Economics

Elasticity of supply explained with its types

len Alfred Ajibola - Tue, 07th January, 2020 @ 22:10: PM

Topics in Economics

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Academic Questions in Economics

Please click here to see all Questions and Answers

_____ is defined as a gradual and sustained rise in price level of goods and services in relation to their availability.

  • A. Basis Point Rate

  • B. Hike Rate

  • C. Elastic Supply

  • D. Elasticity of Price

  • E. Price Inflation

  • F. Aggregate Supply

The wholesalers can bring about an economy of scale.

  • A. True

  • B. False

Which of the following statement isn't a characteristics of the wholesaler?

  • A. They may have to operate in specific areas or regions accorded them by the producer

  • B. They are often popular in the line of goods they supply

  • C. They are not risk bearers

  • D. They have good storage facilities

  • E. They often pay for goods supplied by the manufacturers in advance

  • F. They usually have business agents or brokers

The wholesalers act as the middlemen in supply chain.

  • A. True

  • B. False

Large retailers who buy directly from manufacturers are termed as _____.

  • A. Wholesale Retailers

  • B. Certified Retailers

  • C. Codified Retailers

  • D. Commodity Retailers

  • E. Manufacturers Retailer

  • F. Conspicuous Retailers

_____ is a market whereby the sellers buy goods in lesser quantities from the wholesalers and sells in bits to the final consumers.

  • A. Commodity

  • B. Retail

  • C. Wholesale

  • D. Labour

  • E. Common

  • F. General

Which of the following is not a financial market?

  • A. Money Market

  • B. Bond Market

  • C. Foreign Exchange Market

  • D. Virtual Market

  • E. Capital Market

  • F. Stock Exchange Market

A _____ market provides a platform whereby job seekers link up with employers in an attempt to be hired.

  • A. Wholesale market

  • B. Bond market

  • C. Physical market

  • D. Virtual market

  • E. Factor Market

  • F. Labor Market



Types of Supply Elasticity:

Elasticity of supply (or supply elasticity) refers to the rate at which an increase in price of goods translates into an increased production and availability of such goods in the market.

For all commodities, the value of elasticity of supply (Es) is not always uniform. Its value may be:


Below are the five types of supply elasticity with their respective explanations and graphical representations:

 

1. Perfectly Inelastic Supply

A product is considered to be perfectly inelastic when a change in the price of the product has no effect on the production and amount (or supply) of such product in the market.

Please read on supply, supply curve and law of supply here.


Below is a graph that shows a perfectly inelastic supply

Perfectly Inelastic Supply Curve - Len Academy


Goods, services and commodities are said to be perfectly inelastic whenever a given quantity of these can be supplied, no matter the change in price.


Consider the instances below:

  • Instance 1: A 10% increase in the price of wheat translates into a 100% increase in the production and supply of wheat.

  • Instance 2: if a 100% increase in the price of wheat translates into a 100% increase (the same increase as above) in the production and supply of wheat, then the supply elasticity is said to be perfectly inelastic for wheat and its value becomes zero (0) in both instances.


Perfectly inelastic goods, commodities or services are considered to have zero elasticity: (Es = 0).

The curve lies parallel and straight to the y axis of the graph.

Please read on the graphical representation of supply curve here.

 

2. Inelastic or Relatively Less-Elastic Supply

A supply curve is said to be inelastic when a change in price brings about a relatively less change in the quantity of goods or services supplied.

The graph below shows an inelastic supply curve

Inelastic and Elastic Supply Curve - Len Academy


Consider the instance below:

  • If a 100% increase in the price of melon translates into a 50% increase in the production and supply of melon, then the supply elasticity is inelastic and its value becomes 0.5 in this case. (That is; change in quantity supplied divided change in price).


The price elasticity of inelastic products are always given a value greater than 0 and lesser than 1.

Es > 0 and Es < 1.

Please read on demand and law of demand here.

 

3. Elastic or Relatively Greater-Elastic Supply

Please see the graph of elastic supply above

An elastic supply is seen when a change in price brings about a relatively greater change in the quantity of goods or services supplied.


  • As an instance, If a 100% increase in the price of beans translates into a 200% increase in the production and supply of beans, then the supply elasticity is elastic and its value becomes 2 in this case. (Change in quantity supplied divided by change in price).


The price elasticity of elastic products are given a value greater than 1 and lesser than infinity.

Es > 1 and Es < ∞.

Please read on Demand Schedule here.

 

4. Unitary Elasticity or Unit Elasticity

A unitary elasticity of supply is seen when a change in price brings about a corresponding and proportional change in the quantity of goods or services supplied.


