Question

A customer, who needs to drive to work in a Wisconsin winter, has a critical need to use the product Ice Melt. For him as a consumer Ice Melt has an inelastic demand because he needs to drive to work. Which type of factor is affecting elasticity in this scenario?

Answer 1

Answer:

Urgency / Postponement leads to customer inelastic demand of ice melt.

Explanation:

Elasticity of demand is responsive change in demand of good, due to change in price. Formula = % change in demand / % change in price

Factors Affecting Price Elasticity of Demand : Nature of commodity, Income, substitutes availability, time period, urgency / postponement, share in total expenditure,

Inelastic Demand is when demand responds proportionately less to price change. % change in demand < % change in price

Case 'Customer critically needs ice melt to drive to work' : This has inelastic demand i.e demand less respondent to price changes (he will buy that at high price too). Such because of the urgency of this demand & less scope of its postponement.