📚 Learning Guide
Elasticity in Market Dynamics
hard

How does the income elasticity of demand affect market equilibrium when a government imposes a tax on a good with high income elasticity?

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Choose the Best Answer

A

It leads to a decrease in demand and a rise in equilibrium price.

B

It results in a decrease in equilibrium quantity and an increase in total revenue for the government.

C

It causes a significant shift in demand, leading to a new equilibrium that reflects the burden of the tax.

D

It has no effect on market equilibrium as the tax is uniform across all income levels.

Understanding the Answer

Let's break down why this is correct

Answer

Income elasticity of demand measures how much the quantity demanded of a good changes when people's income changes. When a good has high income elasticity, it means that if people's incomes rise, they will buy much more of that good, and if incomes fall, they will buy much less. If the government imposes a tax on such a good, it can lead to a significant decrease in demand, especially if consumers feel they cannot afford it anymore. For example, if a luxury car faces a new tax, many people might decide to postpone buying it because they feel the cost is too high now. This change in demand can shift the market equilibrium, leading to lower prices and fewer sales in the long run.

Detailed Explanation

When a tax is added to a good that people buy more of when they have more money, demand changes a lot. Other options are incorrect because This option suggests that demand decreases and prices go up; This choice says that equilibrium quantity goes down but total revenue for the government increases.

Key Concepts

income elasticity of demand
market equilibrium
elasticity and taxation
Topic

Elasticity in Market Dynamics

Difficulty

hard level question

Cognitive Level

understand

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