IBEconomicsHLRevision Notes2. Microeconomics2.6 Price Elasticity of Supply (PES)2.6.1 Understanding Price Elasticity of Supply (PES)

Understanding Price Elasticity of Supply (PES) (HL IB Economics)

Revision Note

Steve Vorster

Expertise

Economics & Business Subject Lead

The Definition & Calculation of PES

  • The law of supply states that when there is an increase in price (ceteris paribus), producers will increase the quantity supplied and vice versa

    • Economists are interested by how much the quantity supplied will increase

  • Price elasticity of supply (PES) reveals how responsive the change in quantity supplied is to a change in price

    • The responsiveness is different for different types of products

Calculation of PES

  • PES can be calculated using the following formula

    text PES =  end text fraction numerator percent sign space change space in space quantity space supplied over denominator percent sign space change space in space price end fraction space equals space fraction numerator percent sign triangle space in thin space QS over denominator percent sign triangle in space straight P end fraction

  • To calculate a % change, use the following formula
    percent sign space Change space equals space fraction numerator new space value space minus space old space value over denominator old space value end fraction space cross times space 100

Worked Example

In recent months, the price of avocados has increased from AU$ 0.90 to AU$ 1.45. Bewdley Farm Shop in Margaret River has sought to maximise their profits by increasing the quantity supplied to the market. They have been able to increase sales from 110 units a week to 120 units a week. Calculate the PES of avocados and explain one reason for the value [4]

Answer:

Step 1:  Calculate the % change in QS

  percent sign triangle Q S space equals space fraction numerator 120 minus 110 over denominator 110 end fraction space cross times 100 percent sign triangle Q S space equals space 9.1 percent sign 


Step 2: Calculate the % change in P

percent sign triangle straight P space equals space fraction numerator 1.45 space minus space 0.90 over denominator 0.90 end fraction space straight x space 100 percent sign triangle straight P space equals space 61 percent sign


Step 3: Insert the above values in the PES formula

PE S space equals space fraction numerator percent sign triangle space in thin space Q S over denominator percent sign triangle in space straight P end fraction PE S space equals space fraction numerator 9.1 percent sign over denominator 61 percent sign end fraction PE S space equals space space 0.15

(Two marks for the correct answer or 1 mark for any correct working)

Step 4: Explain one reason for the value

The PES value of 0.15 indicates that avocados are very price inelastic in supply [1]. Even with a significant increase in price, suppliers are unable to supply more likely due to the time it takes to grow additional avocados [1]

Exam Tip

When doing elasticity calculations, make sure that your final answer for PES is not expressed as a percentage. This is a common error and loses marks.

In Paper 2 you are occasionally given the PES value and the %Δ in QD. You are then asked to calculate the %Δ in price. Follow the standard math procedure as follows:

1. Substitute the values provided into the equation

2. Substitute X for %Δ in price

3. Solve for X

Interpreting PES Values

The Values of PES vary from 0 to Infinity (∞) & they are Classified as Follows

Value

Name

Explanation

0

 Perfectly Inelastic

The QS is completely unresponsive to a
change in P (e.g. fixed number of seats in a theatre)

0→1

Relatively Inelastic

The %∆ in QS is less than proportional
to the %∆ in P (e.g agricultural products)

1→ ∞

Relatively Elastic

The %∆ in QS is more than proportional
to the %∆ in P (e.g t-shirts)

∞

Perfectly Elastic

The %∆ in QS will fall to zero with any %∆ in P. However, supply is unlimited at a particular price. This is a very theoretical scenario

The Determinants of PES

  • Some products are more responsive to changes in prices than other products

  • The factors that determine the responsiveness are called the determinants of PES and include:

  1. Mobility of the factors of production
    If producers can quickly switch their resources between products, then the PES will be more elastic. E.g. If prices of hiking boots increase and shoe manufacturers can switch resources from producing trainers to boots, then boots will be price elastic in supply

  2. The rate at which costs of production increase
    It costs more to produce each additional unit of output (marginal cost). If the rate of the marginal cost increase is low, the quantity supplied will be more elastic. However, if marginal costs rise quickly, then the quantity supplied will be more inelastic

  3. Ability to store goods
    If products can be easily stored then PES will be higher (elastic) as producers can quickly increase supply (e.g. tinned food products). An inability to store products results in lower PES (inelastic)

  4. Spare capacity
    if prices increase for a product and there is a capacity to produce more in the factories that make those products, then supply will be elastic. If there is no spare capacity to increase production, then supply will be inelastic

  5. Time period
    In the short run, producers may find it harder to respond to an increase in prices as it takes time to produce the product (e.g. avocados). However, in the long run they can change any of their factors of production so as to produce more

Exam Tip

Many students confuse PES with PED and inadvertently answer questions using knowledge from PED. When faced with PES questions, tell yourself to think like a producer (not a consumer!) and it will help you to stay focused on providing the correct answer.

The PES of Primary Commodities & Manufactured Products

  • The price elasticity of supply (PES) of primary commodities (agricultural products or raw materials) tends to be lower than that of manufactured products (washing machines, phones, cars etc) for several reasons

  • The best way to explain the reasons for the differences is to apply the factors that determine the price elasticity of supply

 

A Comparison of the PES of Primary Commodities & Manufactured Products


PES Factor


Primary Commodities - Inelastic
(PES = 0-1)


Manufactured Goods - Elastic
(PES = >1)

Mobility of the factors of production

  • If the price of a specific agricultural commodity increases, it's not for farmers to quickly switch to producing a different crop 

  • There is generally more flexibility to switch production to alternative goods in response to price changes, leading to a higher PES
     

  • E.g. a car manufacturer may be able to adjust its factors of production from producing family car to sports models relatively easily

The rate at which costs of production (marginal costs) increase

  • The PES for primary commodities is typically lower
     

  • The production of primary commodities is often subject to inherent constraints, (e.g. longer production cycles)
     

  • The cost to produce one more unit of output is relatively high

  • The PES for manufactured products is typically higher
     

  • The additional costs of supplying mass produced manufactured products is generally lower as it is easy to add on extra units to production output

 The ability to store goods

  • Perishable agricultural have limited storage capabilities
     

  • This reduces the short-term supply responsiveness and contributes to a lower PES for primary commodities

  • Manufactured products can be stored for longer periods without significant deterioration or spoilage
     

  • This allows firms to respond to price changes by adjusting the quantity supplied from existing stock

Spare production capacity

  • Output is relatively labour or land intensive which places limits on the amount of spare production capacity leading to a low PES

  • Output is often generated using machinery and so there is more capacity when producing manufactured products leading to a higher PES

Time period

  • The time period to grow or extract primary commodities is much longer than that required to manufacture products

  • Many products are manufactured in a relatively short time period

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    Steve Vorster

    Author: Steve Vorster

    Steve has taught A Level, GCSE, IGCSE Business and Economics - as well as IBDP Economics and Business Management. He is an IBDP Examiner and IGCSE textbook author. His students regularly achieve 90-100% in their final exams. Steve has been the Assistant Head of Sixth Form for a school in Devon, and Head of Economics at the world's largest International school in Singapore. He loves to create resources which speed up student learning and are easily accessible by all.