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Elasticities of Demand and Supply

Cross price elasticity of demand, substitutes and complements

  • 3 things to know
  • All three components

Overview

Cross price elasticity of demand, two goods with a strongly positive cross price elasticity and two goods with a strongly negative cross price elasticity.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Define cross price elasticity of demand.

Key term

State the formula for cross price elasticity of demand.

Numbers

The price of tea rises from £2.00 to £2.40 and demand for coffee rises from 300 to 330. Calculate cross price elasticity of demand.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Define cross price elasticity of demand.

    Model answer

    Cross price elasticity of demand measures the responsiveness of demand for one good to a change in the price of another. The sign shows how the two goods are related.

  2. 2

    State the formula for cross price elasticity of demand.

    Model answer

    Cross price elasticity of demand divides one percentage change by another. The percentage change in demand for one good is divided by the percentage change in the price of a second good.

  3. 3

    The price of tea rises from £2.00 to £2.40 and demand for coffee rises from 300 to 330. Calculate cross price elasticity of demand.

    Model answer

    Demand for coffee rises by 10% and the price of tea rises by 20%, so the coefficient is +0.5. The positive sign shows the two goods are substitutes.

  4. 4

    The price of printers falls from £80 to £72 and demand for ink cartridges rises from 5,000 to 5,600. Calculate cross price elasticity of demand.

    Model answer

    Demand for cartridges rises by 12% and the price of printers falls by 10%, so the coefficient is −1.2. The negative sign shows the two goods are complements.

  5. 5

    What does a positive cross price elasticity of demand indicate?

    Model answer

    A positive coefficient indicates that the two goods are substitutes. A rise in the price of one raises demand for the other.

  6. 6

    What does a negative cross price elasticity of demand indicate?

    Model answer

    A negative coefficient indicates that the two goods are complements. A rise in the price of one reduces demand for the other.

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