Assignment:
Question 1
Elasticity measures how responsive consumers are to various changes. These include changes to the price of the product, to the price of substitute products, and even to changes in their own incomes.
The important elasticity measures that affect consumers are known as: the "price elasticity of demand", the "cross price elasticity" and the "income elasticity of demand".
Producers also respond to changes in the economic environment and the degree to which they react is measured as the "price elasticity of supply".
Understanding the degree to which consumers and producers react gives us insights into what happens to quantity demanded and also to revenues if a business changes the price of its product, or if the price of a related product changes, or if income changes.
• Name a relatively inexpensive product that you purchase on a regular basis. If the price of that product increased by 25% how would you react? Why? Is your response considered to be ELASTIC or INELASTIC?
• Now name a relatively expensive product that you purchase less frequently. If the price of that product increased by 25% how would you react? Why? Is your response considered to be ELASTIC or INELASTIC?
• Let's consider the price of gasoline. It has been changing a lot over the course of the last few years. How have you responded to these changes? Explain your reaction to the price change in terms of it being either elastic or inelastic.
• Would you react differently if you believe that increased gas prices will be temporary (short run) as opposed to being a long run phenomenon? How so and why?
Question 2
In The News: If you bought any good or service this week, you have already participated in the market system that operates by demand and supply. What drives the demand for any product? Why are firms willing to supply it?
1. Use the key word ECONOMIC NEWS in an Internet search engine (Google, Bing etc.) to locate online news sources such as CNN News, the NYTimes, Chicago Tribune, Forbes, US News and World Report, or any of the various other nationally recognized news providers.
• NOTE: Make sure the story you select reflects the material covered in the chapter. This is best accomplished by using the ADVANCED SEARCH option and also choosing appropriate categories such as "Business" or "Economics" when the option exists. Also choose sort by "RELEVANCE" to further refine the search process.
Select a news provider and use their search feature to locate a news story on one of the following suggested concepts, or on a topic of interest to you that is appropriate to this chapter.
Possible search terms:
• Demand for (corn, wheat, video games, housing)
• Supply (same as above or use any of interest to you)
• Market shortage
• Excess supply of milk
• Market price
• Subsidies
1. Write a 1-2 page summary of the information and also explain how it relates to what you have just learned.