Question

G.R. Dry Foods Distributors specializes in the wholesale distribution of dry goods, such as rice and dry beans. The firm’s manager is concerned about an article he read in this morning’s Wall Street Journal indicating that the incomes of individuals in the lowest income bracket are expected to increase by 10 percent over the next year. While the manager is pleased to see this group of individuals doing well, he is concerned about the impact this will have on G.R. Dry Foods. Please explain what will happen to the price of the products G.R. Dry Foods sells? Why?

Answer 1

Answer:

d. The price will decrease, because dry beans and rice are inferior goods.

Explanation:

the options are missing, so I looked them up:

a. The price will decrease, because dry beans and rice are normal goods.

b. The price will increase, because dry beans and rice are normal goods.

c. The price will increase, because dry beans and rice are inferior goods.

d. The price will decrease, because dry beans and rice are inferior goods.

Inferior goods are those goods whose quantity demanded decreases as consumer income increases. This happens because inferior goods have several substitute products that cost more, but as consumer income increases, consumers will tend to purchase the more expensive substitute goods instead of the cheaper inferior ones. I.e. as consumer income increases, they will seek to purchase higher quality goods, and inferior goods are generally low quality goods that are mostly purchased by people located at the lower socio-economic classes. Other examples of inferior goods are canned meat, instant noodles and cheap frozen foods.

Since the quantity demanded of inferior goods decreases as the economy improves, the demand curve shifts to the left, which will result in a lower equilibrium price.