Question

There are two techniques of egg production: free range (where hens roam around the farm) or factory (where hens are fed and watered in wire cages). The free range technique has a much more elastic supply curve than the factory technique. When the demand for eggs falls:________.
a. egg production falls by a smaller percentage in the factory technique than in the free range technique.

b. egg production falls by a larger percentage in the factory technique than in the free range technique.

c. the production using both techniques falls by the same percentage.

d. the factory egg producers supply curve shifts inward.

e. the free range egg producers supply curve shifts inward.

Answer 1

Answer:

a. egg production falls by a smaller percentage in the factory technique than in the free range technique.

Explanation:

Elasticity of supply is defined as the degree of responsiveness of supply to changes in price. Highly elastic supply responds more to change in price than low elastic supply.

In the given scenario where eggs are produced using factory and free range techniques, as demand falls price consumers are willing to pay also falls.

Since factory technique has a lower elasticity of supply, the fall in supply as a result of fall in price will be small.

However the fall in supply of free range will be higher because of its higher elasticity