What are the important price elasticity concepts?
Robert Miller
Updated on February 23, 2026
The concept of price elasticity of demand is important for formulating government policies, especially the taxation policy. Government can impose higher taxes on goods with inelastic demand, whereas, low rates of taxes are imposed on commodities with elastic demand.
Who introduced the concept elasticity of demand?
Alfred Marshall
Together with the concept of an economic “elasticity” coefficient, Alfred Marshall is credited with defining “elasticity of demand” in Principles of Economics, published in 1890. Alfred Marshall invented price elasticity of demand only four years after he had invented the concept of elasticity.
What is the best definition of elasticity?
1 : the quality or state of being elastic: such as. a : the capability of a strained body to recover its size and shape after deformation : springiness. b : resilience sense 2. c : the quality of being adaptable.
What is the main purpose of elasticity?
Elasticity is an important economic measure, particularly for the sellers of goods or services, because it indicates how much of a good or service buyers consume when the price changes. When a product is elastic, a change in price quickly results in a change in the quantity demanded.
What is the definition of price elasticity of demand?
Price elasticity of demand indicates the degree of responsiveness of quantity demanded of a good to the change in its price, other factors such as income, prices of related commodities that determine demand are held constant. Precisely, price elasticity of demand is defined as the ratio of the percentage change in quantity demanded …
When does price elasticity have an inverse relationship?
When there are many substitute products in existence, however, demand is usually elastic. Then suppliers have virtually no control over price. Price elasticities nearly always have an inverse relationship, i.e., when the price goes up demand declines. Only products and services that do not conform to the law of demand have a positive PED.
What’s the difference between inelastic and elastic prices?
Simply put, inelastic products see little change in demand from a change in price, while the opposite is true for elastic products. But that’s getting ahead of ourselves. First, let’s talk a bit more about what price elasticity is and why it matters in retail.
Which is an example of the concept of elasticity?
THE CONCEPT OF ELASTICITY • • • • Sellers are manually expected to hope for more demand for their products Higher revenues The buyer, ever anxious in getting the best value for his money The same predicament as the seller WHAT IS ELASTICITY? Changes in price may or may not affect the demand or supply of any good or service.