4. Which factor influences elasticity by making demand more elastic?

  • A. Availability of substitutes.

  • B. Market competition.

  • C. Consumer preferences.

  • D. Time horizon.

Answer: A

5. In the formula for elasticity of demand, what does Ed represent?

  • A. Elasticity of demand.

  • B. Change in price.

  • C. Change in quantity supplied.

  • D. Time horizon.

Answer: A

6. When is demand considered inelastic?

  • A. When |Ed| > 1.

  • B. When |Ed| < 1.

  • C. When |Ed| = 1.

  • D. When there are no substitutes.

Answer: B

7. What is unitary elasticity?

  • A. |Ed| > 1.

  • B. |Ed| < 1.

  • C. |Ed| = 1.

  • D. |Ed| is undefined.

Answer: C

8. What factor makes a good a candidate for elastic demand?

  • A. Necessity.

  • B. Availability of substitutes.

  • C. Short time horizon.

  • D. Luxury.

Answer: B

9. Which type of goods tend to have elastic demand?

  • A. Necessities.

  • B. Luxuries.

  • C. Inferior goods.

  • D. Complementary goods.

Answer: B

10. How does time horizon affect elasticity?

  • A. Longer time horizon makes demand more elastic.

  • B. Longer time horizon makes demand more inelastic.

  • C. Time horizon has no impact on elasticity.

  • D. Time horizon makes demand unitary elastic.

Answer: A

11. If the percentage change in quantity demanded is greater than the percentage change in price, what type of demand is it?

  • A. Inelastic demand.

  • B. Elastic demand.

  • C. Unitary elasticity.

  • D. No responsiveness.

Answer: B

12. What does a high availability of substitutes do to the elasticity of demand?

  • A. Makes demand more elastic.

  • B. Makes demand more inelastic.

  • C. Has no impact on elasticity.

  • D. Makes demand unitary elastic.

Answer: A

13. What is the characteristic of unitary elasticity?

  • A. |Ed| > 1.

  • B. |Ed| < 1.

  • C. |Ed| = 1.

  • D. |Ed| is undefined.

Answer: C

14. When might demand for a good be more elastic over a longer time period?

  • A. When there are no substitutes.

  • B. When the good is a luxury.

  • C. When the time horizon is short.

  • D. When consumers can adjust their habits.

Answer: D

15. What does inelastic demand imply about consumer responsiveness?

  • A. High responsiveness.

  • B. Low responsiveness.

  • C. No responsiveness.

  • D. Unitary responsiveness.

Answer: B

16. How is the elasticity of demand calculated?

  • A. Elasticity of Demand (Ed)=Change in Quantity DemandedChange in PriceElasticity of Demand (Ed)=Change in PriceChange in Quantity Demanded​

  • B. Elasticity of Demand (Ed)=% Change in Quantity Demanded% Change in PriceElasticity of Demand (Ed)=% Change in Price% Change in Quantity Demanded​

  • C. Elasticity of Demand (Ed)=Change in Quantity SuppliedChange in PriceElasticity of Demand (Ed)=Change in PriceChange in Quantity Supplied​

  • D. Elasticity of Demand (Ed)=% Change in Quantity Supplied% Change in PriceElasticity of Demand (Ed)=% Change in Price% Change in Quantity Supplied​

Answer: B

17. What is the characteristic of a Giffen good?

  • A. Increasing demand as price increases.

  • B. Decreasing demand as price increases.

  • C. No change in demand with price changes.

  • D. No substitutes available.

Answer: A

18. What type of goods are often associated with inelastic demand?

  • A. Necessities.

  • B. Inferior goods.

  • C. Complementary goods.

  • D. Luxury goods.

Answer: A

19. How does the availability of substitutes affect the responsiveness of demand?

  • A. Increases responsiveness.

  • B. Decreases responsiveness.

  • C. Has no impact on responsiveness.

  • D. Makes demand unitary elastic.

Answer: A

20. Which type of elasticity is characterized by a percentage change in quantity demanded equal to the percentage change in price?

  • A. Elastic demand.

  • B. Inelastic demand.

  • C. Unitary elasticity.

  • D. Perfectly elastic demand.

Answer: C

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