4IntMicroLecture4 IndividualandMarketDemand
4IntMicroLecture4 IndividualandMarketDemand
c c
= =
c c
0
Y
L U
P
Y Y
c c
= =
c c
Solving for :
X
X
MU
P
=
and
Y
Y
MU
P
=
Equating these two equations yields the same result as the before:
X Y
X y
MU MU
P P
=
Looking once again at deriving demand functions
4 - 9
Expenditure Function: E=Px X+ Py Y
Subject to Constraint: U(X,Y) = XY = U*
Find Expenditure minimizing choice with prices, Px and Py , income I and U=XY
Short cut: Px/Py
= MU
x
/MU
y
= Y/X (since MU
x
= Y
and MU
Y
= X)
so P
x
X = P
y
Y
Looking at the Budget Constraint E (or M) = 2PxX or M = 2PYY
Demand curve for X is X = M/2P
x
and Demand curve for Y = M/2Py
Same result as before.
EXTRA We will not discuss in class
Compensated and Uncompensated Demand Curves (Looking more closely at the
Income and Substitution Effects)
The Ordinary (or Uncompensated) Demand Curve for X is ( , , )
X X Y
X D P P M =
The Compensated Demand Curve for X holds utility constant and is defined as
* ( , , )
X X Y
X h P P U =
From before we derived the indirect utility function which looked as the values of PX,
PY, and I need to obtain a given level of utility. That level of income was the minimum
expenditure necessary.
Thus, we can denote this value by ( , , )
X Y
E E P P U =
4 - 10
The graph below illustrated both the uncompensated and compensated demand
curves.
At Point A, the quantity of X for the compensated and uncompensated demand is
equal when an individuals income is exactly that necessary to achieve a give level of
utility.
At Point A
( , , ) [ , , ( , , ]
X X Y X X Y X Y
h P P U D P P E P P U =
( , , )
X Y
M E P P U =
Partially differentiating the above equation with respect to the price of X yields:
X X X
X X X
h D D E
P P E P
c c c c
= +
c c c c
or
X X X
X X X
D h D E
P P E P
c c c c
=
c c c c
If we call E = M = PXX PYY and we know
X X
D h X c = c = c
/
X
X
h X
utility
P Px
c c
=
c c
A
( , , )
X X Y
X D P P M =
* ( , , )
X X Y
X h P P U =
X
P
x
income effect
Using trick A:
income effect
X
X x
x
D E X M
E P M P
M
X
P
X
X
M
c c c c
= =
c c c c
c
=
c
c
=
c
4 - 11
Slutsky Equation is
/
X
U
X X
D X X
X
P P M
c c c
=
c c c
X
X
D
P
c
=
c
substitution + income effect
Aggregating Individual Demand Curves
4 - 12
ELASTICITY OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND
ELASTICITY can be defined as a measure of responsiveness. We want to examine how
a change in one variable affects a change in another.
Price elasticity of demand is defined as the percentage change in quantity demanded
with respect to a percentage change in the price of the good.
The symbol often used to denote price elasticity of demand is
d
E even though the text
uses .
d
E is easier to write so we can used. Other texts may different symbols
Economists are not consistent). We will use the following formula for price elasticity of
demand: We keep in mind that Q= Qd
%
%
d
Q
E
P
A
=
A
=
Q P
x
P Q
A
A
or if we use calculus we can define elasticity as
d
dQ P Q P
E x
dP Q P Q
c
= =
c
. We will look at using this formula a little later.
Some books put a negative sign in front of the equation or take the absolute value, the
value of elasticity always becomes positive. Some books do not consider the absolute
value and treat elasticity as negative. BE AWARE OF HOW ELASTICITY IS DEFINED.
Notice that the value of the price elasticity of demand includes the reciprocal of the
slope of the demand function, AP/AQ
d
. The value of the slope of the demand function
is a factor affecting the value of the elasticity. However, the values are not the same.
Calculating Price Elasticity of Demand by the Arc Elasticity Method
Consider the demand curve below.
Price
9 A
7 B
6 8 Quantity/time
Calculate the value of the elasticity between points A and B.
AQ = 8 - 6 = 2 AP = 7 - 9 = -2
We will always look at the absolute value of elasticity.