The graph below shows a unit elasticity of supply:

Unit Elastic Supply Curve - Len Academy


Below is an instance of a unitary elasticity of supply:

  • If a 100% increase in the price of wheat translates into a 100% increase in the production and supply of wheat, then the supply elasticity is said to be unitary elastic and its value is equal to 1.


Unitary elasticity is always equal to 1, that is:

Es = 1

The supply curve runs diagonally and will pass through the center.

You can read on scale of preference and opportunity cost here.

 

5. Perfectly Elastic Supply

A service or commodity is said to be perfectly elastic when an increase in price results into an infinite or unlimited rise in the quantity of commodities or services supplied. In this case, (ES = ∞).


The graph below shows a perfectly elastic supply:

Perfectly Supply Curve - Len Academy

Please read on the Concept and types of cost here.


The instances below illustrate a perfect elasticity for the product (fertilizer):

  • Instance 1: A 10% increase in the price of fertilizer translates into an infinite increase in the production and supply of fertilizer.

  • Instance 2: if a 100% increase in the price of fertilizer translates into an infinite increase in the production and supply of fertilizer, then the supply elasticity is said to be perfectly elastic for fertilizer and its value becomes infinite (∞) in both instances.

  • You can read on production here.


Whenever there is a decrease in price, the supply of perfectly elastic commoditis or goods, their values become zero (0).


Consider the instances below:

  • Instance 1: A 10% decrease in the price of yam translates into a 0% increase in the production and supply of yam.

  • Instance 2: if a 100% decrease in the price of yam translates into a 0% increase in the production and supply of yam, then the supply elasticity is said to be perfectly elastic for yam and its value becomes zero (0) in both instances.


The curve is a straight line running parallel and horizontally (to the x axis).

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Amazing facts in Economics


Notable points in Economics

A unitary elasticity of supply is seen when a change in price brings about a corresponding and proportional change in the quantity of goods or services supplied.

The graph below shows a unit elasticity of supply:
Unit Elastic Supply Curve - Len Academy

Below is an instance of a unitary elasticity of supply:

  • If a 100% increase in the price of wheat translates into a 100% increase in the production and supply of wheat, then the supply elasticity is said to be unitary elastic and its value is equal to 1.

Unitary elasticity is always equal to 1, that is: Es = 1

The supply curve runs diagonally and will pass through the center.

Supply elasticity is defined as the rate at which an increase in price of goods translates into its increased production and availability in the market. Supply elasticity is also termed as price elasticity of supply.

Consider the statements below:

  • If a 100% increase in the price of rice translates into a 100% increase in the production and supply of rice, the supply elasticity is said to be unitary elastic and its value is equal to 1.

  • If a 100% increase in the price of rice translates into a 50% increase in the production and supply (quantity) of rice, the supply elasticity is said to be inelastic and its value will be greater than zero and less than 1. In this case, the exact value is 0.5: (value of change in the quantity of rice divided by value of change in price of rice = 50/100 = 0.5).

  • Please read on supply elasticity here

The individual demand schedule is a table that shows the demand of a commodity that an individual (consumer) purchased at various prices, and at a particular time.

The table below shows an individual demand schedule:

Price in Naira (of a tuber of yam)

Quantity demanded (per week)

500

5

400

10

300

15

200

20

100

25

The market demand schedule is also referred to as an aggregate demand schedule, total demand schedule or composite demand schedule.

This is a table that shows the different commodities purchased by all the consumers or customers in the market.

The market demand schedule is the summation of the individual demand schedules, showing the demand of different customers for a commodity at a particular price. It is shown in the table below:

Unit price of commodity (Naira)

Quantity demanded by consumer A (QA)

Quantity demanded by consumer A (QB)

Market demand (QA +  QB)

50

20

15

35

40

40

30

70

30

60

45

105

20

80

60

140

10

100

75

175

 

From the above table, notice that when the unit price of the commodity was 50 Naira, consumer A demanded 20 quantities while consumer B demanded 15 quantities.

Please read more on demand schedule here.

Below are definitions of demand from the perspective of some notable professors:

The demand for goods is a schedule of the amounts that buyers would be willing to purchase at all possible prices at any one instant of a time.

Professor Mayers

Demand is the various quantities of goods that would be purchased per time period at different prices in a given market.

Professor Hibdon

The demand for anything, at a given price is the amount of it which will be bought per unit of time at the price.

Professor Benham

Generally, demand is defined as the willingness of a person, buyer or consumer to buy a specific quantity of goods or service at a given price and time.

From the above definitions, we can infer that the definition of demand is referenced to three major factors. These are:

  1. Quantity of Goods Demanded

  2. Price

  3. Time

Please read more on the concept of demand here.