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SCARCITY: A pervasive condition of human existence that exists because society has unlimited wants and needs, but limited resources used for their satisfaction. In other words, while we all want a bunch of stuff, we can't have everything that we want. In slightly different words, this scarcity problem means: (1) that there's never enough resources to produce everything that everyone would like produced; (2) that some people will have to do without some of the stuff that they want or need; (3) that doing one thing, producing one good, performing one activity, forces society to give up something else; and (4) that the same resources can not be used to produce two different goods at the same time. We live in a big, bad world of scarcity. This big, bad world of scarcity is what the study of economics is all about. That's why we usually subtitle scarcity: THE ECONOMIC PROBLEM.
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                           ELASTIC DEMAND: The general demand relation in which relatively small changes in price cause relatively large changes in quantity demanded. Small changes in price cause relatively large changes in quantity demanded or the percentage change in quantity demanded is larger than the percentage change in price. This characterization of elasticity is most important for the price elasticity of demand. Elastic demand is one of two general elasticity relations for demand. The other is inelastic demand. An elastic demand relation is a very responsive, or stretchable, relation. The elastic demand relation is most often directed toward demand in terms of the price elasticity of demand. In this context, demand is said to be elastic if the percentage change in quantity is larger than the percentage change in price. This means that buyers are responsive to price changes.An elastic demand relation can fall into one of two categories--perfectly elastic and relatively elastic. - Perfectly Elastic: Perfectly elastic means an infinitesimally small change in price results in an infinitely large change in quantity demanded. This elasticity alternative exists when the price is fixed, that is, an infinite range of quantities is associated with the same price. This is the extreme, limiting case of elastic. Perfectly elastic demand can occur, in theory, when buyers have the choice among a large number of perfect substitutes-in-consumption.
- Relatively Elastic: Relatively elastic means that relatively small changes in price cause relatively large changes in quantity. Quantity is very responsive to price, but not infinitely so. The percentage change in quantity demanded is greater than the percentage change in price. Relatively elastic demand occurs when buyers have the choice among a large number of close but not perfect substitutes-in-consumption.
Recommended Citation:ELASTIC DEMAND, AmosWEB Encyclonomic WEB*pedia, http://www.AmosWEB.com, AmosWEB LLC, 2000-2025. [Accessed: July 18, 2025].
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PINK FADFLY
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Today, you are likely to spend a great deal of time calling an endless list of 800 numbers wanting to buy either a weathervane with a cow on top or a box of multi-colored, plastic paper clips. Be on the lookout for high interest rates.
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A half gallon milk jug holds about $50 in pennies.
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"A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses those skills to accomplish his goals. " -- Larry Bird, basketball player
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OAS
Organization of American States
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