Efterfrågestivigheten

Efterfrågestivigheten, or price elasticity of demand, is an economic concept that measures how sensitive the quantity demanded of a good or service is to a change in its price. It is calculated as the percentage change in quantity demanded divided by the percentage change in price. If the elasticity is greater than 1, demand is considered elastic, meaning a small price change leads to a proportionally larger change in quantity demanded. If the elasticity is less than 1, demand is inelastic, indicating that a price change has a relatively small effect on the quantity demanded. An elasticity of exactly 1 signifies unit elastic demand.

Several factors influence efterfrågestivigheten. The availability of close substitutes is a primary driver; goods with many substitutes tend to have more elastic demand because consumers can easily switch if the price rises. The necessity of a good also plays a role; essential items like medicine often have inelastic demand, as people will continue to purchase them regardless of price increases. The proportion of income spent on a good is another factor. Goods that represent a large portion of a consumer's budget are likely to have more elastic demand. Finally, the time horizon matters; demand tends to become more elastic over longer periods as consumers have more time to adjust their behavior and find alternatives. Understanding efterfrågestivigheten is crucial for businesses setting prices and for policymakers analyzing the impact of taxes and subsidies.