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Price Elas+city of Supply
EdExcel Economics 1.2.5
Defining and Measuring Price Elas+city of Supply
• If supply is elas+c, producers can increase their output without a rise in cost or a <me delay
• If supply is inelas+c, firms find it hard to change their produc<on in a given <me period
• The formula for price elas<city of supply is: • % change in quan,ty supplied divided by the % change in price • When Pes > 1, then supply is price elas<c • When Pes < 1, then supply is price inelas<c • When Pes = 0, supply is perfectly inelas<c • When Pes = infinity, supply is perfectly elas<c following a change in
demand
Price elas<city of supply (Pes) measures the rela<onship between change in quan<ty supplied and a change in price
Factors Affec+ng Price Elas+city of Supply
1. Spare produc+on capacity: If there is plenty of spare capacity then a business can increase output without a rise in costs and supply will be elas<c in response to a change in demand
2. Stocks of finished products and components: If stocks of raw materials and finished products are at a high level then a firm is able to respond to a change in demand -‐ supply will be elas<c. Perishable goods are oNen harder/more expensive to store
3. Ease and cost of factor subs+tu+on/factor mobility: If capital and labour are occupa<onally mobile then the elas<city of supply for a product is likely to be higher as resources can be mobilized to supply the extra output e.g. the realloca<on of workers to new tasks
4. Time period and produc+on speed: Supply is more price elas<c the longer the <me that a firm is allowed to adjust its produc<on levels
Apply each of the factors men<oned below to the specific industry
Elas+c and Inelas+c Supply Curves
Elas<c supply: Pes > 1 Change in demand can be met without large rise in price
Price
Qty
P2
P1
Q1 Q2
Price
Qty
P2
P1
Q1 Q2
S1
Inelas<c supply: Pes < 1 Supply rela<vely unresponsive to a
change in demand
S2
Q2
D1
D2
D1
D2
Perfectly Elas+c and Perfectly Inelas+c Supply Curves
Perfectly Elas<c Supply An increase in demand can be met without any change in market price
Price
Qty
P2
P1
Q1
Price
Qty
P1
Q1 Q2
S1
Perfectly Inelas<c Supply Supply is fixed and cannot respond to
a change in market demand
S1
D1 D2 D1
D2
When will market supply be price elas+c?
A price elas<c supply is when PES >1 following a change in demand
Supplier has plenty of spare capacity to
increase output
High stock levels are available to meet rising demand
There is a short produc<on <me frame to get extra products to market
Ease of factor subs<tu<on is high – i.e.
resources can be reallocated
easily
Topical Applica+ons of Price Elas+city of Supply
Shortages of skilled workers in the labour
force
Supplying complex products with rising consumer demand
The supply of new housing to buy and to rent (big UK issue!)
Supply response of renewable energy
Elas<city of supply of commodi<es
Refining capacity in the oil and gas industries
Price Elas+city of Supply
EdExcel Economics 1.2.5