{"id":104,"date":"2016-11-01T11:56:29","date_gmt":"2016-11-01T15:56:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=104"},"modified":"2017-05-22T22:41:44","modified_gmt":"2017-05-23T02:41:44","slug":"4-3-calculating-elasticity","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/chapter\/4-3-calculating-elasticity\/","title":{"raw":"4.3 Relative Elasticity","rendered":"4.3 Relative Elasticity"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-highlight\">\r\n<h3 itemprop=\"educationalUse\">Learning Objectives<\/h3>\r\n<span>By the end of this section, you will be able to:<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Differentiate between\u00a0perfectly elastic and inelastic<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Understand the difference between elasticity on a single curve and relative elasticity<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Explain what variables influence elasticity of supply and demand<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\">\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_789\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"640\"]<img src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/old-textbooks.jpg\" alt=\"old-textbooks\" width=\"640\" height=\"420\" class=\"wp-image-789 size-full\" \/> (Credit: University of Victoria Students' Society)[\/caption]\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\">Textbook or Burger?<\/h2>\r\nIn Topics 4.1 and 4.2, we looked at elasticity on a single demand curve and examined how responsive consumer are to price changes at various levels of production. But what about responsiveness across firms? Across industries? We know that in certain industries, such as the textbook industry, consumers are less responsive to change than others. How is the quantity demanded for textbooks affected by an increase in price? If the textbook for a course rose from $100 to $150, what would you do? Most students will buy the book anyway, since it is a required course material. Publishers are increasingly using different strategies to ensure the market stays inelastic or unresponsive to price change, such as bundling the textbook with mandatory course access codes. Compare this situation with the price of a burger. If the\u00a0price of a burger rises from $8 to $12, you may purchase lunch from a different restaurant or start packing lunch from home. The market for textbooks and burgers are very different. In this\u00a0section, we will explore the relative elasticity of different markets.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2>\u00a0Perfectly Elastic and Perfectly Inelastic<\/h2>\r\nTo begin the conversation about relative elasticity, it helps to first look at the extremes.\r\n<h3>Perfectly Elastic<\/h3>\r\nImagine a product where if the price increased, even slightly, you wouldn\u2019t buy any it anymore. Sound familiar? That\u2019s because we introduced this concept in Topic 3, as one of the assumptions of a perfectly competitive market. One of the examples we used was identical hot dog stands, side by side, where the only difference was price. If quality is the same, the rational consumer will always purchase the hot dog that is a lower price. From the perspective of the stand, they know that if they increase price even slightly, they will sell 0 units. This means that E<sub>D<\/sub>\u00a0=\u00a0\u221e.\r\n\r\nUsing point-slope at any point in Figure 4.3a, we can confirm this.\r\n\r\n$latex \\frac{\\Delta Q}{\\Delta P}\\cdot \\frac{P}{Q}=?$\r\n\r\nWe know that $latex \\frac{\\Delta Q}{\\Delta P}$ is equal to the inverse of the slope. In the demand curve in Figure 4.3a, when the\u00a0<span>\u0394P&gt;0 then\u00a0\u0394Q is equal to\u00a0\u221e. This means that $latex \\frac{\\Delta Q}{\\Delta P}$ =\u00a0\u221e.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1122\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"426\"]<img src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/Screen-Shot-2017-01-21-at-5.53.49-PM.png\" width=\"426\" height=\"372\" class=\"wp-image-1122 size-full\" \/> Figure 4.3a[\/caption]\r\n<h3>Perfectly\u00a0Inelastic<\/h3>\r\nAt the other end of the spectrum, consider a market where the firm can continue to increase prices with no change in quantity. If you were poisoned and had to buy the antidote, would you be responsive to price change? Probably not. This is an example of a situation\u00a0where demand is nearly perfectly inelastic. If you increase the price, quantity demanded does not change.\u00a0This means that E<sub>D<\/sub>\u00a0= 0.\r\n\r\nWe can confirm this by using point-slope at any point in Figure 4.4a.\r\n\r\nIn the demand curve in Figure 4.3a, when the\u00a0<span>\u0394P&gt;0 then\u00a0\u0394Q is equal to 0. This means that $latex \\frac{\\Delta Q}{\\Delta P}$ = 0.