Elasticity (Edexcel IGCSE Economics): Exam Questions

Calculate the percentage change in quantity demanded for a product if the price elasticity of demand (PED) is –1.9 and the price falls by 10%. You are advised to show your working.

Using the diagram below, draw a price elastic demand (PED) curve. Label the curve and show the impact on both axes from a change in price.

With reference to the data above and your knowledge of economics, assess whether supply is likely to be more price elastic for textiles than for agricultural products.

Which one of the following values shows perfectly price inelastic supply?

Calculate, to two decimal places, the income elasticity of demand (YED) for a good if income increases by 6.2% and quantity demanded increases by 1.7%. You are advised to show your working.

Calculate the percentage change in quantity supplied for a product if the price elasticity of supply (PES) is 1.5 and the price increases by 12%. You are advised to show your working.

Using the diagram below, draw a diagram to show a demand curve that has price inelastic demand. Label the curve and show the impact on both axes from a change in price.

Prime Hydration is a range of drinks launched in 2022 by YouTube celebrities, KSI and Logan Paul. It was instantly very popular, especially with teenagers. At its launch in the UK, the recommended retail price for a bottle was £1.99.

However, the price of a bottle on Amazon ranged from £8.25 to £19.99 but availability was not guaranteed.

With reference to the data above and your knowledge of economics, assess whether an increase in the price of Prime Hydration is always likely to lead to an increase in total revenue for retailers.

Calculate, to two decimal places, the price elasticity of supply (PES) for a good if price decreases by 9.4% and quantity supplied decreases by 3.7%. You are advised to show your working.

Six months after the price for a soft drink increased, its price elasticity of demand (PED) changed from –1.5 to –2.0.

Explain one reason why demand for a product, such as a soft drink, usually becomes more price elastic over time.

Which one of the following best describes the type of goods with an income elasticity of demand (YED) of –1.3?

Yusef paints portraits of tourists who visit his home town. He recently reduced the price he charges by 2.5% and quantity demanded increased by 3.2%.

Calculate, to two decimal places, the price elasticity of demand (PED) for Yusef’s portraits. You are advised to show your working.

Megabus provides cheap bus travel in Canada, the US and the UK. Research showed that if incomes rose by 10% then the quantity demanded for bus travel would fall by 15%.

With reference to the data above and your knowledge of economics, analyse why this knowledge could be useful to a firm such as Megabus.

Draw a supply curve on the diagram below that has price elastic supply (PES). Label the impact of a price change from P1 to P2 and its impact on quantity from Q1 to Q2 .

Connor owns a hair salon. He increased prices by 2% and was willing to increase quantity supplied by 2.6%.

Calculate the price elasticity of supply (PES) for Connor’s hair salon. You are advised to show your working.

The income elasticity of demand (YED) for a product can be calculated by using the information in Figure 3.

Figure 3

Which one of the following options best describes the demand for the product?

Figure 6 shows financial data for a firm selling a selection of products.

Figure 6

Calculate the total revenue for the product that has a price elasticity of demand (PED) which is inelastic. You are advised to show your working.

A firm increases supply by 4.3% following a price increase of 3.7%.

Calculate, to two decimal places, the price elasticity of supply (PES) for the firm. You are advised to show your working.

Marina Café is popular with tourists and locals in the town of Budva, Montenegro. It is situated next to the sea, with views of the surrounding mountains. Customers can enjoy their drinks whilst benefitting from the pleasant surroundings but pay €2.00 for a cup of coffee. The same brand of coffee can be bought for €0.80 a cup in some other cafés in Budva.

With reference to the data above and your knowledge of economics, analyse why price elasticity of demand (PED) may be relatively inelastic at Marina Café.

What is meant by the term normal good?

Greg produces pottery at a small factory in his local area. At the start of the year price increased by 5.4% and quantity supplied increased by 4.7%.

Calculate, to two decimal places, the price elasticity of supply (PES) for Greg’s pottery. You are advised to show your working.

Which one of the following products has demand that is price elastic?

What is meant by the term inferior good?

Inny provides a window cleaning service to homeowners in his local area. He recently increased prices by 1.6% and quantity demanded fell by 2.1%.

Calculate, to two decimal places, the price elasticity of demand (PED) for Inny’s window cleaning service. You are advised to show your working.

State the formula for price elasticity of supply (PES).

Alfie provides a dog‐walking service to dog owners in his local area. After a successful first year he increased prices by 1.5% and quantity demanded fell by 1.1%.

