Demand Analysis- A Detailed Overview

We often heard the term demand in your life and used it many times. But what does it refer to? Have you ever wondered about what is demanded in economics and how it influences the business world?

Don’t worry. You are at the right place. In this article, we are going to discuss the demand in economics and some of its related laws.

So let’s dive into the article below to find out your answer.

What is demand?

In economics, demand for a commodity refers to the quantity of the commodity that an individual consumer or a household is willing to purchase per unit of time at a particular time.

Demand is a concept that everyone should be familiar with both the business and the customer as it makes sense and occurs practically every day.

Thus the demand for a commodity mainly depends upon three things that include-

1.       Desire of the consumer to buy the product.

2.       His willingness to buy the product.

3.       Sufficient purchasing power in his possession to buy the product.

An increase in the price of goods and services eventually decreases the demand for the product. Just like that, the decrease in the price of the commodity increases its demand for it.

Types of demand

The demand may arise from an individual, household as well as a market. Certain commodities are generally demanded by the individual consumer, several commodities are demanded by the household and some of them are demanded by the market. So based on that demand can be categorized into three.

Individual demand

When a commodity is demanded by the consumer itself is known as individual demand.

For example- demand for footwear, and clothes.

Household demand

If a good or commodity is demanded by the household, it is referred to as the household demand.

For example- Demand for a plot, refrigerator

Aggregate demand

When we consider the demand for a commodity by all the individuals and households in the market together, it is referred to as the market demand or aggregate demand.

Determinants of demand

Sometimes certain factors determine the demand for a product and those factors are referred to as the determinants of demand.

Along with that, certain determinants of demand are specific to a specific category of goods. These determinants are called the explanatory variables whereas the quantity demanded is called the explained variables. The relation between these two variables is very much essential for the successful management of the business.

The important determinants of demand are as follows.

1.       Price of the product or service

2.       Income of the consumer

3.       Prices of the related goods

4.       Tastes and preferences of individuals

5.       Advertisement

6.       Expectations of a customer

As the above-mentioned factors change, the demand for the product or service changes as well. These factors change all the time, so the demand also fluctuates.

Law of demand

The law

The law of demand states that the higher the price, the lower the quantity demanded, and vice versa, while other things remain constant.

Thus, it describes that given the process of the related goods, income, tastes, and preferences of the consumer, if the price of the good increases its quantity demanded decreases, 

while if the price of the product or service decreases its quantity demanded increases.

When the price of a good decrease it becomes relatively cheaper. So this good is substituted in the place of the now relatively costlier good. Further, since one of the goods in the consumption bundle has become cheaper, the consumer is now left with some purchasing power.

With this purchasing power, he can buy more additional bundles of things in his consumption bundle. Thus, when the substitution and real income effects of price changes are taken together, it may be seen that the fall in the price of a good increases its quantity demanded and a rise in its price reduces its quantity demand and here the law of demand satisfies.

Demand curve

The graphical representation of the law of demand is known as the demand curve. The demand curve shows the maximum amount of goods that the consumer would be willing to buy at each possible price of the good, under given conditions of demand.

So the demand curve can show the maximum price which an individual consumer or a household is willing to pay for different amounts of goods.

Each point on the market demand curve shows the maximum amount of the goods that all consumers have taken together would be willing to buy at each possible price of the goods under given conditions of demand.

The curve of demand always slopes downward from the left to the right side. There are several reasons for that,

1.                The law of diminishing marginal utility

2.                A commodity tends to be put to more use when it becomes cheaper

3.                A fall in the price of a superior good will lead to a rise in the consumer’s real income.

4.                Substitution effects like a fall in the price of a good while the prices of its substituent remain unchanged, will make it attractive to the buyer who will demand more of it.

Exceptions to the law of demand

Generally, the amount demanded of a good increases with a decrease in the price of the good and vice versa. However, in some cases, the law of demand may not be true and can’t be applied. 

The exceptions are as follows

1.       Giffen goods

2.       Commodities that are symbols of status.

3.       Expectations of change in the price of the commodity

Elasticity of demand

The elasticity of demand refers to the percentage change in quantity demanded caused by a one percent change in the demand determinant under consideration, while other determinants are held constant. 

The elasticity of demand can be measured by the following formula:

The elasticity of demand = percentage change in quantity demanded of good X / Percentage change in determinant Z

The larger the value of this elasticity, the more responsive the quantity demanded to changes in the determinants under consideration. If we look at the demand function, we can notice that certain determinants of demand are completely beyond the control of the firm.

The firm can’t possibly make any significant difference to the average annual income of the consumers, the number of consumers, or the prices of the related goods.

While it is conceptually possible to measure the elasticity of demand concerning each of the demand determinants, there are certain insurmountable problems in quantifying certain variables. For example, scientific quantitative measures of tastes and preferences don’t exist, which makes it virtually impossible to measure the elasticity of demand.

Difference between demand and supply

Demand refers to the quantity of a product or service that a consumer is willing to purchase over some time at a particular price whereas supply refers to the quantity supplied to the market for sale at a different level price.

So basically demand is the buyer’s desire and ability to make a purchase of a product or service but supply is the quantity of a product that is available to the consumers.

The demand curve depicts the relationship between demand and price. The supply curve depicts the relationship between the quantity supplied of a good and its price.  

Demand can be seen from the perspective of the buyers whereas supply can be seen from the perspective of the producer.

The law of demand is completely different from the law of supply. The law of demand shows that the higher the price lower the demand and vice versa whereas the law of supply shows that the higher the price higher the supply.

Conclusion

As you have learned this far, you might have got an idea about demand and how it works along with its basic elements. It might clear all your problems and strengthens your entire concept in this subject of demand. 

*image source from Google

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