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1123\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"433\"]<img src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/Screen-Shot-2017-01-21-at-5.53.54-PM.png\" width=\"433\" height=\"366\" class=\"wp-image-1123 size-full\" \/> Figure 4.3b[\/caption]\r\n<h2>\u00a0Relative Elasticity<\/h2>\r\nThe concepts of perfectly elastic and perfectly inelastic lead us into a discussion of relative elasticity. In 4.1 and 4.2, we examined a single\u00a0demand curve, and looked at the numerical value of elasticity along that\u00a0demand curve. However, elasticity can also be useful when comparing\u00a0demand curves. Even though each demand curve has an inelastic, elastic, and unit elastic section, the comparison of the curves\u00a0can show which markets are relatively more responsive to price changes.\u00a0This is an important concept to understand for when we look at the impacts of a policy change.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_801\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"701\"]<img src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/Screen-Shot-2016-11-16-at-1.41.53-PM.png\" alt=\"Figure 4.3c \" width=\"701\" height=\"313\" class=\"size-full wp-image-801\" \/> Figure 4.3c[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<div class=\"dijitLayoutContainer dijitContainer mcAnswerOverflow dijitLayoutContainer-child dijitLayoutContainer-dijitLayoutContainer\" id=\"xl_player_controls_MultipleChoiceAnswer_3\">\r\n\r\nFigure 4.3c illustrates two curves. One is relatively more inelastic and the other is relatively more elastic. The best way to determine which is more elastic or inelastic is to compare each curve to the\u00a0extremes. The curve more resemblant of perfect elasticity is relatively more elastic, the curve more resemblant or perfect inelasticity is relatively more inelastic. \u00a0Note this is different than saying one is\u00a0elastic and the other inelastic! To emphasize this point,\u00a0read the section \u201cBears and Elasticity.\u201d\r\n<div class=\"textbox\">\r\n<h3>Bears and Elasticity<\/h3>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2003\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"387\"]<img src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/Screen-Shot-2017-04-24-at-11.34.01-AM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"387\" height=\"373\" class=\"wp-image-2003\" \/> (Credit: Wapster\/ Flickr\/ CC BY 2.0)[\/caption]\r\n\r\nA bear jumps out of a bush and starts chasing two hikers. They both start running for their lives, but then one of them stops to put on his running shoes.\r\n\r\nHis friend says, \u201cWhat are you doing? You can\u2019t outrun a bear!\u201d\r\n\r\nHis friend replies, \u201cI don\u2019t have to outrun the bear; I only have to outrun you!\u201d\r\n\r\nIf both friends are trying to get away from the bear and you learn that one of them is fast, does this information tell you who gets eaten? No! It only matters which one is faster, or fast relative to the other. Relative elasticity is the same. In fact, we cannot pass judgement if one is elastic or inelastic unless we are referencing to another.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nThe concept of relative elasticity is not based on the calculations in 4.1 and 4.2, as each demand curve has an inelastic, elastic and unit elastic region.\u00a0Demand curves take the shape of anything between perfectly elastic and perfectly inelastic, and you can only judge relative elasticity in reference to other curves.\r\n<h2>What About Supply<\/h2>\r\nThe same concepts and principles can be applied to supply. There is fairly significant variation across different industries, with some relatively more elastic than others.\r\n<h1>Factors That Influence\u00a0Relative Elasticity<\/h1>\r\nSo what causes this difference in relative elasticity? For the most part, external factors which influence responsiveness.\r\n<h2>Demand<\/h2>\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li><strong>Availability of substitutes<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nThe availability of substitutes is a strong factor in determining the elasticity of a good. If there are many close substitutes, then\u00a0it is fairly easy for consumers to find a suitable alternative to a good if prices rise.\r\n<ol start=\"2\">\r\n \t<li><strong> Necessity of a good<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nIn addition, the extent to which a good is a necessity or a luxury greatly influences its elasticity. Essentials, such as soap, flour, sugar, etc. are generally purchased in the same quantity regardless of price. On the other hand, consumers are very price conscious when it comes to luxury goods (such as comforts, jewelry, etc.).\r\n<ol start=\"3\">\r\n \t<li><strong> Income <\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nThe necessity of a good depends quite heavily on the customer\u2019s income. Someone with low income might be more price conscious (elastic)\u00a0when purchasing a new sofa compared to someone with higher income. Generally the larger percentage of your income a good takes up, the more sensitive you will be to price changes.