Perfectly Inelastic Demand (2024)

Perfectly inelastic demand is the situation where there no change in quantity demanded even there is change in price of the goods, the the demand is said to be perfectly inelastic. Simply mean no change in demand for change in price. In accordance to the law of demand, the demand for goods and services changes when there is change in its price. But the relationship between demand and price may not be the equal in all the market conditions, it may be different from product to product or time to time or market to conditions. So as to understand extent of the effect of price on the demand, one should know about the price elasticity of demand concepts.

To make easy to understand the concept of perfectly inelastic demand, it is presented in the graphical presentation in the below diagram.

See the graph, price of the goods changing or raises from P1 to P2 and P3 but there is no change in demand at Q.

In fact the quantity demand should not be changed without change in price according to the law of demand, but at times in case of some essential commodities and emergency services, the demand will be perfectly elastic when price remains unchanged.

An example of perfectly inelastic demand would be a lifesaving drug that people will pay any price to obtain. Even if the price of the drug would increase dramatically, the quantity demanded would remain unchanged.

Suppose, the price of a commodity changes by 50% but change in demand for said commodity is zero, then 0

EP = 0 / 50 = 0

Perfectly Inelastic Demand (1)

Example: Emergency services, drugs and essential food item have perfectly inelastic demand. The price of food item may increase or decrease; there will be no change in the demand for such goods and services

Perfectly Inelastic Demand (2)

Perfectly Inelastic Demand (2024)

FAQs

What is the answer to perfectly inelastic demand? ›

Perfectly inelastic demand is an economic condition in which a change in the price of a product or a service has no impact on the quantity demanded or supplied because the elasticity of demand or supply is equal to zero.

What makes demand perfectly inelastic? ›

What Does It Mean If Demand Is Perfectly Inelastic? Demand is said to be "perfectly inelastic" if the demand for that product will remain consistent, regardless of any price changes.

What if a good has perfectly inelastic demand? ›

Perfectly inelastic is where a small increase or decrease in the price of a product will have no effect on the quantity that is demanded or supplied of that product. There is no elasticity of demand or supply for the product. This will rarely happen in real life, but it is used as a valuable economic theory.

What does a perfectly inelastic demand mean quizlet? ›

- Perfectly inelastic demand means that consumers will buy exactly the same amount no matter how high or low the price.

Is perfectly inelastic 1 or 0? ›

If a good's price elasticity is 0 (no amount of price change produces a change in demand), it is perfectly inelastic. If price elasticity is exactly 1 (price change leads to an equal percentage change in demand), it is known as unitary elasticity.

What is the formula for perfectly inelastic demand? ›

Perfectly Inelastic (PED = 0)

That is, there is no change in the quantity demanded in response to the change in price. The demand curve remains vertical. Demand is completely unresponsive to the change in price.

What is the best example of inelastic demand? ›

The most common goods with inelastic demand are utilities, prescription drugs, and tobacco products. Businesses that offer such products maintain greater flexibility with prices because demand remains constant even if prices increase or decrease.

What are the conditions of perfectly inelastic? ›

A perfectly inelastic collision occurs when the maximum amount of kinetic energy of a system is lost. In a perfectly inelastic collision, i.e., a zero coefficient of restitution, the colliding particles stick together. In such a collision, kinetic energy is lost by bonding the two bodies together.

How to calculate perfectly elastic demand? ›

How to calculate elastic demand
  1. Select the product. ...
  2. Determine your period. ...
  3. Establish how to measure demand. ...
  4. Record product prices at the beginning of your period. ...
  5. Identify the prices at the end of your period. ...
  6. Calculate the percentage change in demand. ...
  7. Calculate the percentage change in price.
Nov 17, 2022

What does a perfectly inelastic demand implies that buyers? ›

Answer and Explanation:

The answer is b) Buyers purchase the same amount when the price rises or falls .

What is an example of a perfectly inelastic supply? ›

Perfectly inelastic supply is when the PES formula equals zero. That is, there is no change in quantity supplied when the price changes. Examples include products that have limited quantities, such as land or a painting from deceased artists.

Is perfectly inelastic possible? ›

Suppose two similar trolleys are traveling towards each other. They collide, but because the trolleys are equipped with magnetic couplers they join together in the collision and become one connected mass. This type of collision is perfectly inelastic because the maximum possible kinetic energy has been lost.

Which of the following best describes a perfectly inelastic? ›

The best description for a perfectly inelastic collision free of external forces is that kinetic energy is never conserved.

What is perfectly inelastic and completely inelastic? ›

An inelastic collision is one in which kinetic energy is not conserved. A perfectly inelastic collision (also sometimes called completely or maximally inelastic) is one in which objects stick together after impact, and the maximum amount of kinetic energy is lost.

What does a perfectly elastic demand mean for consumers? ›

Perfect elastic demand means that quantity demanded will increase to infinity when the price decreases, and quantity demanded will decrease to zero when price increases.

What is the PED of a perfectly inelastic good? ›

A PED coefficient equal to zero indicates perfectly inelastic demand. This means that demand for a good does not change in response to price. Perfectly Inelastic Demand: When demand is perfectly inelastic, quantity demanded for a good does not change in response to a change in price.

What is a perfectly elastic demand equal to? ›

Perfect elastic demand means that quantity demanded will increase to infinity when the price decreases, and quantity demanded will decrease to zero when price increases.

What does perfectly inelastic imply? ›

Perfect inelasticity refers to a situation in which the quantity demanded does not change at all, regardless of the price. Perfect elasticity refers to a situation in which the quantity demanded is extremely sensitive to changes in price, with even a small change in price leading to a large change in quantity demanded.

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