4 - 13
If we use price and quantity at point A, then
2 9
1.5
2 6
d
Q P
E x x
P Q
A
= = =
A
If we use price and quantity at point B, then
2 7
0.87
2 8
d
Q P
E x x
P Q
A
= = =
A
It can be seen that as we move down along the demand curve the value of the
elasticity changes. Thus, the value of the elasticity we calculate from A to B will be
different depending on which initial values of P and Q are used. To cope with this, we
take the average of price and quantity and use the formula:
*
* d
Q P
E x
P Q
A
=
A
where
* 1 2
2
P P
P
+
= and
* 1 2
2
Q Q
Q
+
=
Using a little bit of algebra, the formula above reduces to:
1 2
1 2
d
Q P P
E x
P Q Q
A +
=
A +
Using the data from before:
1 2
1 2
2 9 7
1.14
2 6 8
d
Q P P
E x x
P Q Q
A + +
= = =
A + +
If we have a straight line demand curve we can use determine elasticity at a particular
point.
Let Q = 10 2P
What is the value of the elasticity at P= 2?
Solving for
dQ
dP
we obtain
dQ
dP
= -2, and at P= 2, Q = 10 2 (2) = 6.
Thus,
dQ P
x
dP Q
=
2
( 2) 0.67
6
x =
Special Case of a constant price elasticity demand curve
Let
b
Q aP
= or
b
a
Q
P
= a and b are constants
1 b
dQ
baP
dP
= If P = P,
b
a
Q
P
= Thus,
1
( )
b
d b
P
E baP b
aP
= =
4 - 14
Elasticity of Demand is constant at any given price.
If the demand function is in logarithmic form then the coefficient of the variable is the
value of the elasticity.
Let Q = 2P
-3
Taking the natural logs of both sides yields ln Q = ln2 3ln P
We know that the derivative of a logarithm is
If y = lnx
ln 1 dy d x
dx dx x
= = or ln
dx
d x
x
= so ln
dQ
d Q
Q
= and ln
dP
d P
P
=
Elasticity is defined as
ln
ln
d
dQ
d Q Q
E
dP
d P
P
= =
From before: ln Q = ln2 3ln P
ln ln2 ln ln 3
( 3 ln ) ( 3) 3
ln ln ln ln
d
d Q d d P d
E P
d P d P d P d P
= = + = =
Knowing how to calculate the value of the price elasticity of demand is important.
What is perhaps more important, however, is understanding what the value of
elasticity means and its relationship to the concept of TOTAL REVENUE.
TOTAL REVENUE is defined as price times quantity.
We noted before that the value of elasticity indicates the percentage change in quantity
with respect to the percentage change in price. Since elasticity is a fraction, the value
calculated can be interpreted as the percentage change in quantity with respect to a
one percent change in price.
If, for example,
d
E = -1.14, a one percent increase in price would cause quantity to
fall by 1.14 percent. This can also be interpreted as saying a ten percent increase in
price would cause quantity to fall by 11.4 percent.
4 - 15
Elasticity and Total Revenue (TR)
When discussing the price elasticity of demand it is useful to distinguish different
ranges of elasticity values.
If 1
d
E > , demand is referred to a being elastic.
If 1
d
E < , demand is referred to a being inelastic.
If 1
d
E = , demand is referred to a being unit or unitary elastic.
Whether demand is elastic, inelastic or unit elastic will determine how a change in
price (and the resultant change in quantity) will affect total revenue (PQ).
If 1
d
E > , or demand is elastic, a decrease in price will increase the value of total
revenue. An increase in price will decrease the value of total revenue.
If 1
d
E < , or demand is inelastic, a decrease in price will decrease the value of total
revenue. An increase in price will increase the value of total revenue.
If 1
d
E = , demand is unit elastic, and any change in price will have no effect on total
revenue. Thus, total revenue is constant. At the price and quantity in which demand is
unit elastic, total revenue is also maximized.
Elasticity and Marginal Revenue (MR)
From above, it was shown that the value of elasticity determines the effect of a price
(quantity) change on total revenue. A change in total revenue with respect to a change
in quantity is called Marginal Revenue (MR).
