What do you call the graph showing the relationship between the price of a product and the corresponding quantity purchased by consumers?

What Is the Demand Curve?

The demand curve is a graphical representation of the relationship between the price of a good or service and the quantity demanded for a given period of time. In a typical representation, the price will appear on the left vertical axis, the quantity demanded on the horizontal axis. 

Understanding the Demand Curve

The demand curve will move downward from the left to the right, which expresses the law of demand—as the price of a given commodity increases, the quantity demanded decreases, all else being equal.

Note that this formulation implies that price is the independent variable, and quantity the dependent variable. In most disciplines, the independent variable appears on the horizontal or x-axis, but economics is an exception to this rule.

For example, if the price of corn rises, consumers will have an incentive to buy less corn and substitute it for other foods, so the total quantity of corn consumers demand will fall.

Demand Elasticity

The degree to which rising price translates into falling demand is called demand elasticity or price elasticity of demand. If a 50% rise in corn prices causes the quantity of corn demanded to fall by 50%, the demand elasticity of corn is 1. If a 50% rise in corn prices only decreases the quantity demanded by 10%, the demand elasticity is 0.2. The demand curve is shallower (closer to horizontal) for products with more elastic demand, and steeper (closer to vertical) for products with less elastic demand.

If a factor besides price or quantity changes, a new demand curve needs to be drawn. For example, say that the population of an area explodes, increasing the number of mouths to feed. In this scenario, more corn will be demanded even if the price remains the same, meaning that the curve itself shifts to the right (D2) in the graph below. In other words, demand will increase.

Other factors can shift the demand curve as well, such as a change in consumers' preferences. If cultural shifts cause the market to shun corn in favor of quinoa, the demand curve will shift to the left (D3). If consumers' income drops, decreasing their ability to buy corn, demand will shift left (D3). If the price of a substitute—from the consumer's perspective—increases, consumers will buy corn instead, and demand will shift right (D2). If the price of a complement, such as charcoal to grill corn, increases, demand will shift left (D3). If the future price of corn is higher than the current price, the demand will temporarily shift to the right (D2), since consumers have an incentive to buy now before the price rises.

The terminology surrounding demand can be confusing. "Quantity" or "quantity demanded" refers to the amount of the good or service, such as ears of corn, bushels of tomatoes, available hotel rooms or hours of labor. In everyday usage, this might be called the "demand," but in economic theory, "demand" refers to the curve shown above, denoting the relationship between quantity demanded and price per unit. 

Exceptions to the Demand Curve

There are some exceptions to rules that apply to the relationship that exists between prices of goods and demand. One of these exceptions is a Giffen good. This is one that is considered a staple food, like bread or rice, for which there is no viable substitute. In short, the demand will increase for a Giffen good when the price increases, and it will fall when the prices drops. The demand for these goods are on an upward-slope, which goes against the laws of demand. Therefore, the typical response (rising prices triggering a substitution effect) won’t exist for Giffen goods, and the price rise will continue to push demand. 

What Is a Supply Curve?

The supply curve is a graphic representation of the correlation between the cost of a good or service and the quantity supplied for a given period. In a typical illustration, the price will appear on the left vertical axis, while the quantity supplied will appear on the horizontal axis.

Key Takeaways

• On most supply curves, as the price of a good increases, the quantity of goods supplied also increases.
• Supply curves can often show if a commodity will experience a price increase or decrease based on demand, and vice versa.
• The supply curve is shallower (closer to horizontal) for products with more elastic supply and steeper (closer to vertical) for products with less elastic supply.
• The supply curve, along with the demand curve, are the key components of the law of supply and demand.

Law of Supply

How a Supply Curve Works

The supply curve will move upward from left to right, which expresses the law of supply: As the price of a given commodity increases, the quantity supplied increases (all else being equal).

Note that this formulation implies that price is the independent variable, and quantity the dependent variable. In most disciplines, the independent variable appears on the horizontal or x-axis, but economics is an exception to this rule.

If a factor besides price or quantity changes, a new supply curve needs to be drawn. For example, say that some new soybean farmers enter the market, clearing forests and increasing the amount of land devoted to soybean cultivation. In this scenario, more soybeans will be produced even if the price remains the same, meaning that the supply curve itself shifts to the right (S2) in the graph below. In other words, supply will increase.

Technology is a leading cause of supply curve shifts.

Other factors can shift the supply curve as well, such as a change in the price of production. If a drought causes water prices to spike, the curve will shift to the left (S3). If the price of a substitute—from the supplier's perspective—such as corn increases, farmers will shift to growing that instead, and the supply of soybeans will decrease (S3).

If a new technology, such as a pest-resistant seed, increases yields, the supply curve will shift right (S2). If the future price of soybeans is higher than the current price, the supply will temporarily shift to the left (S3), since producers have an incentive to wait to sell.

Supply Curve Example

Should the price of soybeans rise, farmers will have an incentive to plant less corn and more soybeans, and the total quantity of soybeans on the market will increase. 

The degree to which rising prices translate into rising quantity is called supply elasticity or price elasticity of supply. If a 50% rise in soybean prices causes the number of soybeans produced to rise by 50%, the supply elasticity of soybeans is 1.

On the other hand, if a 50% rise in soybean prices only increases the quantity supplied by 10 percent, the supply elasticity is 0.2. The supply curve is shallower (closer to horizontal) for products with more elastic supply and steeper (closer to vertical) for products with less elastic supply.

Special Considerations

The terminology surrounding supply can be confusing. "Quantity" or "quantity supplied" refers to the amount of the good or service, such as tons of soybeans, bushels of tomatoes, available hotel rooms, or hours of labor. In everyday usage, this might be called the "supply," but in economic theory, "supply" refers to the curve shown above, denoting the relationship between quantity supplied and price per unit.

Other factors can also cause changes in the supply curve, such as technology. Any advances that increase production and make it more efficient can cause a shift to the right in the supply curve. Similarly, market expectations and the number of sellers (or competition) can affect the curve as well.

What Is the Law of Supply and Demand?

The law of supply and demand is an economics concept whereby the price of a good will reach an equilibrium based on the amount of that good available (the supply) and the amount that customers want (the demand).

What Is the Demand Curve?

The demand curve is the complement to the supply curve, in the law of supply and demand. Unlike the supply curve, the demand curve is downward-sloping, since the higher the price of a good, the less demand there will be for it, all else equal.

What Factors Can Affect the Supply Curve?

The supply curve can shift based on several factors including changes in production costs (e.g., raw materials and labor costs), technological progress, the level of competition and number of sellers/producers, and the regulatory & tax environment.

What Factors Can Affect the Demand Curve?

Demand is influenced by the amount of disposable income available to consumers along with consumer preferences. The presence of viable substitutes or alternatives can also shift the demand curve.

What is referred to as a graphical representation of the relationship between product price and quantity demanded of product that a consumer is willing to buy?

What is the relationship between price and quantity called?

What is the graph that shows the relationship between the price of a good and the amount of it that buyers are willing to purchase at that price?

What is a price quantity graph called?