CONTENT
- Definition
- Types (Positive and Negative)
- Measurement of Income Elasticity of Demand
DEFINITION: Income elasticity of demand is the degree of responsiveness of quantity demanded of a commodity to a little change in consumer’s income. That is, it measures how changes in income of consumers will affect the quantity of commodities demanded by such consumers.
Mathematically, income elasticity of demand is expressed as:
% change in Quantity Demanded / % change in Income
When the percentage change in income brings about an equal change in the quantity demanded, then income elasticity is unit.
When the percentage change in income is greater than the percentage change in quantity demanded, income elasticity is less than unit, hence income is inelastic.
When the percentage change in quantity demanded is greater than the percentage change in income, then income elasticity is greater than unit, hence income elasticity is elastic.
TYPES OF INCOME ELASTICITY OF DEMAND
- Positive Income Elasticity of Demand: is the type of income elasticity of demand in which an increase in income of consumer will equally lead to an increase in the quantity of commodity demanded. This is applicable majorly to normal goods.
- Negative Income Elasticity of Demand: is the type in which an increase in income of consumers will lead to a decrease in the quantity of commodity demanded. This is applicable to inferior goods.
EVALUATION
- Define income elasticity of demand.
- State the formula for calculating income elasticity of demand.
EVALUATION
- What is income elasticity of demand?
- Explain two types of income elasticity of demand
READING ASSIGNMENT
1. Comprehensive Economics Page 124 – 127
2. Fundamentals of Economics Page 227 – 236
GENERAL EVALUATION QUESTIONS
- Explain five reasons why a joint stock company is preferable to a one-man business.
- State the law of Diminishing returns.
- Define Labour as a factor of production.
- What are the factors affecting the size of a firm?
- Distinguish between fixed and variable cost.
WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT
1. The responsiveness of demand to a change in income is the measurement of_______(a) arc elasticity of demand (b) cross elasticity of demand (c) income elasticity of demand (d) Price elasticity of demand
2. Given the income of A and B as________
Income Quantity demanded kg
A 20,000 120
B 36,000 96
The income elasticity between A and B is ________
(a) 0.25 (b) 0.95 (c) 2.3 (d) 2.7
3. What kind of good is between A and B above?
(a) private good (b) public good (c) luxury (d) necessity
4. Given income C and D and quantity demanded as follows:
Income Quantity Demanded
40,000 160
44,000 200
Calculate the coefficient of income elasticity of demand
(a) 2.5 (b) 4.7 (c) 0.44 (d) 6.5
5. When an increase in consumer’s income leads to a decrease in quantity demanded of a commodity, income elasticity of demand is…………? (a) indeterminable (b) positive (c) constant (d) negative
6. Income elasticity of demand is negative for…………… (a) normal goods (b) competitive goods (c) inferior goods (d) complementary goods
SECTION B
- Differentiate between normal goods and inferior goods
2. The table below shows the various incomers and demand for different commodities.
Income Quantity Demanded (kg)
A 10,000 60
B 18,000 48
C 20,000 80
D 22,000 100
E 22,500 120
F 23,500 126
(b) Calculate the income elasticity between (i) A and B (ii) C and D (iii) E and F
(b) What kind of good is between : (i) A and B (ii) C and D
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