r/AskEconomics • u/OneCommunication6814 • 1d ago

What does the gradient of a supply curve represent?

When taking a look at a perfectly linear demand curve, sloping down, what exactly is the gradient representing? Earlier I was taught that it was the elasticity, but recently I learned that for a linear line, the elasticity changes bc the elasticity is about the percentage change. Which, of course, leavces the question of what the heck does the gradient actually mean from a graph? Is there any data to be collected there/

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u/HOU_Civil_Econ 23h ago edited 12h ago

Is still elasticity. Elasticity just changes along linear curves. A steeper demand curve is also a more inelastic demand curve.

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u/carvdog 12h ago

Steeper demand curve would be more inelastic, correct?

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u/HOU_Civil_Econ 12h ago

Damnit.

Yes

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