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Income Elasticity Of Demand
Income Elasticity of Demand
The income elasticity of demand measures the responsiveness of quantity demanded to changes in income. It is a measure of how much the quantity demanded of a good changes in response to a change in income.
Formula:
Income Elasticity of Demand (ฮต) = %ฮQd / %ฮI
where:
- ฮต is the income elasticity of demand
- ฮQd is the change in quantity demanded
- ฮI is the change in income
Interpretation:
- If ฮต is positive, the good is considered to be normal, meaning that the quantity demanded increases when income increases.
- If ฮต is negative, the good is considered to be inferior, meaning that the quantity demanded decreases when income increases.
- The absolute value of ฮต determines the magnitude of the change in quantity demanded in response to a change in income.
Causes of Income Elasticity of Demand:
- Availability of substitutes: If there are close substitutes for a good, consumers can afford to consume less of the good when income decreases.
- Relative price changes: If the price of a good increases relative to other goods, consumers may reduce their demand for that good.
- Changes in consumer preference: If consumers’ preferences change and they prefer other goods more, the demand for the original good may decrease.
Examples:
- A normal good, such as coffee, has an income elasticity of demand of 0.8. If income increases by 10%, the quantity of coffee consumed increases by 8%.
- An inferior good, such as rice, has an income elasticity of demand of -0.5. If income increases by 10%, the quantity of rice consumed decreases by 5%.
Applications:
- Income elasticity of demand is used to predict how changes in income will affect the demand for goods and services.
- It is also used to understand the impact of income on consumer behavior.
Additional Notes:
- The income elasticity of demand can vary across goods and services.
- The income elasticity of demand is a measure of responsiveness, not absolute change.
- The income elasticity of demand can be positive or negative, depending on the good in question.