Punktelastizitäten

Punktelastizitäten, also known as point elasticity, is a measure used in economics to quantify the responsiveness of the quantity demanded or supplied of a good to a change in its price. It is calculated as the percentage change in quantity divided by the percentage change in price. This metric is particularly useful for understanding how sensitive consumers or producers are to price changes.

Point elasticity of demand (PED) indicates how much the quantity demanded of a good changes in response to a one percent change in its price. A PED of 1 means that a 1% increase in price leads to a 1% decrease in quantity demanded, indicating unit elasticity. A PED greater than 1 suggests that the demand is elastic, meaning consumers are highly responsive to price changes. Conversely, a PED less than 1 indicates inelastic demand, where consumers are less responsive to price changes.

Point elasticity of supply (PES) measures how much the quantity supplied of a good changes in response to a one percent change in its price. Similar to PED, a PES of 1 indicates unit elasticity, while a PES greater than 1 suggests elastic supply and a PES less than 1 indicates inelastic supply.

Understanding punktelastizitäten is crucial for businesses and policymakers as it helps in making informed decisions regarding pricing strategies, production levels, and market interventions. For instance, a firm with inelastic demand may increase prices without significantly reducing sales, while a firm with elastic demand may need to be more cautious with price increases to avoid a substantial drop in sales.