Question

If the price of a haircut is $15, the number of haircuts provided is 100. If the price rises to $30 per haircut, barbers will work much longer hours, and the supply of haircuts will increase to 300.
Instructions: Round your answers to two decimal places.
The price elasticity of supply for haircuts between $15 and $30 using the mid-point method is:________.

Answer 1

Answer:

1.5

Explanation:

Price elasticity of supply measures the responsiveness of quantity supplied to changes in price of the good.

Price elasticity of supply = midpoint change in quantity supplied / midpoint change in price  

Midpoint change in quantity supplied = change in quantity supplied / average of both supply

change in quantity supplied = 300 - 100 = 200

average of both supply = (300 + 100) / 2 = 200

200 / 200 = 1

midpoint change in price = change in price / average of both price

change in price = $30 - $15 = $15

average of both price = ($30 + $15) / 2 = $22.50

15 / 22.5 = 0.67

1 / 0.67 = 1.5

If the absolute value of price elasticity is greater than one, it means supply is elastic. Elastic supply means that quantity supplied is sensitive to price changes.