Cross Elasticity of Demand

367 Words2 Pages
-Define cross elasticity of demand and using diagrams explain what determines whether cross elasticity is positive or negative? Cross elasticity of demand is the measure of the responsiveness of demand for one good to a change in the price of another good. It tells us if demand increases or decreases with a change in price of another commodity. Cross elasticity demand tells us two things it determines the positive or negative change. Second is the value of the cross elasticity of demand. Cross elasticity of demand for two goods is positive when the demand for one good and the price of another good change. So when the price of one good rises the demand for the other rises. This occurs when two goods are substitutes. | For example dominos and pizza hut are substitutes. Lets say the prices of dominos rises and the demand for pizza hut should also change. Price of Dominos Quantity of Pizza Hut From the above diagram we can see that as the price of Dominos increases the demand for Pizza Hut increases from D1 to D2 as seen in the diagram. So this is a rightward shift vice- versa occurs when demand for Pizza Hut will fall and demand for Pizza Hut. Cross elasticity of demand is negative for two goods when the demand for one good changes as price of the other good changes but in opposite way as the above. So when the price of one good increases the other goods demand decreases. This happens when the two goods are compliments. For example cars and fuel are compliments. Lets say the price of cars increase the demand for fuel decreases. Price of cars | Quantity of Fuel Quantity of Fuel We can see from the diagram that as the price of cars increases the demand for fuel reduces since cars and fuel are consumed together the demand for fuel reduces and there is a leftward shift in the demand for fuel. And vice-versa
Open Document