\r\n<h2>Supply<\/h2>\r\n<\/div>\r\nWhat causes supply to be more or less elastic?\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li><strong> Availability of resources<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nIf a company\u2019s production is dependent on scarce resources, the company is less responsive to changes in price. Even if prices are high and the firm wants to increase production, it wont be able to without the proper inputs.\r\n<ol start=\"2\">\r\n \t<li><strong> Technological innovation <\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nInnovation tends to lead to more efficient production. If a firm benefits from top notch production technology, it will be more able to respond to an increase in price with an increase in production.\r\n<ol start=\"3\">\r\n \t<li><strong>Barriers to entry<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nIf there are few barriers to entry in an industry, an increase in price can cause a large increase in production as new firms quickly enter the market.\r\n<h2>Time: The Ever-Constraining Factor<\/h2>\r\nBoth the elasticity of supply and demand are impacted by time. For the consumer, how much time they have to make a consumption decision. For the producer, how much time it has to produce the good and build inventory. Regardless of whether we are talking about supply or demand, an increase in time always increases the elasticity of a good by increasing the ability to act and make informed decisions.\r\n<h2>Summary<\/h2>\r\nWhereas hard labels such as elastic, unit elastic, and inelastic can be used to describe specific sections of supply and demand curves (based on a calculated value), when comparing two curves everything is relative. Using the knowledge of perfect elasticity and perfect inelasticity, we can compare two curves on the basis of elasticity to determine how responsive the general consumer group, industry, etc. is to price changes. A\u00a0flatter curve is relatively more elastic than a steeper curve. Availability of substitutes, a goods necessity, and a consumers income all affect\u00a0the relative elasticity of demand. The availability of resources, technological innovation, and the\u00a0barriers to entry all affect the relative elasticity of supply. Time affects elasticity of either curve.\r\n\r\nNow that we have the tools of supply, demand and elasticity, we will use them to understand how government policy affects the market.\r\n<div class=\"textbox\">\r\n<h2>Glossary<\/h2>\r\n<dl id=\"fs-idp41787328\" class=\"definition\">\r\n \t<dt><strong>Perfectly Elastic<\/strong><\/dt>\r\n \t<dd id=\"fs-idp35020496\"><em>the extremely elastic situation of demand or supply where quantity changes by an infinite amount in response to any change in price; horizontal in appearance<\/em><\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n<dl id=\"fs-idm51600048\" class=\"definition\">\r\n \t<dt><strong>Perfectly Inelastic<\/strong><\/dt>\r\n \t<dd id=\"fs-idp17805888\"><em>the highly inelastic case of demand or supply in which a percentage change in price, no matter how large, results in zero change in the quantity; vertical in appearance<\/em><\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-info\">\r\n<h3 itemprop=\"educationalUse\">Exercises 4.3<\/h3>\r\n<strong>1.<\/strong> Which of the following does NOT affect the magnitude of own-price elasticity of demand?\r\n\r\na) The length of the time horizon over which we are looking at the change in consumer behaviour.\r\nb) The availability (or lack thereof) of close substitutes for the good in question.\r\nc) The amount by which quantity supplied will change as price changes.\r\nd) All of the above affect the own-price elasticity of demand.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>2.<\/strong> If a demand curve is VERTICAL, then own-price elasticity of demand for this good is equal to:\r\n\r\na) Infinity.\r\nb) Zero.\r\nc) One.\r\nd) None of the above.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>3.<\/strong> If - given consumer preferences - a certain good has many close substitutes available, then:\r\n\r\na) The demand for that good will be relatively inelastic, compared to goods for which there are few close substitutes.\r\nb) The supply of that good will be relatively inelastic, compared to goods for which there are few close substitutes.\r\nc) The demand for that good will be relatively elastic, compared to goods for which there are few close substitutes.\r\nd) The supply of that good will be relatively elastic, compared to goods for which there are few close substitutes.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>4.<\/strong> If - given consumer preferences - a certain good has few close substitutes available, then:\r\n\r\na) The demand for that good will be relatively inelastic, compared to goods for which there are many close substitutes.