When demand for the product increases in the same proportion in which income increases income elasticity of demand is called?

Would you afford to buy an item you wanted if your income increased by 20% in a particular month? The answer will differ from person to person because their incomes and preferences are different, and their consumption decisions react to changes differently. Eager to learn more? Let’s talk about the income elasticity of demand.

Income elasticity of demand measures the responsiveness of the quantity demanded to a change in consumer income.

When consumer income falls, quantity demanded decreases as consumers are able to afford less due to their lower income. The reverse is also true. When consumer income rises, quantity demanded increases as consumers are able to afford more at higher income.

A fall in consumer income would shift the demand curve inwards resulting in less quantity demanded at each price level. Conversely, a rise in consumer income would shift the demand curve outwards resulting in more quantity demanded at each price level.

Figure 1 illustrates a case of an increase in consumer income on household appliances. A rise in consumer income shifts the demand curve outwards from D1 to D2. At any given price level, P, consumers will demand more household appliances (Q2 instead of Q1).

Figure 1. Increase in demand due to a rise in consumer income, StudySmarter Originals

How to calculate the income elasticity of demand?

We calculate income elasticity of demand as a percentage change in the quantity demanded divided by a percentage change in income.

The formula for the income elasticity of demand (YED) is:

This formula shows that income elasticity of demand is a unit-free measure as a percentage change is divided by another percentage change.

You can find a percentage change in a variable by using the following formula:

Roy’s monthly income rises due to a 10% salary increase. He decides to purchase some small domestic appliances and increases his spending in a particular month by 20%. His income elasticity of demand for small domestic appliances that month is then equal to:

There are two types of goods depending on how their quantity demanded reacts to changes in consumer income:

• Normal goods.

• Inferior goods.

Normal and inferior goods

Most types of goods are normal goods. This means that as consumer income rises they demand more of a normal good. The income elasticity of demand for a normal good is, therefore, positive.

A normal good is a good that is demanded more as consumers’ income increases.

Most food is a normal good. As consumer income increases, the demanded quantity of food increases as well.

Inferior goods are different. As consumer income rises they demand less of an inferior good. The income elasticity of demand for an inferior good is, therefore, negative.

An inferior good is a good that is demanded less as consumers’ income increases.

Canned meats tend to be an inferior good: their price is relatively low, which makes them affordable. However, as consumer income increases, they substitute the cheaper canned meat for more expensive fresh meat. This leads to a fall in the demanded quantity of canned meat.

Normal goods can be divided into two categories depending on the value of the income elasticity of demand. Both necessities and luxuries will have a positive income elasticity of demand. The income elasticity of demand will take the values between 0 and 1 for necessities, whilst for luxuries, the income elasticity of demand will take values greater than one.

We require necessities for consumption, which makes them less sensitive to income changes.

Necessities are the goods without which people would have problems subsisting, making those goods income inelastic.

We don’t require luxuries for consumption, which makes them more sensitive to income changes.

Luxuries are the goods without which people would not have a problem subsisting, making those goods income elastic.

Essential goods are considered staple items for a consumer.

Most people may consider bread an essential daily item. In Mediterranean countries like Cyprus, olive oil would also be considered an essential good.

The table below summarises all the values that the income elasticity of demand (YED) can take.

As you can see in the table above, the income elasticity of demand will always be negative for an inferior good and will always be positive for a normal good. Depending on the elasticity value, the demanded quantity will change either in the same, by a larger or by a smaller proportion as the change in income. Income elasticity of demand will be equal to 0 when there is no apparent relationship between the quantity demanded and income. So, we can’t deduce whether a good is a normal good or an inferior good.

There are three types of demand based on how much a good’s demanded quantity changes when consumer income changes.

These are:

• Unitary income elastic demand.

• Income inelastic demand.

• Income elastic demand.

Unitary income elastic demand

Demand is unitary income elastic (takes values equal to 1 or -1, or the absolute value of elasticity is equal to 1) if a change in consumer income leads to a proportionate change in the demanded quantity.

Isabella’s disposable income rises from £200 to £300 due to a wage bonus (that is an increase of 50%). She decides to go to the hairdresser more often so she increases her salon spending from £60 to £90 (that is an increase of 50%). Her income elasticity of demand for the hairdresser services is then equal to 50%/50% = 1 in absolute value, which means that her spending rises in the same proportion as her income.

Income inelastic demand

Demand is income inelastic (takes values between -1 and 1, or the elasticity is less than 1 in absolute value) if a change in consumer income leads to a less than proportionate change in the demanded quantity.

