Define elastic demand and inelastic demand by using daily life examples
Answers
Answer:
Inelastic Demand Elastic Demand
Gasoline
The demand for gasoline generally is fairly inelastic, especially in the short run. Car travel requires gasoline. The substitutes for car travel offer less convenience and control. Much car travel is necessary for people to move between activities and can’t be reduced to save money. In the long run, though, more options are available, such as purchasing a more fuel-efficient car or choosing a job that is closer to where you work.
Gas from a Particular Station
The demand for gasoline from any single gas station, or chain of gas stations, is highly elastic. Buyers can choose between comparable products based on price. There are often many stations in a small geographic area that are equally convenient.
Traditional Textbooks
Generally an instructor assigns a textbook to the student, and the student who wants access to the learning materials must buy it, regardless of the price level. Because the student can’t easily identify another textbook or resource that will ensure the same content and grade for the class, he has no substitutes and must buy the book at any price (or opt not to buy it at all).
New Textbook Distribution Channels
Increasingly, students have new options to buy the same textbooks from different distribution channels at different price points. The introduction of new distribution channels is increasing options for buyers and having an impact on the price elasticity for publishers.
Specialty Coffee Drinks
Many coffee shops have developed branded drinks and specialized experiences in order to reduce substitutes and build customer loyalty. While black coffee is available almost universally, there are few substitutes for a Starbucks Java Chip Frappuccino. Demand for such products is more inelastic.
Black Coffee
Coffee is generally widely available at a level of quality that meets the needs of most buyers. The combination of a low price, relative to the buyer’s spending power, and the fact that the product is sold by many different suppliers in a competitive market, make the demand highly elastic.
Concert Tickets
Only Taylor Swift can offer a Taylor Swift concert. She holds a monopoly on the creation and delivery of that experience. There is no substitute, and loyal fans are willing to pay for the experience. Because it is a scarce resource and the delivery is tightly controlled by a single provider, access to concerts has inelastic demand.
Airline Tickets
Airline tickets are sold in a fiercely competitive market. Buyers can easily compare prices, and buyers experience the services provided by competitors as being very similar. Buyers can often choose not to travel if the cost is too high or substitute travel by car or train.
Medical Procedures
Essential medical procedures have inelastic demand. The patient will pay what she can or what she must. In general, products that significantly affect health and well-being have inelastic demand.
Soft Drinks
Soft drinks and many other nonessential items have highly elastic demand. There is competition among every brand and type of soda, and there are many substitutes for the entire category of soft drinks.