3.2.5

Interpreting PED & YED

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Interpreting Price Elasticity of Demand Data

Understanding the price elasticity of demand is helpful for businesses. This is because they can understand how a price change will impact their sales.

Illustrative background for Price elasticity of demandIllustrative background for Price elasticity of demand ?? "content

Price elasticity of demand

  • Price elasticity of demand (PED) measures the responsiveness of quantity demanded to a change in price.
  • Businesses can use price elasticity of demand to understand how the quantity demanded by customers will change in response to price.
Illustrative background for Formula for PEDIllustrative background for Formula for PED ?? "content

Formula for PED

  • PED = (% change in quantity demanded)÷ (% change in price)
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PED coefficients

  • The price elasticity of demand coefficient (number) is usually negative as an increase in price will result in a decrease in quantity demanded and a decrease in price will result in an increase in quantity demanded.
  • The larger the price elasticity of demand coefficient (number) the greater the responsiveness of quantity demanded to a change in price.
Illustrative background for Interpreting PEDIllustrative background for Interpreting PED ?? "content

Interpreting PED

  • If the price elasticity of demand is less than 1 (whether positive or negative) then this is described as price inelastic. This means that a change in price will lead to a change in quantity demanded which is less than the change in price.
  • If the price elasticity of demand is greater than 1 (whether positive or negative) then this is described as price elastic. This means that a change in price will lead to a change in quantity demanded which is greater than the change in price.
Illustrative background for Changing PEDIllustrative background for Changing PED ?? "content

Changing PED

  • For example, the price elasticity demand for petrol is relatively inelastic as a change in price may not affect the quantity demanded of fuel as customers still need to purchase this product as it may be a necessity.
Illustrative background for Using elasticity of demand as dataIllustrative background for Using elasticity of demand as data ?? "content

Using elasticity of demand as data

  • Marketing managers can use price elasticity of demand and income elasticity of demand to forecast and predict the impact of changes in price and income on the quantity of the business’ goods demanded by consumers.
    • Using elasticity of demand allows marketing managers to act, such as advertising, to target customers if they think quantity demanded is likely to decrease.

Interpreting Income Elasticity of Demand Data

Understanding the income elasticity of demand is helpful for businesses. This is because they can understand how an income change will impact their sales.

Illustrative background for Income elasticity of demandIllustrative background for Income elasticity of demand ?? "content

Income elasticity of demand

  • Income elasticity of demand (YED) measures the responsiveness of quantity demanded to a change in consumer income.
  • Businesses can use income elasticity of demand to understand how the quantity demanded by customers will change in response to income.
Illustrative background for Formula for YEDIllustrative background for Formula for YED ?? "content

Formula for YED

  • YED = (% change in quantity demanded) ÷ (% change in income)
Illustrative background for YED coefficientsIllustrative background for YED coefficients ?? "content

YED coefficients

  • The larger the income elasticity of demand coefficient (number) the greater the responsiveness of quantity demanded to a change in income.
  • If the coefficient is positive, an increase in income will increase demand and a fall in income will decrease demand.
  • If the coefficient is negative, an increase in income will decrease demand and a fall in income will increase demand.
Illustrative background for Interpreting YEDIllustrative background for Interpreting YED ?? "content

Interpreting YED

  • If the income elasticity of demand is less than 1 then this is described as inelastic. This means that a change in income will lead to a change in quantity demanded which is less than the change in income.
  • If the income elasticity of demand is greater than 1 then this is described as elastic. This means that a change in income will lead to a change in quantity demanded which is greater than the change in income.
Illustrative background for Change in YEDIllustrative background for Change in YED ?? "content

Change in YED

  • For example, the income elasticity demand for premium cars is relatively elastic as consumers may decide they cannot purchase a new vehicle if their income reduced, so quantity demanded is likely to change by more than the change in income.

Jump to other topics

1What is Business?

2Managers, Leadership & Decision Making

3Decision Making to Improve Marketing Performance

4Decision Making to Improve Operational Performance

5Decision Making to Improve Financial Performance

6Improving Human Resource Performance

7Analysing the Strategic Position of a Business

8Choosing Strategic Direction

9How to Pursue Strategies

10Managing Strategic Change

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