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Saturday, November 12, 2011

Giffen and Veblen Goods

Economists are convinced that nothing "breaks" the law of demand which says that when price increases, demand decreases. Their way of explaining price increase with quantity demand increase is by claims of elasticity, substitution, and complimentary goods. But there are some goods that defy the law of demand.

Giffen goods are a type of inferior good where quantity demand increases with a price increase. These goods are a legend first thought of by Sir R. Giffen, but don't exist - to what we believe. Sir Giffen showed that for example: "a rise in the price of bread makes so large a drain on the resources of the poorer labouring families and raises so much the marginal utility of money to them, that they are forced to curtail their consumption of meat and the more expensive farinaceous foods: and, bread being still the cheapest food which they can get and will take, they consume more, and not less of it. But such cases are rare; when they are met with, each must be treated on its own merits." This in reality is just because all prices have risen and not just bread - and bread is still the cheapest.

Veblen goods seem more feasible. They are also known as goods of ostentation - basically showing that you have wealth. Why should a person desire more expensive goods? Even when the price is outrageous and income doesn't change (or may even decrease) the quantity demanded is still high because it is a symbol of social status. These aren't just normal goods - they are superior goods. It is hard to prove that these goods exist.

For both goods, it is hard to prove they exist. It is very hard to prove that Giffen goods are real, but Veblen goods seem more reasonable. When looking at things in a social class context, goods do seem to increase in price and quantity demand at the same time.

source:
http://kadicamardese.blogspot.com/2007/10/what-are-giffen-goods-what-are-veblen.html

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