\r\nb) The supply of that good will be relatively inelastic, compared to goods for which there are many close substitutes.\r\nc) The demand for that good will be relatively elastic, compared to goods for which there are many close substitutes.\r\nd) The supply of that good will be relatively elastic, compared to goods for which there are many close substitutes.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n&nbsp;","rendered":"<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-highlight\">\n<h3 itemprop=\"educationalUse\">Learning Objectives<\/h3>\n<p><span>By the end of this section, you will be able to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Differentiate between\u00a0perfectly elastic and inelastic<\/li>\n<li>Understand the difference between elasticity on a single curve and relative elasticity<\/li>\n<li>Explain what variables influence elasticity of supply and demand<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\">\n<figure id=\"attachment_789\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-789\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/old-textbooks.jpg\" alt=\"old-textbooks\" width=\"640\" height=\"420\" class=\"wp-image-789 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/old-textbooks.jpg 640w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/old-textbooks-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/old-textbooks-65x43.jpg 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/old-textbooks-225x148.jpg 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/old-textbooks-350x230.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-789\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">(Credit: University of Victoria Students&#8217; Society)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\">Textbook or Burger?<\/h2>\n<p>In Topics 4.1 and 4.2, we looked at elasticity on a single demand curve and examined how responsive consumer are to price changes at various levels of production. But what about responsiveness across firms? Across industries? We know that in certain industries, such as the textbook industry, consumers are less responsive to change than others. How is the quantity demanded for textbooks affected by an increase in price? If the textbook for a course rose from $100 to $150, what would you do? Most students will buy the book anyway, since it is a required course material. Publishers are increasingly using different strategies to ensure the market stays inelastic or unresponsive to price change, such as bundling the textbook with mandatory course access codes. Compare this situation with the price of a burger. If the\u00a0price of a burger rises from $8 to $12, you may purchase lunch from a different restaurant or start packing lunch from home. The market for textbooks and burgers are very different. In this\u00a0section, we will explore the relative elasticity of different markets.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>\u00a0Perfectly Elastic and Perfectly Inelastic<\/h2>\n<p>To begin the conversation about relative elasticity, it helps to first look at the extremes.<\/p>\n<h3>Perfectly Elastic<\/h3>\n<p>Imagine a product where if the price increased, even slightly, you wouldn\u2019t buy any it anymore. Sound familiar? That\u2019s because we introduced this concept in Topic 3, as one of the assumptions of a perfectly competitive market. One of the examples we used was identical hot dog stands, side by side, where the only difference was price. If quality is the same, the rational consumer will always purchase the hot dog that is a lower price. From the perspective of the stand, they know that if they increase price even slightly, they will sell 0 units. This means that E<sub>D<\/sub>\u00a0=\u00a0\u221e.<\/p>\n<p>Using point-slope at any point in Figure 4.3a, we can confirm this.<\/p>\n<p>[latex]\\frac{\\Delta Q}{\\Delta P}\\cdot \\frac{P}{Q}=?[\/latex]<\/p>\n<p>We know that [latex]\\frac{\\Delta Q}{\\Delta P}[\/latex] is equal to the inverse of the slope. In the demand curve in Figure 4.3a, when the\u00a0<span>\u0394P&gt;0 then\u00a0\u0394Q is equal to\u00a0\u221e. This means that [latex]\\frac{\\Delta Q}{\\Delta P}[\/latex] =\u00a0\u221e.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1122\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1122\" style=\"width: 426px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/Screen-Shot-2017-01-21-at-5.53.49-PM.png\" width=\"426\" height=\"372\" class=\"wp-image-1122 size-full\" alt=\"image\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/Screen-Shot-2017-01-21-at-5.53.49-PM.png 426w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/Screen-Shot-2017-01-21-at-5.53.49-PM-300x262.png 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/Screen-Shot-2017-01-21-at-5.53.49-PM-65x57.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/Screen-Shot-2017-01-21-at-5.53.49-PM-225x196.