ECN 104 Chapter 5: Chapter 5 - Elasticity & Its Application

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amethystgoat54

10 Feb 2012

School

Ryerson University

Department

Economics

Course

ECN 104

Professor

Tsogbadral Galaabaatar

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Document Summary

Elasticity measures how much one variable responds to changes in another variable. One type of elasticity measures how much demand for your websites will fall if you raise your price. Elasticity is a numerical measure of the responsiveness of qd or qs to one of its determinants. price elasticity of demand measures how much qd responds to a change in p. along a d curve, p and q move in opposite directions, which would make price elasticity negative. We will drop the minus sign and report all price elasticities as positive numbers. To learn the determinants of price elasticity, we look at a series of examples. suppose the prices of both goods rise by 20%. the good for which qd falls the most (in percent) has the highest price elasticity of demand. the prices of both of these goods rise by 20%.

Related Questions

Answer the following 24 questions.

1. The elasticity that measures how sensitive the buyers of a good are to a change in the price of another good is called:

a. price-elasticity of demand

b. income-elasticity of demand

c. cross-price-elasticity of demand

d. price-elasticity of supply

2. If the price of walnuts rises, many people would switch from consuming walnuts to consuming pecans. But if the price of salt rises, people would have difficulty purchasing something to use in its place. These examples illustrate the importance of

a. the availability of close substitutes in determining the price elasticity of demand.

b. a necessity versus a luxury in determining the price elasticity of demand.

c. the definition of a market in determining the price elasticity of demand.

d. the time horizon in determining the price elasticity of demand.

3. Suppose that Juan Carlos is filling out a survey that he received in the mail. The survey asks him what he would do if the price of his favorite toothpaste increased. Juan Carlos reports that he would switch to a different brand. The survey asks what he would do if the price of all kinds of toothpaste increased. Juan Carlos reports that he must use toothpaste, so he would have to adjust his spending elsewhere. These examples illustrate the importance of

a. changes in total revenue in determining the price elasticity of demand.

b. a necessity versus a luxury in determining the price elasticity of demand.

c. the definition (broad vs narrow) of a market in determining the price elasticity of demand.

d. the time horizon in determining the price elasticity of demand.

4. Suppose that gasoline prices increase dramatically this month. Lola commutes 100 miles to work each weekday. Over the next few months, Lola drives less on the weekends to try to save money. Within the year, she sells her home and purchases one only 10 miles from her place of employment. These examples illustrate the importance of

a. the availability of substitutes in determining the price elasticity of demand.

b. a necessity versus a luxury in determining the price elasticity of demand.

c. the definition of a market in determining the price elasticity of demand.

d. the time horizon in determining the price elasticity of demand.

5. When a smartphone manufacturer introduces a phone with new features (like a more powerful camera, more storage, a screen with better definition, or being waterproof) and advertises them, it is

a. trying to decrease buyers' price-elasticity of demand by differentiating the goods relative to the competition so that consumers perceive it as having no close substitutes in the market.

b. trying to decrease buyers' price-elasticity of demand by differentiating the goods relative to the competition so that consumers perceive it as having more substitutes in the market.

c. trying to increase buyers' price-elasticity of demand by differentiating the goods relative to the competition so that consumers perceive it as having more substitutes in the market.

d. trying to increase buyers' price-elasticity of demand by differentiating the goods relative to the competition so that consumers perceive it as having no close substitutes in the market.

6. Consider the following two alternative scenarios.

1) In scenario 1, the price of all smartphones increases by 10%.

2) In scenario 2, the price of Samsung smartphones increases by 10% while the price of all other smartphones stays the same as before.

Which of the following is true?

a. The quantity demanded of Samsung phones in scenario 2 falls by more, in percentage terms, than the quantity demanded of all phones in scenario 1.

b. The quantity demanded of Samsung phones in scenario 2 falls by less, in percentage terms, than the quantity demanded of all phones in scenario 1.

7. As more electric car models appear in the market, the price elasticity of demand for the models already in the market should

a. Stay the same. In other words, buyers' sensitivity to changes in the price of the existing cars does not change.

b. Increase. In other words, buyers' sensitivity to changes in the price of the existing cars increases.

c. Decrease. In other words, buyers' sensitivity to changes in the price of the product of the car decreases.

8. Demand for a good is likely to be flatter if

a. the good has many substitutes

b. the good is narrowly defined

c. we are considering the long run rather than the short run

d. the good is a luxury.

e. All of the above.

