Learning Objectives
The price elasticity of supply measures how much quantity supplied changes in response to a change in the price. The calculations and interpretations are analogous to those we explained above for the price elasticity of demand. The only difference is we are looking at how producers respond to a change in the price instead of how consumers respond. Price elasticity of supply is the percentage change in the quantity of a good or service supplied divided by the percentage change in the price. Since this elasticity is measured along the supply curve, the law of supply holds, and thus price elasticities of supply are always positive numbers. Recall that there are two ways to calculate elasticities: the point elasticity approach and the mid-point elasticity approach. The point approach computes the percentage change in quantity supplied by dividing the change in quantity supplied by the initial quantity, and the percentage change in price by dividing the change in price by the initial price. Thus, the formula for the point elasticity approach is [(Qs2 – Qs1)/Qs1] / [(P2 – P1)/P1]. The more accurate mid-point formula divides the change in quantity supplied and price by their average values (Qs2 – Qs1)/[(Qs2+Qs1)/2] and (P2 – P1)/[(P2+P1)/2]. Thus, the formula for the mid-point elasticity approach is (Qs2 – Qs1)/[(Qs2+Qs1)/2] / (P2 – P1)/[(P2+P1)/2]. We describe supply elasticities as elastic, unitary elastic and inelastic, depending on whether the measured elasticity is greater than, equal to, or less than one.
Assume that an apartment rents for $650 per month and at that price 10,000 units are offered for rent, as shown in Figure 2, below. When the price increases to $700 per month, 13,000 units are offered for rent. By what percentage does apartment supply increase? What is the price sensitivity? Step 1. We know that [latex]\displaystyle\text{Price Elasticity of Supply}=\frac{\text{percent change in quantity}}{\text{percent change in price}}[/latex] Step 2. From the midpoint method we know that [latex]\displaystyle\text{percent change in quantity}=\frac{Q_2-Q_1}{(Q_2+Q_1)\div{2}}\times{100}[/latex] [latex]\displaystyle\text{percent change in price}=\frac{P_2-P_1}{(P_2+P_1)\div{2}}\times{100}[/latex] Step 3. We can use the values provided in the figure in each equation: [latex]\displaystyle\text{percent change in quantity}=\frac{13,000-10,000}{(13,000+10,000)\div{2}}\times{100}=\frac{3,000}{11,500}\times{100}=26.1[/latex] [latex]\displaystyle\text{percent change in price}=\frac{700-650}{(700+650)\div{2}}\times{100}=\frac{50}{675}\times{100}=7.4[/latex] Step 4. Then, those values can be used to determine the price elasticity of demand: [latex]\displaystyle\text{Price Elasticity of Supply}=\frac{26.1\text{ percent}}{7.4\text{ percent}}=3.53[/latex] Again, as with the elasticity of demand, the elasticity of supply is not followed by any units. Elasticity is a ratio of one percentage change to another percentage change—nothing more—and is read as an absolute value. In this case, a 1% rise in price causes an increase in quantity supplied of 3.5%. Since 3.5 is greater than 1, this means that the percentage change in quantity supplied will be greater than a 1% price change. If you’re starting to wonder if the concept of slope fits into this calculation, read on for clarification.
Watch this video to see a real-world application of price elasticity. You can view the transcript for “Elasticity and Slave Redemption” here (opens in new window).
These questions allow you to get as much practice as you need, as you can click the link at the top of the first question (“Try another version of these questions”) to get a new set of questions. Practice until you feel comfortable doing the questions. elastic supply: supply responds more than proportionately to a change in price; i.e. the percent change in quantity supplied is greater than percent change in price inelastic supply: supply responds less than proportionately to a change in price; i.e. the percent change in quantity supplied is less than percent change in price price elasticity of supply: percentage change in the quantity supplied divided by the percentage change in price unitary elastic supply: supply responds exactly proportionately to a change in price; i.e. the percent change in quantity supplied is equal to the percent change in price Contribute!Did you have an idea for improving this content? We’d love your input. Improve this pageLearn More
Calculating the Price Elasticity of Demand Figure 1: The price elasticity of demand is calculated as the percentage change in quantity divided by the percentage change in price.
Price Elasticity of Supply Figure 2: The price elasticity of supply is calculated as the percentage change in quantity divided by the percentage change in price.
elastic demand when the elasticity of demand is greater than one, indicating a high responsiveness of quantity demanded or supplied to changes in price elastic supply when the elasticity of either supply is greater than one, indicating a high responsiveness of quantity demanded or supplied to changes in price elasticity an economics concept that measures responsiveness of one variable to changes in another variable inelastic demand when the elasticity of demand is less than one, indicating that a 1 percent increase in price paid by the consumer leads to less than a 1 percent change in purchases (and vice versa); this indicates a low responsiveness by consumers to price changes inelastic supply when the elasticity of supply is less than one, indicating that a 1 percent increase in price paid to the firm will result in a less than 1 percent increase in production by the firm; this indicates a low responsiveness of the firm to price increases (and vice versa if prices drop) price elasticity the relationship between the percent change in price resulting in a corresponding percentage change in the quantity demanded or supplied price elasticity of demand percentage change in the quantity demanded of a good or service divided the percentage change in price price elasticity of supply percentage change in the quantity supplied divided by the percentage change in price unitary elasticity when the calculated elasticity is equal to one indicating that a change in the price of the good or service results in a proportional change in the quantity demanded or supplied |