Explain why the price elasticity of demand for two products may vary.
Price elasticity depends on several other components:
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Availability of substitutes
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The proportion of a consumer's disposable income which the products account for
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Whether the products are addictive (consumers buy it out of habbit)
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Whether the goods are a necessity or a luxury
The answer should be structured in the following way:
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Define price elasticity of demand, give equation and possibly offer graphs showing two different levels of PED.
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Give two or three reasons why (as above), explaining them where possible: e.g. The PED may vary dependent on the nature of the good - whether it is a luxury or necessity. This is because consumers will be forced to still buy necessities regardless of price, whereas a change in the price of a luxury good is likely to significantly change the quantity demanded.
