Exercises · Q11
Q.Which of the following best describes a Giffen good?
(i) A good with zero price elasticity of demand
(ii) An inferior good whose quantity demanded falls when its price falls
(iii) A luxury good with high income elasticity
(iv) A good with a positive cross elasticity with its substitute. Choose the correct option and justify your choice.
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Examining each option against the definition of a Giffen good:
- Zero price elasticity of demand describes PERFECTLY INELASTIC demand — quantity demanded does not change AT ALL as price changes (e.g. an essential drug with no substitute). This is a different concept from a Giffen good, whose quantity demanded actually moves in the "wrong" direction, not zero direction. Incorrect.
- An inferior good whose quantity demanded falls when its price falls is exactly the defining behaviour of a Giffen good: it is a strongly inferior good, forming a large part of a poor consumer's budget, where a price FALL raises the consumer's real income enough that they buy LESS of the inferior good and switch to a superior alternative. Correct.
- A luxury good with high income elasticity describes a good with under NORMAL demand behaviour (price falling would still raise its quantity demanded as usual) — this is unrelated to the Giffen exception. Incorrect. …
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