Benifits of Cross Elasticity

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As we have seen in the example of tea and coffee above, when two goods are substitutes of each other, then as a result of the rise in price of one good, the quantity demanded of the other good increases. Therefore, the cross elasticity of demand between the two substitute goods is positive, that is, in response to the rise in price of one good, the demand for the other good increases. Substitute goods are also known as competing goods. On the other hand, when the two goods are complementary with each other just as bread and butter, tea and milk etc., the rise in price of one good brings about the decrease in demand for the other. Therefore, the cross elasticity of demand between the two complementary goods is negative. Therefore according to the classification based on the concept of cross elasticity of demand, goods X and Yare substitutes or complements accord-ing as the cross elasticity of demand is positive or negative. The concept of cross elasticity of demand is very important in economic theory. The substitute and complementary goods, as we have seen above, are defined is terms of cross elasticity of demand. The goods between which cross elasticity of demand is positive are known as substitute goods and the goods between which cross elasticity of demand is negative are complementary goods. Besides, classification of various types of market structures is made on the basis of cross elas-ticity of demand. Thus, Professor Triffen has employed the concept of cross elasticity of demand in distinguishing the various forms of markets. Perfect competition is defined as that in which the cross elasticity of demand between the products produced by many firms in it is infinite. Monopoly is said to exist when a producer produces a product the cross elasticity of demand for which with any other product is very low. In fact, the pure or absolute monopoly is
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