Question

What is the difference between a change in demand and a change in quantity demanded?

Short answer

A change in demand refers to a shift in the whole demand curve due to factors other than price, indicating a difference in the quantity that consumers are willing to purchase at the same price. A change in quantity demanded refers to a movement along the same demand curve due to changes in price, indicating a difference in the quantity that consumers are willing to purchase at different prices.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding a Change in Demand

A change in demand refers to the shift of the demand curve in an economy. This shift can either be towards the right (an increase in demand) or towards the left (a decrease in demand). The shift implies that at the same price, consumers are willing to purchase a different quantity of goods or services. The reasons for a shift in the demand can include changes in the consumers' income, tastes or preferences, prices of related goods or services, expectations for future prices, and population or demographic changes.

Understanding a Change in Quantity Demanded

A change in quantity demanded, on the other hand, refers to movement along the same demand curve with changes in price. In other words, a rise in the price of a product results in its decreased quantity demanded and vice versa, when we hold everything else constant. The change in quantity demanded is a reaction to the change in price only.

Comparing the Two Concepts

In summary, the difference between a change in demand and a change in quantity demanded is primarily in the fact that the former represents a shift in the demand curve, affected by various factors other than price, while the latter represents a movement along the same demand curve, affected by changes in price only.