Law of demand

Definition

The law of demand is a fundamental principle in economics that describes the relationship between the price of a good or service and the quantity demanded by consumers.

What is law of demand?

Law of demand states that, assuming all other factors remain constant, when the price of a good or service rises, the quantity demanded of that good or service decreases. Conversely, when the price falls, the quantity demanded increases.

The relationship described by the law of demand is typically illustrated on a demand curve. The demand curve slopes downward from left to right, indicating that as price decreases, the quantity demanded increases, and as price increases, the quantity demanded decreases.

Changes in factors other than price can lead to shifts in the entire demand curve. For instance, changes in consumer preferences, income levels, or the prices of related goods can alter the quantity demanded at all price levels. These are called shifts in demand.

While the law of demand holds true for most goods, there are exceptions. Giffen goods are rare examples where an increase in price can lead to an increase in quantity demanded. This is typically seen in very specific circumstances where the good is considered a necessity and there are no close substitutes.

The law of demand is a universal economic principle applicable in markets around the world, regardless of cultural or regional differences.

Example of law of demand

Let’s consider the law of demand in the context of smartphones. The current market price of a popular smartphone model is R800, and consumers are buying approximately 50,000 units per month.

The smartphone manufacturer decides to reduce the price of the model to R700, making it more affordable for consumers. As a result of the price reduction, consumers find the smartphone more attractive at the lower price point. The quantity demanded increases, and now 70,000 units are sold per month.

Encouraged by the initial success, the manufacturer decides to reduce the price further to R600. The lower price stimulates even greater demand for the smartphone. Now, at the R600 price point, consumers are purchasing 90,000 units per month.

In this example, the law of demand is demonstrated as a decrease in the price of smartphones leads to an increase in the quantity demanded. Conversely, if the price increase the quantity demanded would likely decrease.