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(a) What is income elasticity of demand? The table below shows the various incomes and ...

(a) What is income elasticity of demand? The table below shows the various incomes and demand for different commodities.
Income (N) Quantity Demanded (kg)
A 20,000 120
B 36,000 96
C 40,000 160
D 44,000 200
E 45,000 240
F 47,000 252



(b) Calculate the income elasticity between
(i) A and B
(ii) C and D
(iii) E and F
(c) What kind of good is between
(i) A and B?
(ii) C and D?
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    Correct Answer: Option n
    Explanation:
    (a) Income elasticity of demand is the degree of responsive-ness of the quantity demanded of a commodity to a little change in income. Income elasticity of demand can be expressed as: % change in quantity dd
    % change in income
    (b)(i) Income elasticity between A and B
    = Change in quantity dd 96 - 120 = -24
    %Change in quantity dd = \(\frac{-24}{120} \times \frac{100}{1}\) = - 20%

    Change in income = N36,000 - N20,000 = N16,000
    % change in income = \(\frac{16000}{20000} \times \frac{100}{1}\) = 80%

    Income elasticity of dd = \(\frac{20}{80}\) = 0.25
    (ii) Calculation of Income Elasticity between C and D
    Change in quantity = 200 - 160 = 40 %
    % change in quantity = \(\frac{40}{160} \times \frac{100}{1}\) = 25%
    Change in income = 44000 - 40,000 = 4,000
    % Change in income = \(\frac{4000}{40000} \times \frac{100}{1}\) = 10%
    Income elasticity of dd = \(\frac{25}{10}\) = 2.5
    (iii) Calculation of Income Elasticity between E and F
    Change in quantity = 252 - 240 = 12
    % Change in quantity = \(\frac{12}{240} \times \frac{100}{1}\)% = 5%
    Change in income = 47,000 - 45,000 = 2000
    % Change in income = \(\frac{2000}{45000} \times \frac{100}{1} = \frac{40}{9}\) = 4.4%
    Income elasticity of dd = \(\frac{5}{4.4}\) = 1.1
    Alternative method of solving Question 2(b)
    Ey = dd x y
    dy q
    where dq = change in quantity
    dy = change in income
    y = old income
    q = old quantity
    (i) Elasticity between A and B
    change in quantity = 96 - 120 = 24
    change in quantity = N36,000 - N20,000 = N16,000
    old income = 20,000
    old quantity = 120
    = \(\frac{24}{16000} \times \frac{20,000}{120}\) = 0.25
    (ii) Between C and D
    dq = 160 - 200 = 40
    dy = N40,000 - N44,000 = 4,000
    y = 40,000
    q = 160
    = \(\frac{40}{4000} \times \frac{40,000}{160}\) = 2.5
    (iii) Between E and F
    2q = 240 - 252 =12
    2y = 45,000 - N47,000 = 42,000
    y = N45,000, q = 240
    = \(\frac{12}{2000} \times \frac{45,000}{240}\) = 1.1
    (c)(i) Inferior or giffen good
    (ii) Normal good and luxury good

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