Calculate, to two decimal places, the price elasticity of demand (PED) for Alfie’s dog‐walking service. You are advised to show your working.

Which one of the following products has a price inelastic demand?

Figure 6 shows the price elasticity of supply (PES) of bananas.

With reference to the data above and your knowledge of economics, analyse how the quantity supplied of bananas might be affected by an increase in price.

A product has an income elasticity of demand (YED) of 0.7.

Which one of the following best describes the product?

A firm increases supply by 2.7% following a price increase of 4.9%.

Calculate, to two decimal places, the price elasticity of supply (PES) for the firm. You are advised to show your working.

Which one of the following values shows perfect price inelasticity of supply?

Calculate the income elasticity of demand (YED) for a good if income increases by 25% and quantity demanded increases by 10%. You are advised to show your working.

Calculate the price elasticity of supply (PES) for a product when price increases by 30% and quantity supplied increases by 36%. You are advised to show your working.

Value Added Tax (VAT) is an indirect tax that must be added to the price of most food and household goods. The rate of VAT in South Africa was increased from 14% to 15% on 1st April 2018. Both consumer spending and business confidence fell following this increase but a further rise in VAT is being discussed by the government. VAT is not currently added to the price of fruit, vegetables and bread.

With reference to the data above and your knowledge of economics, evaluate the usefulness of price elasticity of demand (PED) in helping the South African Government to decide whether to increase the rate of VAT.

Which one of the following values shows perfect price inelasticity of demand?

Calculate the income elasticity of demand (YED) for a good if income increases by 5% and quantity demanded increases by 12%. You are advised to show your working.

Calculate the price elasticity of demand (PED) for a product if price falls by 10% and quantity demanded increases by 19%. You are advised to show your working.

Draw a demand curve on the diagram below that has price elastic demand (PED). Label the impact of a price change from P1 to P2 and its impact on quantity from Q1 to Q2

In the Republic of Korea, firms such as Hyundai and Kia produce cars. In addition, the Republic has 28,951 farms producing organic fruits such as strawberries. It is one of the most important organic producers in Asia.

(Source adapted from: http://www.intracen.org/exporters/organic-products/country-focus/ (opens in a new tab)Country-Profile-South-Korea/)

With reference to the data above and your knowledge of economics, assess whether the price elasticity of supply (PES) is likely to be more price elastic for cars than for organic strawberries.

Figure 4 shows some of the production costs in the month of May for a firm manufacturing football souvenirs in Qatar, in preparation for the 2022 World Cup.

Describe one reason why demand for a product usually becomes more price elastic over time.

Which one of the following best describes an income elasticity of demand (YED) of 2.6?

Financial data for a firm selling a selection of products is shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5

Calculate the total revenue for the product that has a price elasticity of demand (PED) which is elastic. You are advised to show your working.

Which one of the following options describes a price elasticity of supply (PES) of 0.7?

Amazon Prime Video is a multinational entertainment provider. It streams films and television shows to subscribers through the internet. In Japan, Amazon holds 11.5% of the market share. This is higher than Netflix but less than dTV, U-NEXT and Hulu. Subscribers currently pay 3900 yen ($36.75) for annual membership to stream from Amazon, which is cheaper than its competitors.

(Source adapted from: https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/ (opens in a new tab)amazon-netflix-gain-ground-japan-streaming-1202729953/)

With reference to the data above and your knowledge of economics, evaluate the importance of income elasticity of demand (YED) for Amazon Prime Video as incomes in Japan increase.

Concert tickets to see the most popular music artists can sell for very high prices.

Explain one reason why the demand for these tickets might be price inelastic.

Calculate the price elasticity of demand for a product when price increases by 15% and quantity demanded falls by 12%. You are advised to show your working.

A product has an income elasticity of demand (YED) of -0.16.

Which one of the following best describes this product?

What is meant by the term luxury good?

State one factor that would affect price elasticity of supply (PES).

Small but successful

Robert has been running a small business from a workshop in his own house for nine years. He has been carving door signs and gifts out of locally sourced wood. Rather than producing identical, standard items, he decided to only make products to meet the personal requirements of his customers. Each order is made specifically for them and reviews are very positive. Robert’s success is due to a growing trend across the country as consumers increasingly prefer to buy locally sourced products.

Calculate the price elasticity of supply for Robert’s wooden door signs when the price increases by 5.2% and quantity supplied increases by 3.9%. You are advised to show your working.

State the price elasticity of demand for newspapers. The total revenue =$80 750.