Wayne loves going to a restaurant to eat sushi. He usually goes to his favorite restaurant to eat sushi three times a week. Imagine his income decreased by 20%. His demand would also decrease but by only 2% compared to a fall in his income. Calculation: -2% / - 20% = 0.1 (less than 1 in absolute value). Wayne would still go to his favorite restaurant to eat sushi three times a week despite a fall in his income because his demand for sushi is income inelastic.

The example above illustrates that despite a typical inelastic demand response for essential items, personal preferences also play a role in the value that the income elasticity of demand takes.

Income elastic demand

Demand is income elastic (takes values <-1 and> 1, or the elasticity is greater than 1 in absolute value) if a change in consumer income leads to a more than proportionate change in the quantity demanded.

Rosie is a Star Wars fan and collects Funko Pop toys of her favorite characters. She received £100 extra income on her birthday to an additional £20 she already had (this is an increase of 500%). She decides to spend it all on the toys (that is an increase in the quantity demanded of 100%). Her income elasticity of demand is: 500%/100% = 5. Her income elasticity of demand is greater than one in absolute value, therefore her demand is income elastic.

Some of the most prominent factors that affect income elasticity of demand are market definition, time horizon, availability of substitutes, and luxuries vs necessities. You should consider these when thinking of the examples and application of income elasticity of demand.

Market definition

The income elasticity of demand depends on how broadly we define the market for a product. The broader the market definition, the less income elastic demand would be. In contrast, the narrower the market definition, the more income elastic demand would be.

If you define the market as ‘food’, demand for it would be income inelastic as we depend on food for daily subsistence. However, if you define the market for ‘rye flour’, then demand for it will be relatively more income elastic as there are other flour types that a household can consume.

Time horizon

In general, demand tends to be more income elastic the longer the time horizon that defines a market. This is mainly due to supply-side factors such as technological changes, economies of scale, and production capacity.

In the short run, demand is relatively income inelastic. But in the long run, it becomes more elastic as there is more time for the supply-side changes to come into effect and for consumers to react.

Even if your income rises substantially in the short run, you may not be able to buy the newest iPhone before its release date. Thus, your iPhone demand will be income inelastic in the short run. However, as the production and distribution unfold, you will be able to buy it more easily, making your demand relatively more income elastic in that period.

The example above demonstrates how the time horizon would affect demand in a way that makes it relatively more income elastic. Even though for a large proportion of people an iPhone will still be a luxury (demand will already be quite income elastic), their demand will be relatively less income elastic than in the short run when the iPhone is simply unavailable due to production and distribution lags.

Availability of substitutes

The availability of substitutes determines how income elastic or inelastic demand for a good is. Demand for a good with a lot of substitutes that are deemed appropriate by consumers will tend to be more income elastic than the demand for a good with fewer or no substitutes. That is because consumers can switch from one good to another more easily when there are more substitutes available.

There are a lot of competitorsIn the market for music streaming services. If your income falls, you can easily switch from an Apple Music subscription to a Spotify subscription, which is cheaper. Your demand for music streaming services is therefore relatively income elastic.

Luxury goods vs necessities

Demand for luxury goods tends to be more income elastic than for necessities. This is because necessities are required for subsistence and their absence can cause significantly lower consumer utility. Luxuries, however, are goods on which subsistence does not depend, and therefore more income elastic.

Utility is the satisfaction that a person obtains from consuming a good or a service

If your income falls, you will be more likely to reduce your expenditure on precious metal jewellery than on food. This is because your demand for jewellery is more income elastic than your demand for food. Jewellery is a luxury whereas food is a necessity.

Income elasticity of demand is a useful measure that allows us to see how the consumer quantity demanded will respond to income changes. Income elasticity of demand is important for businesses as it can give business owners insights of how much consumer demand will change in case of a crisis or high inflation when real consumer income falls.

Income elasticity of demand - Key takeaways

• Income elasticity of demand is a measure of the responsiveness of the quantity demanded to a change in consumer income.
• Income elasticity of demand is calculated as a percentage change in the quantity demanded divided by a percentage change in income.
• A normal good is demanded more as consumers’ income increases. The income elasticity of demand for a normal good is therefore positive.
• An inferior good is demanded less as consumers’ income increases. The income elasticity of demand for an inferior good is therefore negative.
• Demand is unitary income elastic if a change in consumer income leads to a proportionate change in the quantity demanded.
• Demand is income inelastic if a change in consumer income leads to a less than proportionate change in the quantity demanded.
• Demand is income elastic if a change in consumer income leads to a more than proportionate change in the quantity demanded.

