Respuesta :
Answer:
a) This will be a beneficial policy if the price elasticity of demand for sterile needles is elastic and the cross-price elasticity of demand between drugs and sterile needles is positive and high.
b) This is a bad policy if the price elasticity of demand for sterile needles is inelastic and the cross-price elasticity of demand between drugs and sterile needles is negative and high.
Explanation:
a) In what circumstances do you believe this is a beneficial policy?
This will be a beneficial policy if the price elasticity of demand for sterile needles is elastic and the cross-price elasticity of demand between drugs and sterile needles is positive and high.
The elastic price elasticity of demand for sterile needles implies that the quantity demanded for sterile needles is higher than the change in its price.
The positive cross-price elasticity of demand implies that both drugs and sterile needle are substitutes. Therefore, the quantity demanded of drugs falls as the price of sterile needle falls to zero.
b) In what circumstances do you believe this is a bad policy?
This is a bad policy if the price elasticity of demand for sterile needles is inelastic and the cross-price elasticity of demand between drugs and sterile needles is negative and high.
The inelastic price elasticity of demand for sterile needles implies that the quantity demanded for sterile needles is lower than the change in its price.
The negative cross-price elasticity of demand implies that both drugs and sterile needle are compliments. Therefore, the quantity demanded of drugs increases as the price of sterile needle falls to zero.