Income substitution effect

If the price of a good increases, then there will be two different effects – known as the
income and substitution effect.

Income substitution effect

If the price of a good increases, then there will be two different effects – known as the
income and substitution effect.

If a good increases in price

The good is relatively more expensive than alternative goods, and therefore people
will switch to other goods which are now relatively cheaper. (substitution effect) – The
increase in price reduces disposable income and this lower income may reduce
demand. (income effect)

The substitution effect

This states that an increase in the price of a good will encourage consumers to buy
alternative goods. The substitution effect measures how much the higher price encourages
consumers to buy different goods, assuming the same level of income.

The income effect

This looks at how the price change affects consumer income. If price rises, it effectively cuts
disposable income, and there will be lower demand for the good because of this fall in
disposable income.
For example:

If the price of meat increases, then the higher price may encourage consumers to switch to
alternative food sources, such as buying vegetables.
However, with the higher price of meat, it means that after buying some meat, they will have
lower spare income. Therefore, consumers will buy less meat because of this income effect.
If a good like a diamond increases, there will be little substitution effect because there are
no alternatives to diamonds. However, a higher price of diamonds will lower demand
because of the income effect.

Income Effect vs. Substitution Effect: An Overview

The income effect expresses the impact of increased purchasing power on consumption,
while the substitution effect describes how consumption is impacted by changing relative
income and prices.

These economic concepts concern changes in the market and how they impact
consumption patterns for consumer goods and services.

Different goods and services are affected by these changes in the market in different ways.
Some products, called inferior goods, generally are purchased less whenever incomes
increase. Consumer spending on normal goods typically increases with higher purchasing
power, which is in contrast with inferior goods.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
The income effect is the change in the consumption of goods by consumers based on their
income (purchasing power).
The substitution effect happens when consumers replace cheaper items with more
expensive ones due to price changes or when their financial conditions improve, and vice-
versa.
The income effect can be both direct (when it is directly related to a change in income) or
indirect (when consumers must make buying decisions not directly related to their incomes).
A small reduction in price may make an expensive product more attractive to consumers,
which can also lead to the substitution effect.
Companies experience the substitution effect, too, e.g., when they outsource production to
take advantage of cheaper labor costs.
Income Effect
The income effect is the change in the consumption of goods based on income. This means
consumers will generally spend more if they experience an increase in income. They may
spend less if their income drops.
The effect doesn't dictate the kinds of goods consumers will buy. They may opt to purchase
more expensive goods in lesser quantities or cheaper goods in higher quantities, depending
on their circumstances and preferences.
The income effect can be both direct or indirect. When a consumer chooses to make
changes to the way they spend because of a change in income, the income effect is said to
be direct. For example, a consumer may choose to spend less on clothing because their
income has dropped.

An income effect becomes indirect when a consumer is faced with making buying choices
because of factors not related to their income. For instance, food prices may go up, leaving
the consumer with less income to spend on other items. This may force them to cut back on
dining out, resulting in an indirect income effect.

The marginal propensity to consume explains how consumers spend based on income. It is
a concept based on the balance between the spending and saving habits of consumers.

The marginal propensity to consume is included in a larger theory of macroeconomics

known as Keynesian economics. The theory draws comparisons between production,
individual income, and the tendency to spend more of it.

Substitution Effect
The substitution effect may occur when, due to a change in relative prices and finances, a
consumer replaces one product with another. That might mean switching out cheaper or
moderately priced items for ones that are more expensive.

For example, a good return on an investment or other monetary gains may prompt a
consumer to replace the older model of an expensive item for a newer one.

The inverse is true when incomes decrease. Substitution in the direction of buying lower-
priced items has a generally negative consequence on retailers because it means lower
profits. It also may mean that there are fewer options for the consumer.

While the substitution effect changes consumption patterns in favor of the more affordable
alternative, even a modest reduction in price may make a more expensive product more
attractive to consumers.

For instance, if private college tuition is more expensive than public college tuition—and
money is a concern—consumers will naturally be attracted to public colleges. But a small
decrease in private tuition costs may be enough to motivate more students to begin
attending private schools.

The substitution effect is not limited to consumers. When companies outsource part of their
operations, they are demonstrating the substitution effect. Using cheaper labor in a different
country or by hiring a third party results in a drop in costs. This nets a positive result for the
corporation, but a negative effect for the employees who may be replaced.
Key Differences
The income effect concerns change in demand for a product due to change in income
relative to market prices (purchasing power).
The substitution effect concerns change in demand for a product due to a relative change in
prices and the availability of substitutable products.
In circumstances where prices rise in a market with few products (substitutions), the income
effect may have the larger impact. Consumers may decide to stop buying a product
altogether.
On the other hand, in circumstances where prices rise for products and a market has
multiple substitution options available, the substitution effect may have the larger impact.
Consumers can choose to buy a similar product that's more affordable.
What Is the Substitution Effect?
The substitution effect is an economic concept that involves the substitution of one product
for another when there's a change in their relative pricing.

What Occurs Simultaneously With an Income Effect?

The income effect involves a change in purchasing power and a change in demand or
consumption. So, for instance, if purchasing power decreases, demand for a product
usually decreases.

What Is the Substitution Effect of a Price Change?

When the price of a product rises relative to alternative products in the same market,
consumers will substitute one of the lower priced alternatives for the now higher priced
product.