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Income Elasticity Of Demand




It is measured as the percentage change in demand that occurs in response to a percentage change in income. For example, if, in response to a 10% increase in income, the quantity of a good demanded increased by 20%, the income elasticity of demand would be 20%/10% = 2. (Case & Fair, 1999: 119).

A negative income elasticity of demand is associated with Inferior Good s; an increase in income will lead to a fall in the quantity demanded and may lead to changes to more luxurious substitutes.

A positive income elasticity of demand is associated with Normal Good s; an increase in income will lead to a rise in the quantity demanded. A high positive income elasticity of demand is associated with Luxury Good s.

A zero income elasticity of demand is an increase in income without leading to a change in the quantity demanded of a good.

Many is known as Engel's Law .


MATHEMATICAL DEFINITION

This concept can be more formally explained by the relationship

rac{\mathrm{relative\ change\ in\ } x}{\mathrm{relative\ change\ in\ } I} = rac{ rac{\partial x}{x}}{ rac{\partial I}{I}}

OR

{I \over x }

where:
:I = income
:x = quantity


SEE ALSO



REFERENCES

  • Case, Karl E. & Fair, Ray C. (1999). ''Principles of Economics'' (5th ed.). Prentice-Hall. ISBN 0-13-961905-4.



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