The accompanying table lists the cross-price elasticities of demand for several goods,where the percent quantity change is measured for the first good of the pair, and the percent price change is measured for the second good.
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good
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Cross-price elasticities of deman
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Air-conditioning units and kilowatts of electricity
|
-0.34
|
|
Coke and Pepsi
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+0.63
|
|
High-fuel-consuming sport-utility vehicles (SUVs)and gasoline
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-0.28
|
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McDonald's burgers and Burger King burgers
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+0.82
|
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Butter and margarine
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+1.54
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a. Explain the sign of each of the cross-price elasticities. What does it imply about the relationshipbetween the two goods in question?
b. Compare the absolute values of the cross-price elasticities and explain their magnitudes. Forexample, why is the cross-price elasticity of McDonald's burgers and Burger King burgers less than thecross-price elasticity of butter and margarine?
c. Use the information in the table to calculate how a 5% increase in the price of Pepsi affects thequantity of Coke demanded.
d. Use the information in the table to calculate how a 10% decrease in the price of gasoline affects thequantity of SUVs demanded.