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Difference Between Contraction and Decrease in Demand

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Topics

  • Table: Difference Between
  • Factors Affecting Demand Table
  • Key Points
  • Real-Life Application
  • Key Point Summary
CISCE: Class 12

Table: Difference Between

  Contraction of Demand Decrease in Demand
Meaning Demand falls due to a rise in its own price. Demand falls due to other factors (not its own price). Every price sees lower demand.
Demand Curve Effect Upward movement along the same curve. Leftward shift of the entire curve.
Reason Only a rise in the price of the commodity. Other reasons include lower income, fewer consumers, and substitute/complement price changes.
Example As the price rises from ₹5 to ₹6, demand drops from 50 to 30 units. At ₹5/unit, demand shrinks from 50 to 30 units due to a fall in income or a change in substitutes.
Diagram  
Upward movement on a curve.
 
Leftward shift of the curve.
CISCE: Class 12

Factors Affecting Demand Table

Factor Increase: Demand Curve → Right Decrease: Demand Curve → Left
Income Increases Decreases
Substitute’s Price Rises Falls
Complement’s Price Falls Rises
Preferences Become favourable. Become unfavorable
Price Expectations Expected to rise Expected to fall
Population Increases Decreases
CISCE: Class 12

Key Points

  • Contraction: Caused by a rise in the product’s own price; movement up a fixed curve.
  • Decrease: Caused by external factors (not the price); the entire demand curve shifts left.
  • Visual clue: Contraction is a movement on a curve; decrease is a shift of the curve left.
CISCE: Class 12

Real-Life Application

  • Contraction: If the pizza price goes up, you buy fewer slices – only because it costs more.
  • Decrease: If you switch to burgers (substitute) because they’re cheaper or you lose pocket money, you buy less pizza, even if the price didn’t change.
CISCE: Class 12

Key Point Summary

  • “Contraction” happens only if the price of the commodity increases.
  • “Decrease” happens when other factors (income, tastes, etc.) impact buying, shifting the demand curve.
  • Movement on a curve = contraction; shift of curve = decrease.

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