Elasticity is a fundamental concept in economics, with applications in analyzing many markets and industries. It is used to gauge the responsiveness of buyers and producers to price changes, taxation, and other market influences.

In economics, elasticity measures the degree of sensitivity of one economic factor when another is changed; elasticity is typically quantified by a numerical coefficient. Examples of factors impacted by changes in elasticity include the demand and supply of certain goods, the relationship between price and quantity of goods consumed, or the demand for a certain good versus changes in income.

Buyer or consumer elasticity refers to the tendency for individuals to reduce or increase demand for a good or service in response to a change in price. When the coefficient of elasticity is less than 1, it is considered inelastic. Examples of inelastic goods and services include items such as food, gasoline, prescription drugs, and public transportation; individuals still need to purchase these items even when the price changes, leading to a relatively static demand. By contrast, elastic demand occurs when there is a noticeable shift in the overall quantity of a good or service being purchased in response to a change in price – an example would be clothing or electronics, for which buyers will often adjust their spending if prices decline.

Supply elasticity, meanwhile, is a measure of how sensitive the supply of a good or service is to a change in price. The general rule is that if supply is more elastic, i.e its coefficient is greater than 1, then producers have greater flexibility in adjusting the quantity of goods and services supplied. Generally speaking, the ability of producers to increase or decrease supply in response to price changes is a key element of how price stability is maintained in a market economy.

In addition, cross elasticity measures the impact of a change in price of one good on the demand for a related good. Generally, a high cross elasticity indicates a strong relationship between two products, whereas a low coefficient implies a weak relationship. For example, a case of high cross elasticity would occur if one good were an easy substitute for another, as in the case of beef and pork, with consumers quickly switching demand if either price falls significantly.

In conclusion, elasticity is an important concept in economics, and is used to identify and analyze the specific ways in which the price and quantity demanded of certain goods and services are impacted by changes in economic factors. Depending on the level of elasticity, certain market strategies may be prudent in order to minimize losses or take advantage of price fluctuations.