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A Theorem of the Law of Demand

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  • Hern√°n Vallejo

Abstract

This article proves that at the level of an individual ceteris paribus, when the endowments of goods in general -and of time in particular-, are taken into account, a good has to comply with the Law of Demand if it is normal and its excess demand is positive, or if it is inferior and its excess demand is negative. This result holds even if either the substitution effect is zero; or the excess demand and=or the income effect are zero; but not otherwise. This article also outlines other conditions under which a good will not comply with the Law of Demand, by being Giffen or perfectly inelastic to its price. It is proved that the widespread idea that a Giffen good has to be an inferior good applies only to the cases where the excess demand of such good, is positive. It is also argued that accounting for Veblen goods may require considering other determinants of the demand function, beyond the ones considered in this article

Suggested Citation

  • Hern√°n Vallejo, 2021. "A Theorem of the Law of Demand," Documentos CEDE 19423, Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Economía, CEDE.
    • Handle: RePEc:col:000089:019423
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    File URL: https://repositorio.uniandes.edu.co/bitstream/handle/1992/50543/dcede2021-33.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hern√°n Vallejo, 2021. "Not all Giffen Goods, are Inferior Goods," Documentos CEDE 19138, Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Economía, CEDE.
    2. Grandmont, Jean-Michel, 1987. "Distributions of Preferences and the 'Law of Demand.'," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 55(1), pages 155-161, January.
    3. Mas-Colell, Andreu & Whinston, Michael D. & Green, Jerry R., 1995. "Microeconomic Theory," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780195102680.
    4. G. Heberton Evans, 1967. "The Law of Demand — The Roles of Gregory King and Charles Davenant," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 81(3), pages 483-492.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D01 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles
    • D11 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Theory
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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