Price Elasticity of Demand - Selected Price Elasticities

Selected Price Elasticities

Various research methods are used to calculate price elasticities in real life, including analysis of historic sales data, both public and private, and use of present-day surveys of customers' preferences to build up test markets capable of modelling such changes. Alternatively, conjoint analysis (a ranking of users' preferences which can then be statistically analysed) may be used.

Though PEDs for most demand schedules vary depending on price, they can be modeled assuming constant elasticity. Using this method, the PEDs for various goods—intended to act as examples of the theory described above—are as follows. For suggestions on why these goods and services may have the PED shown, see the above section on determinants of price elasticity.

  • Cigarettes (US)
    • −0.3 to −0.6 (General)
    • −0.6 to −0.7 (Youth)
  • Alcoholic beverages (US)
    • −0.3 or −0.7 to −0.9 as of 1972 (Beer)
    • −1.0 (Wine)
    • −1.5 (Spirits)
  • Airline travel (US)
    • −0.3 (First Class)
    • −0.9 (Discount)
    • −1.5 (for Pleasure Travelers)
  • Livestock
    • −0.5 to −0.6 (Broiler Chickens)
  • Oil (World)
    • −0.4
  • Car fuel
    • −0.09 (Short run)
    • −0.31 (Long run)
  • Medicine (US)
    • −0.31 (Medical insurance)
    • −.03 to −.06 (Pediatric Visits)
  • Rice
    • −0.47 (Austria)
    • −0.80 (Bangladesh)
    • −0.80 (China)
    • −0.25 (Japan)
    • −0.55 (US)
  • Cinema visits (US)
    • −0.87 (General)
  • Live Performing Arts (Theater, etc.)
    • −0.4 to −0.9
  • Transport
    • −0.20 (Bus travel US)
    • −2.80 (Ford compact automobile)
  • Soft drinks
    • −0.8 to −1.0 (general)
    • −3.8 (Coca-Cola)
    • −4.4 (Mountain Dew)
  • Steel
    • −0.2 to −0.3
  • Eggs
    • −0.1 (US: Household only), −0.35 (Canada), −0.55 (South Africa)

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