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/Screen-Shot-2017-01-21-at-5.53.49-PM-350x306.png 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 426px) 100vw, 426px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1122\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 4.3a<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Perfectly\u00a0Inelastic<\/h3>\n<p>At the other end of the spectrum, consider a market where the firm can continue to increase prices with no change in quantity. If you were poisoned and had to buy the antidote, would you be responsive to price change? Probably not. This is an example of a situation\u00a0where demand is nearly perfectly inelastic. If you increase the price, quantity demanded does not change.\u00a0This means that E<sub>D<\/sub>\u00a0= 0.<\/p>\n<p>We can confirm this by using point-slope at any point in Figure 4.4a.<\/p>\n<p>In the demand curve in Figure 4.3a, when the\u00a0<span>\u0394P&gt;0 then\u00a0\u0394Q is equal to 0. This means that [latex]\\frac{\\Delta Q}{\\Delta P}[\/latex] = 0.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1123\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1123\" style=\"width: 433px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/Screen-Shot-2017-01-21-at-5.53.54-PM.png\" width=\"433\" height=\"366\" class=\"wp-image-1123 size-full\" alt=\"image\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/Screen-Shot-2017-01-21-at-5.53.54-PM.png 433w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/Screen-Shot-2017-01-21-at-5.53.54-PM-300x254.png 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/Screen-Shot-2017-01-21-at-5.53.54-PM-65x55.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/Screen-Shot-2017-01-21-at-5.53.54-PM-225x190.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/Screen-Shot-2017-01-21-at-5.53.54-PM-350x296.png 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 433px) 100vw, 433px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1123\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 4.3b<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>\u00a0Relative Elasticity<\/h2>\n<p>The concepts of perfectly elastic and perfectly inelastic lead us into a discussion of relative elasticity. In 4.1 and 4.2, we examined a single\u00a0demand curve, and looked at the numerical value of elasticity along that\u00a0demand curve. However, elasticity can also be useful when comparing\u00a0demand curves. Even though each demand curve has an inelastic, elastic, and unit elastic section, the comparison of the curves\u00a0can show which markets are relatively more responsive to price changes.\u00a0This is an important concept to understand for when we look at the impacts of a policy change.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_801\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-801\" style=\"width: 701px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/Screen-Shot-2016-11-16-at-1.41.53-PM.png\" alt=\"Figure 4.3c\" width=\"701\" height=\"313\" class=\"size-full wp-image-801\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/Screen-Shot-2016-11-16-at-1.41.53-PM.png 701w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/Screen-Shot-2016-11-16-at-1.41.53-PM-300x134.png 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/Screen-Shot-2016-11-16-at-1.41.53-PM-65x29.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/Screen-Shot-2016-11-16-at-1.41.53-PM-225x100.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/Screen-Shot-2016-11-16-at-1.41.53-PM-350x156.png 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 701px) 100vw, 701px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-801\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 4.3c<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"dijitLayoutContainer dijitContainer mcAnswerOverflow dijitLayoutContainer-child dijitLayoutContainer-dijitLayoutContainer\" id=\"xl_player_controls_MultipleChoiceAnswer_3\">\n<p>Figure 4.3c illustrates two curves. One is relatively more inelastic and the other is relatively more elastic. The best way to determine which is more elastic or inelastic is to compare each curve to the\u00a0extremes. The curve more resemblant of perfect elasticity is relatively more elastic, the curve more resemblant or perfect inelasticity is relatively more inelastic. \u00a0Note this is different than saying one is\u00a0elastic and the other inelastic! To emphasize this point,\u00a0read the section \u201cBears and Elasticity.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox\">\n<h3>Bears and Elasticity<\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2003\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2003\" style=\"width: 387px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/Screen-Shot-2017-04-24-at-11.34.01-AM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"387\" height=\"373\" class=\"wp-image-2003\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/Screen-Shot-2017-04-24-at-11.34.01-AM.png 487w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/Screen-Shot-2017-04-24-at-11.34.01-AM-300x289.png 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/Screen-Shot-2017-04-24-at-11.34.01-AM-65x63.