demands

Demands are statements that assert a claim to something—an entitlement, a requirement, or a request—made by an individual or group. They can be formal or informal and may seek action, compliance, or compensation. In everyday language, a demand is often more insistent than a simple request, but it can also be lawful or contractual.

Economically, demand is the quantity of a good or service that consumers are willing and able to purchase at various prices over a period. The law of demand states that, all else equal, higher prices reduce quantity demanded; lower prices increase it. The demand curve typically slopes downward, though exceptions exist. Determinants include income, prices of substitutes and complements, preferences, expectations, and the number of buyers. A change in these determinants shifts the demand curve, while a change in price causes movement along it. Market demand is the horizontal sum of individual demands.

Legally and in politics, a demand is a formal claim against another party. Demand letters specify required actions and deadlines, often with threatened litigation. In collective bargaining, unions present demands on wages, benefits, and working conditions; employers provide offers and counteroffers.

Demands can influence power dynamics in negotiations and may be conditional or unconditional. They often reflect rights, policy goals, or social movements, and their reception shapes subsequent action, including compliance, negotiation, or dispute resolution.

See also: elasticity of demand; demand curve; consumer demand; collective bargaining.