Dec 21, 2007

Key determinant

In most markets, a key determinant of the price elasticity of supply is the time
period being considered. Supply is usually more elastic in the long run than in the
short run. Over short periods of time, firms cannot easily change the size of their
factories to make more or less of a good. Thus, in the short run, the quantity supplied
is not very responsive to the price. By contrast, over longer periods, firms can
build new factories or close old ones. In addition, new firms can enter a market,
and old firms can shut down. Thus, in the long run, the quantity supplied can respond
substantially to the price.

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