9. If the price elasticity of the demand for ice-cream is equal to 1.5, then

a. a 1% increase in price will lead to a 1.5% increase in quantity demanded.

b. a 1% increase in price will lead to a 150% fall in quantity demanded.

c. a 1% increase in price will lead to a 15% fall in quantity demanded.

d. a 1% increase in price will lead to a 1.5% fall in quantity demanded.

10. If the price elasticity of demand for oil is 0.7, then

a. Demand is elastic, buyers are relatively sensitive to price, and the demand curve is relatively flat.

b. Demand is elastic, buyers are relatively insensitive to price, and the demand curve is relatively flat.

c. Demand is inelastic, buyers are relatively insensitive to price, and the demand curve is relatively steep.

d. Demand is inelastic, buyers are relatively sensitive to price, and the demand curve is relatively flat.

11. Note: this question is not about calculating elasticity, but about showing that you know how to calculate a % change using the midpoint method in any circumstance.

A biology class at Q State University initially had 205 students. After the first test, enrollment dropped to 195 students. Using the midpoint method, the % change in the number of students is equal to

a. 10%

b. approximately 5.12%

c. approximately 4.88%

d. 5%

12. When the price of a good is $5, the quantity demanded is 100 units per month; when the price is $7, the quantity demanded is 80 units per month. Using the midpoint method, the price elasticity of demand is approximately

a. 0.22.

b. 0.67.

c. 1.33.

d. 1.50.

13. If the price elasticity of demand for hamburgers is 0.4, then a 20% increase in the price of hamburgers will lead to

a. an 8% fall in quantity demanded.

b. a 20% fall in quantity demanded.

c. a 0.4% fall in quantity demanded.

d. a 4% fall in quantity demanded.

14. If the price elasticity of demand for cruises is 1.4, a 1% decrease in the price of cruises will lead to a

a. A 1.4% increase in quantity demanded.

b. A 1% increase in quantity demanded.

c. A 1.4% decrease in quantity demanded.

d. A 1% decrease in quantity demanded.

15. A city wants to raise revenues to build a new municipal swimming pool next year. The mayor suggests that the city raise the price of admission to the existing municipal pools this year to raise revenues. The city manager suggests that the city lower the price of admission to raise revenues. Who is correct?

a. the mayor

b. the city manager

c. The answer depends on the price elasticity of demand.

d. The answer depends on the costs of construction of the new municipal swimming pool.

16. When demand is elastic, an increase in price will cause

a. an increase in total revenue.

b. a decrease in total revenue.

c. no change in total revenue.

d. not enough information.

17. Consider luxury weekend hotel packages in Las Vegas. When the price is $250, the quantity demanded is 2,000 packages per week. When the price is $280, the quantity demanded is 1,700 packages per week. Using the midpoint method, the price elasticity of demand is about

a. 1.43, and an increase in the price will cause hotels' total revenue to decrease.

b. 1.43, and an increase in the price will cause hotels' total revenue to increase.

c. 0.70, and an increase in the price will cause hotels' total revenue to decrease.

d. 0.70, and an increase in the price will cause hotels' total revenue to increase.

18. Suppose researchers at the University of Wisconsin discovered a new vitamin that increases the milk production of dairy cows. If the demand for milk is relatively inelastic, the discovery will

a. raise both price and total revenues.

b. lower both price and total revenues.

c. raise the price and lower total revenues.

d. lower price and raise total revenues.

19. When we calculate elasticities, whether the percent changes have a plus or a minus sign matters if we are calculating

a. Price elasticity of demand, because the signs give us information about whether the good is normal or inferior.

b. Income elasticity of demand, because the signs give us information about whether the good is normal or inferior.

c. Cross-price-elasticity of demand, because the signs give us information about whether the goods are substitutes or complements.

d. b and c are both correct.

20. Income elasticity of demand measures how

a. the quantity demanded changes as consumer income changes.

b. consumer purchasing power is affected by a change in the price of a good.

c. the price of a good is affected when there is a change in consumer income.

d. many units of a good a consumer can buy given a certain income level.

21. Last year, Carolyn bought 6 pairs of earrings when her income was $40,000. This year, her income is $52,000, and she purchased 7 pairs of earrings. Holding other factors constant, it follows that Carolyn's income elasticity of demand is about

a. 0.59, and Carolyn regards earrings as an inferior good.

b. 0.59, and Carolyn regards earrings as a normal good.

c. 1.7, and Carolyn regards earrings as an inferior good.

d. 1.7, and Carolyn regards earrings as a normal good.

