Consider the Following Pairs of Goods

question 31

Essay

Consider the following pairs of goods. For which of the two goods would you expect the demand to be more price elastic? Why?
a. water or diamonds
b. insulin or nasal decongestant spray
c. food in general or breakfast cereal
d. petrol over the course of a week or gasoline over the course of a year

---

Definitions:

Natural Monopolist

A natural monopolist is a single supplier in a market that can produce the total quantity of a good or service demanded at a lower cost than if there were multiple suppliers, due to high fixed costs and economies of scale.

Price-Regulated

A market condition where the government sets the maximum or minimum prices for certain goods or services to protect consumer interests or ensure affordability.

Marginal Cost

The extra expense associated with the creation of an additional unit of a product or service.

Deadweight Loss

A loss of economic efficiency that can occur when the equilibrium for a good or a service is not achieved or is not achievable, leading to a mismatch in supply and demand.