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/Screen-Shot-2017-04-24-at-11.34.01-AM-225x217.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2016\/11\/Screen-Shot-2017-04-24-at-11.34.01-AM-350x337.png 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 387px) 100vw, 387px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2003\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">(Credit: Wapster\/ Flickr\/ CC BY 2.0)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>A bear jumps out of a bush and starts chasing two hikers. They both start running for their lives, but then one of them stops to put on his running shoes.<\/p>\n<p>His friend says, \u201cWhat are you doing? You can\u2019t outrun a bear!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His friend replies, \u201cI don\u2019t have to outrun the bear; I only have to outrun you!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If both friends are trying to get away from the bear and you learn that one of them is fast, does this information tell you who gets eaten? No! It only matters which one is faster, or fast relative to the other. Relative elasticity is the same. In fact, we cannot pass judgement if one is elastic or inelastic unless we are referencing to another.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The concept of relative elasticity is not based on the calculations in 4.1 and 4.2, as each demand curve has an inelastic, elastic and unit elastic region.\u00a0Demand curves take the shape of anything between perfectly elastic and perfectly inelastic, and you can only judge relative elasticity in reference to other curves.<\/p>\n<h2>What About Supply<\/h2>\n<p>The same concepts and principles can be applied to supply. There is fairly significant variation across different industries, with some relatively more elastic than others.<\/p>\n<h1>Factors That Influence\u00a0Relative Elasticity<\/h1>\n<p>So what causes this difference in relative elasticity? For the most part, external factors which influence responsiveness.<\/p>\n<h2>Demand<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Availability of substitutes<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The availability of substitutes is a strong factor in determining the elasticity of a good. If there are many close substitutes, then\u00a0it is fairly easy for consumers to find a suitable alternative to a good if prices rise.<\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li><strong> Necessity of a good<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>In addition, the extent to which a good is a necessity or a luxury greatly influences its elasticity. Essentials, such as soap, flour, sugar, etc. are generally purchased in the same quantity regardless of price. On the other hand, consumers are very price conscious when it comes to luxury goods (such as comforts, jewelry, etc.).<\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li><strong> Income <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The necessity of a good depends quite heavily on the customer\u2019s income. Someone with low income might be more price conscious (elastic)\u00a0when purchasing a new sofa compared to someone with higher income. Generally the larger percentage of your income a good takes up, the more sensitive you will be to price changes.<\/p>\n<h2>Supply<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p>What causes supply to be more or less elastic?<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong> Availability of resources<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>If a company\u2019s production is dependent on scarce resources, the company is less responsive to changes in price. Even if prices are high and the firm wants to increase production, it wont be able to without the proper inputs.<\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li><strong> Technological innovation <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Innovation tends to lead to more efficient production. If a firm benefits from top notch production technology, it will be more able to respond to an increase in price with an increase in production.<\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li><strong>Barriers to entry<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>If there are few barriers to entry in an industry, an increase in price can cause a large increase in production as new firms quickly enter the market.<\/p>\n<h2>Time: The Ever-Constraining Factor<\/h2>\n<p>Both the elasticity of supply and demand are impacted by time. For the consumer, how much time they have to make a consumption decision. For the producer, how much time it has to produce the good and build inventory. Regardless of whether we are talking about supply or demand, an increase in time always increases the elasticity of a good by increasing the ability to act and make informed decisions.