Marginal Revenue =
d d
TR dTR
Q dQ
A
=
A
(We will let
d
Q Q = so =
TR dTR
MR
Q dQ
A
= =
A
Deriving the relationship between MR and TR.
TR = PQ Look at changes: TR P Q Q P A = A + A
TR Q P P
MR P Q P Q
Q Q Q Q
A A A A
= = + = +
A A A A
Look at the term
Q P
Q
A
A
. Multiplying by
P
P
4 - 16
yields
PQ P
P Q
A
A
Remembering that
d
Q P
E
P Q
A
=
A
1
( )
d
MR P P
E
= +
1
(1 )
d
MR P
E
= +
This can also be solved be taking the derivative of TR with respect to Q.
dTR dQ dP
P Q
dQ dQ dQ
= + =
dP Q dP
MR P Q P P
dQ P dQ
= + = +
1
(1 )
d
MR P
E
= + or
1
(1 )
d
MR P
E
= +
NOW REMEMBER THAT Ed will be negative. However, it is generally easier to look at
the absolute values of Ed or
d
E
Substituting into the MR function yields:
If 1
d
E > , {
1
(1 )
d
E
+ } > 0 or
1
(1 )
d
E
>0., and MR > 0. As P rises (Q falls), TR falls.
If 1
d
E < , {
1
(1 )
d
E
+ } < 0, or
1
(1 )
d
E
<0 and MR < 0. As P rises (Q falls), TR rises.
If 1
d
E = 1
d
E = , {
1
(1 )
d
E
+
} = 0,
1
(1 )
d
E
=0 and MR = 0. As P rises (Q falls), TR remains
constant.
We can also look a the relationships of changes in Price, Price Elasticity and
Total Revenue
TR = Qx - Px.
Taking the derivative of the above total revenue equation with respect to price
(dTR/dPx), we obtain the following general functional relation (you can show):
dTR/dPx = Qx (1 + Ed)
Ed represents the price elasticity of demand. Since Ed is always negative,
dTR/dPx = Qx (1 - ,Ed,)
a) If ,Ed, > 1, then dTR/dPx < 0. In plain English, this says that when demand
is price elastic, the relationship between price and total revenue is negative.
That is, an increase in price will decrease total revenue and a decrease in price
will have the opposite effect on total revenue.
4 - 17
b) If ,Ed, < 1, then dTR/dPx > 0. Again, in plain English, this says that when
demand is price inelastic, the relationship between price and total revenue is
positive. That is, an increase in price will have the effect of increasing total
revenue and a decrease in price will cause a decline in revenue.
c) If ,Ed, = 1.0, then dTR/dPx = 0. Thus, a change in price will have no effect on
total revenue.
Special Cases of Elasticity
If
d
E = - , demand is referred to a being perfectly elastic.
4 - 18
If
d
E = 0, demand is referred to a being perfectly inelastic.
NOTE: Although we know that along a (straight line) demand curve the value of
elasticity will change, a steep demand curve is often referred to as being relatively
inelastic. A flat demand curve is referred to as being relatively elastic.
Factors that affect the price elasticity of demand.
Substitution possibilities: the substitution effect of a price change tends to be
small for goods with no close substitutes.
Budget share: the larger the share of total expenditures accounted for by the
product, the more important will be the income effect of a price change.
Direction of income effect: a normal good will have a higher price elasticity than
an inferior good.
Time: demand for a good will be more responsive to price in the long-run than in
the short-run.
Price Elasticity Is Greater in the Long Run than in the Short Run
Other Types of Elasticity
1. Cross price elasticity of demand is defined as the percentage change in quantity
demanded of good two with respect to a percentage change in the price of good one.
2
1,2
1
%
%
Q
E
P
A
=
A
=
2 1
1 2
Q P
x
P Q
A
A
or
2 1
1 2
dQ P
x
dP Q
If
1,2
0 E > , goods 1 and 2 are substitutes.
If
1,2
0 E < < 0, goods 1 and 2 are complements.
If
1,2
0 E = = 0, goods 1 and 2 are not related.
2. Income elasticity of demand is defined as the percentage change in the quantity of a
good with respect to a percentage change in income.
4 - 19
The symbol commonly used to denote income elasticity of demand is , the Greek
symbol mu. (Although is also used). Book uses EI.
