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Question
Explain the term elasticity of demand.
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Solution
Alfred Marshall was the first economist to develop the concept of price elasticity of demand as the ratio of a relative change in quantity demanded to a relative change in price. A relative measure is needed so that changes in different measures can be compared. These relative changes in demand and price are measured by percentage change. The percentage changes are independent of units. The elasticity of demand is the ratio between the percentage change in demand and percentage change in price.
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RELATED QUESTIONS
A consumer spends Rs 400 on a good priced at Rs 4 per unit. When the price rises by 25 percent, the consumer continues to spend Rs 400. Calculate the price elasticity of demand by percentage method.
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| Column A | Column B |
| 1. Increase or decrease in demand for a commodity does not cause any change in its price. | (a) Effect on supply, in the case of Perfectly Elastic Demand. |
| 2. Increase or decrease in demand causes a change in the price of the commodity. Equilibrium quantity remains constant. | (b) Effect on demand, in the case of Perfectly Inelastic Supply. |
| 3. Increase or decrease in demand cause a change in the price of the commodity. Equilibrium quantity remains constant. | (c) Effect on demand, in the case of Perfectly Elastic Supply. |
| 4. Increase or decrease in demand for a commodity does not cause any change in its price. | (d) Effect on supply, in the case of Perfectly Elastic Demand. |
Study the following table and answer the questions:
| Price of Pen (₹) | Demand for Pen |
| 10 | 500 |
| `square` | 400 |
| 30 | `square` |
| `square` | 200 |
| 50 | `square` |
Questions:
- Complete the above table.
- Which type of relationship is found between the price of a pen and demand for the pen?
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