Income elasticity of demand is a measure of the responsiveness of the quantity demanded to a change in consumer income.

One example of the income elasticity of demand is the elasticity for normal vs inferior goods. Income elasticity of demand for a normal good is positive, whilst income elasticity of demand for an inferior good is negative.

We calculate income elasticity of demand as a percentage change in the quantity demanded divided by a percentage change in income.

Income elasticity of demand can be interpreted as the measure of how much consumer expenditure will change when consumer income changes.

Income elasticity of demand is important for business as it can give insights to business owners of how much consumer demand will change in case of a crisis or high inflation when real consumer income falls.

Question

What is income elasticity of demand?

Answer

Income elasticity of demand measures the responsiveness of the quantity demanded to a change in consumer income.

Question

How is income elasticity of demand calculated?

Answer

Income elasticity of demand is calculated as a percentage change in the quantity demanded divided by a percentage change in income.

Question

Why is income elasticity of demand a unit-free measure?

Answer

Income elasticity of demand is a unit-free measure as percentage change is divided by a percentage change.

Question

How many types of goods are there based on how their quantity demanded reacts to changes in consumer income?

Answer

There are two types of goods depending on how their quantity demanded reacts to changes in consumer income:

• Normal goods

• Inferior goods

Question

Answer

A normal good is consumed more as incomes rise and less when incomes fall.

Question

What happens to the quantity demanded of a normal good as consumer income increases?

Answer

When consumer income increases the quantity demanded of a normal good increases.

Question

Why does the quantity demanded of a normal good decreases as income decreases?

Answer

The quantity demanded of a normal good decreases as income decreases as consumers are able to afford less at lower income.

Question

What values does the income elasticity of demand for a normal good take?

Answer

Income elasticity of demand for a normal good is positive (greater than 0).

Question

What is an inferior good?

Answer

An inferior good is consumed less as incomes rise and more when incomes fall.

Question

What happens to the quantity demanded of an inferior good as consumer income decreases?

Answer

When consumer income decreases the quantity demanded of an inferior good increases.

Question

Why does the quantity demanded of an inferior good decreases as income increases?

Answer

The quantity demanded of an inferior good decreases as income increases as consumers are switching away to better quality products.

Question

What values does the income elasticity of demand for an inferior good take?

Answer

Income elasticity of demand for an inferior good is negative (less than 0).

Question

Answer

The goods without which people would have a problem subsisting, making those goods income inelastic.

Question

Answer

The goods without which people would not have a problem subsisting, making those goods income elastic.

Question

What types of demand are there based on the income elasticity of demand?

Answer

There are three types of demand based on income elasticity:

    • Unitary income elastic demand

    • Income inelastic demand

    • Income elastic demand

Question

What value(s) does the unitary income elasticity of demand take?

Answer

Question

What value(s) does the income elastic demand take?

Question

What value(s) does the income inelastic demand take?

Answer

Question

What is unitary income elastic demand?

Answer

Demand is unitary income elastic if a change in consumer income leads to a proportionate change in the quantity demanded.

Question

What is income inelastic demand?

Answer

Demand is income inelastic if a change in consumer income leads to a less than proportionate change in the quantity demanded.

Question

What is income elastic demand?

Answer

Demand is income elastic if a change in consumer income leads to a more than proportionate change in the quantity demanded.

Question

A good that is demanded more as consumers’ income increases is called

Answer

Question

A good that is demanded less as consumers’ income increases is called 

Answer

Question

What are the goods without which people would have problems subsisting, making those goods' income inelastic?

Answer

Question

The goods without which people would not have a problem subsisting, making those goods income elastic are called

Answer

Question

If YED <0, what is the type of demand and the type of good?

Answer

Type of demand - Elastic demand with

negative income elasticity.

Type of good - Inferior good.

Question

For an Inelastic demand with

negative income elasticity, the values of YED are _______ and type of goods are _______.

Answer

Question

QD stays the same 

as I changes when YED = ___.

Question

What is the correct QD response to income change for income elastic demand?

Answer

QD changes by a 

larger proportion than 

a change in I.

Question

QD changes by a smaller proportion than a change in I for 

Answer

Inelastic demand with

negative income elasticity and income inelastic demand.

Question

Demand is unitary income elastic if a change in consumer income leads to a ___________ change in the demanded quantity. 

Answer

Question

Factors that affect the income elasticity of demand:

• Market definition
• __________
• __________
• Luxury goods vs. necessities

Answer

• Market definition
• Time horizon
• Availability of substitutes
• Luxury goods vs. necessities

Question

QD stays the same 

as I changes when:

Answer