=
%
%
Q
I
A
A
=
Q I
x
I Q
A
A
or
dQ I
x
dI Q
If 0 < 1, the good is considered a normal good.
If < 0, the good is considered an inferior good.
If > 1, the good is considered superior
3. Elasticity of Supply is defined as the percentage change in quantity supplied with
respect to a percentage change in the price of the good.
The symbol commonly used to denote the price elasticity of supply is the letter e. The
formula for elasticity of supply is:
e =
%
%
s
Q
P
A
A
=
s
s
Q P
x
P Q
A
A
or
s
s
dQ P
x
dP Q
Supply curves which you may often encounter in economics are:
P e = 0
e = ,
Q/t
An example of a good that has a perfectly inelastic supply curve is land. Land is a
resource that is in fixed supply and no matter how high price rises output cannot
increase.
An example of a resource that has a perfectly elastic supply curve is unskilled labor.
Firms can hire all the labor necessary at the going wage rate. In this case, wage is the
price of labor and quantity is the amount of labor available.
Range of the Coefficient of Elasticity of Supply: 0 s e s
If e > 1 then, elastic price elasticity of supply.
If e = 1 then, unitary elastic price elasticity of supply.
If e > 1 then, inelastic price elasticity of supply.
The elasticity of supply tends to be greater in the long run, when all adjustments to
the higher or lower relative price have been made by producers (than in shorter
periods of time).
Alternative Market Equilibrium Definitions based on the Price Elasticity of
Supply
4 - 20
The definitions are based on the work of Alfred Marshal, who emphasized the time
element in competitive price equilibrium.
1. Momentary Equilibrium (Market Period)
Producers are totally unresponsive to a price change. Why? There is no time for
producers to adjust output levels in response to the change in price!
Supply is perfectly inelastic; therefore, demand determines price.
2. Short-Run Equilibrium
Firms can respond to the change in market price for the good by increasing the
variable input in production. That is to say, produces produce more by using their
equipment and/or plants more intensively.
Short-run production function:
Q = F (K, L), where K (capital) is the fixed input and L is the variable input.
Hence, firms are able to increase output in the short-run if they increase their variable
(labor) input.
3. Long-Run Equilibrium (or Normal Price)
All inputs are variable; hence, firms can increase their capital stock, e.g., build new
plants, and new firms can enter the industry or old ones leave. Q = F (K, L).
4. Very-Long Run Equilibrium
Technology is improving, so that for a given amount of capital and labor input more
output is forthcoming. The supply curve is becoming more elastic! Q = T{Q (K, L)}.
S So om me e F Fu un n T Th hi in ng gs s t to o D Do o
C Ca an n y yo ou u f fi ig gu ur re e o ou ut t w wh ha at t i is s t th he e r re el la at ti io on ns sh hi ip p b be et tw we ee en n t th he e s sl lo op pe e o of f t th he e P PC CC C ( (p pr ri ic ce e
c co on ns su um mp pt ti io on n c cu ur rv ve e) ) a an nd d t th he e v va al lu ue e o of f t th he e e el la as st ti ic ci it ty y ( (i in ne el la as st ti ic c, , e el la as st ti ic c, , u un ni it t e el la as st ti ic c) )
o of f t th he e g go oo od d w wh hi ic ch h h ha as s u un nd de er rg go on ne e t th he e p pr ri ic ce e c ch ha an ng ge e ( (P P
x x i in n t th he e a ab bo ov ve e e ex xa am mp pl le e) )? ?
Y Yo ou u c ca an n s sh ho ow w t th he e r re es su ul lt ts s b bo ot th h g gr ra ap ph hi ic ca al ll ly y a an nd d d di ia ag gr ra am mm ma at ti ic ca al ll ly y. .
4 - 21
Suppose demand for inkjet printers is estimated to be
Q= 1000- 5p + 10pX - 2pZ + 0.1Y. If p = 80,
pX =50, pZ =150, and Y =20,000; answer the following:
a. What is the price elasticity of demand?
b. What is the cross-price elasticity with respect to commodity X? Give an
example of what commodity X might be.
c. What is the cross-price elasticity with respect to commodity Z? Give an
example of what commodity Z might be.
d. What is the income elasticity?