<\/p>\n<h2>Summary<\/h2>\n<p>Whereas hard labels such as elastic, unit elastic, and inelastic can be used to describe specific sections of supply and demand curves (based on a calculated value), when comparing two curves everything is relative. Using the knowledge of perfect elasticity and perfect inelasticity, we can compare two curves on the basis of elasticity to determine how responsive the general consumer group, industry, etc. is to price changes. A\u00a0flatter curve is relatively more elastic than a steeper curve. Availability of substitutes, a goods necessity, and a consumers income all affect\u00a0the relative elasticity of demand. The availability of resources, technological innovation, and the\u00a0barriers to entry all affect the relative elasticity of supply. Time affects elasticity of either curve.<\/p>\n<p>Now that we have the tools of supply, demand and elasticity, we will use them to understand how government policy affects the market.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox\">\n<h2>Glossary<\/h2>\n<dl id=\"fs-idp41787328\" class=\"definition\">\n<dt><strong>Perfectly Elastic<\/strong><\/dt>\n<dd id=\"fs-idp35020496\"><em>the extremely elastic situation of demand or supply where quantity changes by an infinite amount in response to any change in price; horizontal in appearance<\/em><\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<dl id=\"fs-idm51600048\" class=\"definition\">\n<dt><strong>Perfectly Inelastic<\/strong><\/dt>\n<dd id=\"fs-idp17805888\"><em>the highly inelastic case of demand or supply in which a percentage change in price, no matter how large, results in zero change in the quantity; vertical in appearance<\/em><\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-info\">\n<h3 itemprop=\"educationalUse\">Exercises 4.3<\/h3>\n<p><strong>1.<\/strong> Which of the following does NOT affect the magnitude of own-price elasticity of demand?<\/p>\n<p>a) The length of the time horizon over which we are looking at the change in consumer behaviour.<br \/>\nb) The availability (or lack thereof) of close substitutes for the good in question.<br \/>\nc) The amount by which quantity supplied will change as price changes.<br \/>\nd) All of the above affect the own-price elasticity of demand.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>2.<\/strong> If a demand curve is VERTICAL, then own-price elasticity of demand for this good is equal to:<\/p>\n<p>a) Infinity.<br \/>\nb) Zero.<br \/>\nc) One.<br \/>\nd) None of the above.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>3.<\/strong> If &#8211; given consumer preferences &#8211; a certain good has many close substitutes available, then:<\/p>\n<p>a) The demand for that good will be relatively inelastic, compared to goods for which there are few close substitutes.<br \/>\nb) The supply of that good will be relatively inelastic, compared to goods for which there are few close substitutes.<br \/>\nc) The demand for that good will be relatively elastic, compared to goods for which there are few close substitutes.<br \/>\nd) The supply of that good will be relatively elastic, compared to goods for which there are few close substitutes.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>4.<\/strong> If &#8211; given consumer preferences &#8211; a certain good has few close substitutes available, then:<\/p>\n<p>a) The demand for that good will be relatively inelastic, compared to goods for which there are many close substitutes.<br \/>\nb) The supply of that good will be relatively inelastic, compared to goods for which there are many close substitutes.<br \/>\nc) The demand for that good will be relatively elastic, compared to goods for which there are many close substitutes.<br \/>\nd) The supply of that good will be relatively elastic, compared to goods for which there are many close substitutes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-104","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":682,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/104","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/58"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=104"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/104\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2238,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/104\/revisions\/2238"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/682"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/104\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=104"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=104"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=104"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/uvicecon103\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=104"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}