22. Sandra purchases 5 pounds of coffee and 10 gallons of milk per month when the price of coffee is $10 per pound. She purchases 6 pounds of coffee and 12 gallons of milk per month when the price of coffee is $8 per pound. Sandra's cross-price elasticity of demand for milk with respect to the price of coffee

a. 0.82, and the goods are substitutes.

b. -0.82, and the goods are complements.

c. 1.22, and the goods are substitutes.

d. -1.22, and the goods are complements.

23. Supply of good is likely to be steeper (that is, more inelastic)

a. if sellers can cheaply make more units of the good on short notice.

b. in the long run.

c. in the short run.

d. if sellers have a large degree of flexibility to expand factory size.

24. When the price of a barrel of oil is $35, an oil fracking company is willing to produce 500 gallons per minute. If the price increased to $45, the company would be willing to produce 2500 gallons per minute. Using the midpoint method, calculate the company's price elasticity of supply.

a. approximately 1.33

b. 0.25

c. approximately 5.33

d. approximately 0.188

puceduck857

CDC study says cigarette price hike would cut demand

ATLANTA (Reuters) -- A 50 percent increase in cigarette prices would cut overall consumption by 12.5 percent, with even greater declines in smoking among minorities and young adults, federal health experts said Thursday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said a statistical analysis of smoking habits since 1976 suggested that raising cigarette prices by 50 percent would result in about 60 billion fewer cigarettes smoked per year

Increasing the price of cigarettes by 50 percent would cut consumption by 7 percent among Caucasian-Americans, 16 percent among African-Americans, and almost 95 percent among Hispanic-Americans, the CDC's mathematical model predicted. "If there is a price increase, there will be much more of a decline in consumption among minority groups than there will be among Caucasian-Americans," said Michael Eriksen, director of the CDC's Office on Smoking and Health. The agency said that for sampling and statistical reasons, the estimated huge reduction in smoking among Hispanic-Americans was subject to greater error than the figures for Caucasian-Americans or African-Americans. The study was based on national cigarette price and sales figures and a National

Health Interview Survey of 355,246 people, almost one-third of them smokers, conducted between 1976 and 1993.

Younger Hispanic-Americans may be more likely to quit

"We really don't think a 50 percent price increase would eliminate smoking in Hispanic-Americans. It might virtually eliminate it in some younger Hispanic-Americans," said Terry Pechacek, a visiting scientist at the Office on Smoking and Health. The CDC said younger smokers would be more likely than older smokers to quit or reduce the amount they smoked because of price increases. The study predicted a 50 percent price increase would cause consumption to decline 29 percent among those aged 18 to 24. Researchers said price increases would also lead to declines in smoking among African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans above age 25. "The tobacco industry has been trying to scare the public, saying that a price increase would be unfair and hit minorities the hardest. In fact, it will actually have the greatest benefit from a public health standpoint in minority communities, particularly in the Hispanic community," Eriksen said.

'Price is only one weapon'

Smokers whose family incomes were at or below average were more than five times as likely as higher-income persons to quit smoking because of price hikes.

Researchers said that even after controlling for income and other factors, Hispanic-American and African-American smokers were more likely than Caucasian-American smokers to quit because of price increases. The study said a 10 percent price increase would prompt one-fourth of Hispanic smokers aged 18 to 24 to quit and reduce consumption among African-Americans aged 18 to 24 by 10 percent. Smoking would be expected to drop less than 1 percent among young Caucasian-Americans, the CDC said. Eriksen said the relative lack of price sensitivity among Caucasian-Americans indicated that "price is only one weapon to reduce smoking." "You need to combine price increases with regulations, with education and prevention programs, and cessation. Anyone element alone will fall short in achieving the type of change that's possible," he said.

a. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Study discussed in the CNN article above, what is the overall price elasticity of cigarettes? Based on the estimated elasticity value, is the demand for cigarettes elastic or inelastic? Does this accord with your expectations? Explain why.

b. What are the CDC estimates of price elasticity for Caucasian-Americans, African-Americans, and Hispanic-Americans?

