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Law of Demand
Law of Demand
Inelastic Demand This does not mean that the demand for an
Inelastic demand is shown in Figure 2. Note that individual producer is inelastic. For example, a
a change in price results in only a small change rise in the price of gasoline at all stations may not
in quantity demanded. In other words, the reduce gasoline sales significantly. However, a rise
quantity demanded is not very responsive to of an individual station’s price will significantly
changes in price. Examples of this are affect that station’s sales.
necessities like food and fuel. Consumers will
not reduce their food purchases if food prices Unitary Elasticity
rise, although there may be shifts in the types of If the elasticity coefficient is equal to one, demand
food they purchase. Also, consumers will not is unitarily elastic as shown in Figure 3. For
greatly change their driving behavior if gasoline example, a 10% quantity change divided by a 10%
prices rise. price change is one. This means that a 1% change
Figure 2. Inelastic Demand in quantity occurs for every 1% change in price.
Demand
Q1 Q2 Demand
Quantity
Q1 Q2
Quantity
An example of computing inelasticity of demand
using the formula above is shown in Example 2.
For more information on economic and
When the price decreases from $12 to $6 (50%),
business analysis concepts, visit the Ag Decision
the quantity of demand increases from 40 to only
Maker website,
50 (25%). The elasticity coefficient is .33.
www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/
vdanalysis.html.