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Economic Definition of demand elasticity and total expenditure. Defined.

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Term demand elasticity and total expenditure Definition: The notion that price-induced changes in total expenditure for a good (price times quantity) depends on the relative price elasticity of demand. In particular, for relatively elastic demand (1 < E < ∞) changes in price cause total expenditure to change in the opposite direction. An increase in price causes total expenditure to fall and a decrease in price causes total expenditure to rise. For relatively inelastic demand (0 < E < 1) changes in price cause total expenditure to change in the same direction. An increase in price causes total expenditure to rise and a decrease in price causes total expenditure to fall. For unit elastic demand (E =1) price changes do not cause any change in total expenditure. Total expenditure is the same whether price increases or decreases.

 

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