Question

Taxicab fares in most cities are regulated. Several years ago taxicab drivers in Boston obtained permission to raise their feres 10 percent, and they anticipated that revenues would increase by about 10 percent as a result. They were disappointed, however. When the commissioner granted the 10 percent increase, revenues increased by only about 5 percent. What can you infer about the elasticity of demand for taxicab rides? What were taxicab drivers assuming about the elasticity of demand?

Answer 1

Let's start by assuming that the taxi ride demand is extremely elastic, to the extent that it is vertically sluggish! If the cabbies raise the fair price by 10% from 10.00 per mile to 11.00 per kilometre, the number of riders remains 20.

Total income before fair growth= 20* 10= 200.

Total income following fair growth = 11* 20= 220.

A 10% increase in the fare therefore leads to a 10% increase in the driver's revenue.

Therefore, the assumption in this situation is that the cab drivers think the taxi driving requirement is highly inelastic.

The demand curve facing the drivers of the cab is still inelastic, but not vertically bent.

When the rate increased from 10% to 11, riders declined from 20% to 19%

Total revenue before fair growth is 20* 10= 200

The gap between revenue and fair growth is 19* 11= 209

This means that a realistic 10% raise doesn't result in a 10% boost on income Because the market curve for taxi rides is not 100% inelastic, but rather low inelastic, so that a fair increase (control) allows consumers to lose their incomes.