c. Age seems to be a relevant factor for responsiveness to cigarette price increases. What is the estimated price elasticity for young people (aged 18 to 24)? Is this higher or lower than the overall price elasticity calculated in (part a) above? Does this accord with your expectations? Why or why not?

d. The CDC study also presents information for estimates of price elasticity for young Hispanic-Americans, young African-Americans, and young Caucasian-Americans. Calculate the elasticities for each of these three groups, and comment on whether they are elastic or inelastic.

e. Which of the factors that determine elasticity can be identified in the CDC study as being influential in causing differences in the observed elasticity across ethnic groups and age of consumers?

f. The government has taxed the cigarette industry quite extensively over the past decades. According to your analysis thus far, why would the government be so inclined to tax tobacco?

fuchsiagrasshopper6

1.When the term "price" is used in the law of demand, price refers to Select one:

a. the price of the well relative to the price of another good.

b. the nominal price of the well relative to its nominal price in the previous year.

c. the absolute price of the good.

d. the dollar price of the good.

2.In economics, the meaning of demand refers to Select one:

a. the quantities of a good that people will sell at various prices.

b. the total satisfaction that consuming good provides people at different prices.

c. how badly someone wants a good.

d. the quantities of a good that people will buy at various prices.

3.Which of the following illustrates the law of demand?

Select one:

a. College enrollment increases when federal tuition grants are readily available to students.

b. More people watch college basketball in March than in November.

c. The number of long-distance calls in the United States is greater on Christmas than on Valentine's Day.

d. The prevailing wage rate in an industry determines how many people choose to work in the industry.

4.The absolute price of a good is its

Select one:

a. money price.

b. projected price.

c. relative price.

d. subjective price.

5.The only variable that can affect a movement along the demand curve is

Select one:

a. the number of buyers.

b. income levels.

c. the price of the good itself.

d. the number of substitutes.

6.The price of an MP3 music player increased from $50 to $70 while the price of a music download increased from $1 to $2. The relative price of an MP3 music player in terms of music downloads Select one:

a. increased from 0.04 to 0.05.

b. decreased, but we need more information to know by how much.

c. increased, but we need more information to know by how much.

d. decreased from 50 to 35.

7.The quantity supplied of a particular good is the amount of the good that

Select one:

a. households want firms to sell at each price during a particular time period.

b. firms will actually end up buying at a particular price during a given time period.

c. firms are willing to sell at each price during a particular time period.

d. households are willing to consume at each particular price.

8.An increase in price will lead to an increase in quantity supplied. This statement is

Select one:

a. the law of supply.

b. untrue always.

c. the law of demand.

d. a normative statement.

9.Regarding the law of supply, which of the following statements is correct?

Select one:

a. As demand falls, supply rises.

b. The ceteris paribus assumption does not apply.

c. As the price of a good or service rises, the quantity supplied will increase.

d. As the price of a good or service rises, the quantity supplied will decrease.

10.A given supply curve illustrates Select one:

a. the relationship between expected future prices and quantity supplied.

b. the effect of a change in resource costs on the quantity supplied.

c. the effect of a change in technology on the quantity supplied.

d. the relationship between price and quantity supplied.

11.If there is a decline in the price of milk, an input in the production of ice cream, then there will be a(n)

Select one:

a. decrease in the supply of ice cream and a leftward shift of the supply curve.

b. increase in the supply of ice cream and a rightward shift of the supply curve.

c. increase in the quantity of ice cream supplied and a movement down along the supply curve.

d. decrease in the quantity of ice cream supplied and a movement up along the supply curve.

12. An improvement in technology in the production of computers would

Select one:

a. increase the demand for computers.

b. decrease the supply of computers.

c. decrease the demand for computers.

d. increase the supply of computers.

13.Which of the following is a non-price determinant of supply? Select one:

a. the number of consumers

b. technological advances in production

c. the price of related goods consumers may buy

d. consumers' incomes

14.Which of the following does NOT cause a rightward shift in the supply curve?

Select one:

a. a reduction in resource costs

b. an increase in technology

c. a reduction in the expected future price of the good

d. a reduction in the price of the good

15.Which of the following is a possible outcome of setting a legal maximum rental rate below the market-clearing rental rate?

Select one:

a. a decrease in the quantity of rental housing demanded

b. an increase in the quantity of rental housing supply

c. a black market in rental housing

d. a surplus of rental housing

plumgerbil49

ECN 104 Chapter 5: Chapter 5 - Elasticity & Its Application

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