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Q.Explain the Law of Demand with help of demand schedule. Give any two exceptions to the Law of Demand.

(OR)
Explain why does supply curve generally slope upward to the right by giving examples.
Manipur CohsemCOHSEM Manipur Higher Secondary 1st Year (Commerce) 2022Subjective· 8mImportance★★★★★
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(A) The Law of Demand states that, other things being equal, the quantity demanded of a commodity varies inversely with its price; Giffen goods and goods of ostentation (Veblen goods) are notable exceptions. [OR] (B) The supply curve generally slopes upward to the right because producers are willing to supply larger quantities only at higher prices, since marginal cost of production rises as output increases.

(A) Law of Demand:

The Law of Demand states that, other things remaining the same (ceteris paribus — income, tastes, prices of related goods, etc. held constant), the quantity demanded of a commodity is inversely related to its price: as price rises, quantity demanded falls; as price falls, quantity demanded rises.

Demand Schedule (example):

Price (Rs./unit)Quantity Demanded (units)
10100
2080
3060
4040
5020

As the table shows, as price rises from Rs.10 to Rs.50, quantity demanded falls from 100 to 20 units — confirming the inverse price-quantity relationship. Plotting these points gives a downward-sloping demand curve.

Two exceptions to the Law of Demand:

  1. Giffen goods: For certain inferior goods that form a large part of a poor consumer's budget (e.g., low-quality staple foods like coarse grain), a FALL in price can actually lead to a FALL in quantity demanded (not a rise), because the strong positive income effect (the consumer now feels richer and shifts away from the inferior good toward a superior substitute) outweighs the normal negative substitution effect. This is called the Giffen Paradox.
  2. Goods of ostentation/prestige (Veblen goods): For certain luxury/status goods (e.g., diamonds, premium branded items), a RISE in price may increase quantity demanded (rather than reduce it), because the higher price itself enhances the good's prestige/snob value, making it more desirable to buyers who wish to display wealth or status. (Other valid exceptions: expectation of future price changes, necessities with no substitutes.)

(B) [OR] Why supply curve slopes upward:

The supply curve typically slopes upward from left to right (a positive/direct relationship between price and quantity supplied) mainly because of the behaviour of marginal cost: …

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