inferior product

inferior product

a good or service for which the INCOME ELASTICITY OF DEMAND is negative; i.e. as income rises, buyers purchase less of the product. Consequently when the price of such a product falls, thereby effectively increasing consumers’ real income, then that price cut will have the INCOME EFFECT of tending to decrease the quantity demanded. This will tend to partially offset the SUBSTITUTION EFFECT of a price cut, which causes consumers to buy more of the product because it is now relatively cheaper. This applies to a very limited range of products. See PRICE EFFECT, NORMAL PRODUCT, INCOME CONSUMPTION CURVE, ENGEL'S LAW.