Shift in Demand and Movement along Demand Curve

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A shift in demand means at the same price, consumers wish to buy more. A movement along the demand curve occurs following a change in price.

Movement along the demand curve

A change in price causes a movement along the demand curve. It can either be contraction (less demand) or expansion/extension. (more demand)

movement-along-demand-curve

Contraction in demand. An increase in price from $12 to $16 causes a movement along the demand curve, and quantity demand falls from 80 to 60. We say this is a contraction in demand

Expansion in demand. A fall in price from $16 to $12 leads to an expansion (increase) in demand. As price falls, there is a movement along the demand curve and more is bought.

movement-along-demand

A change in price doesn’t shift the demand curve – we merely move from one point of the demand curve to another.

Shift in the Demand Curve

shift-in-demand

A shift in the demand curve occurs when the whole demand curve moves to the right or left. For example, an increase in income would mean people can afford to buy more widgets even at the same price.

The demand curve could shift to the right for the following reasons:

  • The good became more popular (e.g. fashion changes or successful advertising campaign)
  • The price of a substitute good increased.
  • The price of a complement good decreased.
  • A rise in incomes (assuming the good is a normal good, with positive YED)
  • Seasonal factors.

Evaluation – Time period

In the real world, a higher price could cause a movement along the demand curve, but in the long-term, it could cause a shift as consumers respond to the persistently higher prices.

For example, if there is an increase in the price of petrol, there would be a movement along the demand curve, and a smaller quantity would be bought. However, there is likely to be only a small fall in demand because the demand for petrol tends to be quite price inelastic.
higher-price-oil-elasticity-time-lag
However, in the long term, the demand curve may shift to left as well because people respond to the higher price by looking for alternatives, for example, they buy an electric car and so no longer need petrol.
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51 thoughts on “Shift in Demand and Movement along Demand Curve”

  2. I can’t believe I didn’t understand this stuff until I read this. My economics book doesn’t explain anything very well, especially not the difference between movement along the demand curve and a shift in the demand curve

    So thank you so much, this is going to be extremely helpful for the tests I get to retake tomorrow!

        • when there is a :
          1. decrease in individual income
          2. Negative change in taste and technological advancement bringing superior products ( we don’t want windows 1998 anymore)
          3. population is decreasing in an economy
          4. price of substitute product goes down (coffee price goes down, demand of tea will go down)
          5. Price of complementary products going up (sugar price goes up, demand for tea will go down)
          6. If the price of a product is supposed to fall in the future (future expectation), the demand for that product goes down.

          all of these factors normally cause a leftward shift in demand curve.

  5. wow!….I can now wear a smile on my face having understood the concept…..it’s so precise and easy to understand.Thankyou.

  6. Waoooo that’s great . It’s too helpfull for all students . Thank you so much to make me understood very easily . Thank you 😌

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