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Snicker Game: Demand and Elasticity Exercise

The document outlines a classroom activity called the 'Snicker game' designed to teach students about market demand and elasticity through practical exercises. Students simulate purchasing decisions over several days, adjusting to price changes and income variations, while discussing the implications of these changes on demand curves. The activity culminates in a homework assignment that requires students to analyze economic issues in a news article.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
67 views2 pages

Snicker Game: Demand and Elasticity Exercise

The document outlines a classroom activity called the 'Snicker game' designed to teach students about market demand and elasticity through practical exercises. Students simulate purchasing decisions over several days, adjusting to price changes and income variations, while discussing the implications of these changes on demand curves. The activity culminates in a homework assignment that requires students to analyze economic issues in a news article.

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entertainment
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Snicker game

Resources:
Worksheets King size King size twix
Carton of milk snicker Bottle of coke

Discuss HWK due in - Write an explanation of the market –

 Who are the buyers and the sellers in these markets?


 How does each group make decisions about purchases?

 What factors affect the efficiency of the market?

Set tables up into 2 ½ of an arc…. To preset 2 groups (or more depending on


class size – aim for 5-7 students per group)

Intro concept of game to be able to introduce them to the practicalities of


Demand issues before starting to learn the theory! Each day is new and they
have £5 to spend on products (each priced £1) and NO they can’t go
shopping else where other than from my store….. and that they MUST spend
all of their £5
(5 mins max)

The game
STAGE ONE – 1st page
Day one – spend your money –INDIVIDUALLY note D for each product
Day two – peanut crisis – SNICKERS go up to £2 - INDIVIDUALLY note D for
each product
Day three – peanut crisis ends – back to £1 but now have ‘student grants’ so
income now £8 - INDIVIDUALLY note D for each product

DAY 4 – add into sheet….. peanut crisis with £8 spending… what would
be your preferences???

STAGE TWO – 2nd page

In ‘natural’ groups – note your ‘MARKET QUANTITIES’ – i.e. add up the totals
for DAY ONE…

Now draw Demand curve

Discuss shape…what’s happened has D gone up or down with an increase in


price? Is it positive or negative – what has been their RESPONSE…?

STAGE THREE – 3rd page

Elasticity - go through the math on the board…


If responsive i.e. big change then = elastic (between 1 to infinite)
If very little change in D with P increase = inelastic (between 0 and 1)
If NO change in D = perfectly inelastic (exactly 0)
If exact % changes (10% and 10%) then unitary elastic (exactly 1)

STAGE 4 –
Income elasticity – income £5 to £8 and calculate elasticity…
An income elasticity is calculated and the students are asked to formulate ideas about the
relationship between this product and income (i.e., normal good or inferior good). Although
it is extremely difficult in this type of experiment to develop a product which is an inferior good,
in the discussion following the experiment it is straightforward to include a discussion of the way
in which an inferior good would have behaved (i.e., the curve would have shifted to the left
rather than to the right).

DRAW a 2nd NEW Demand curve on original chart…. Should show a


SHIFT in D

Put note on sheet …


A change in price is a movement along the Demand curve
A change in income is a shift of the Demand curve

Stage 5 – Cross elasticity

complementary goods, substitute goods, or non-related goods

HWK – news article on Economic issues – ONE plus summer work for 3
= 4 in total….

Common questions

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The game uses price changes to teach students that these represent movements along the demand curve. By recording how demand shifts when prices fluctuate, students learn the direct correlation between price movements and quantity demanded, helping them concretize the relationship between price changes and movements along versus shifts of the demand curve .

The peanut crisis in the game increases the price of Snickers from £1 to £2, examining how demand responds to this price change. If the demand significantly decreases, it indicates that Snickers are elastic, meaning consumers are sensitive to price changes. Conversely, if demand changes little, Snickers would be inelastic, showing consumers are less price-sensitive .

The game shows how increased income from £5 to £8 results in higher demand for goods, illustrating normal goods, where demand rises with income. While the game doesn't create a scenario for inferior goods, it discusses that if a product were inferior, the demand would decrease as income increased, shifting the curve leftward instead .

Cross elasticity is discussed in terms of how demand for one product might change in response to the price change of another product. In the game, if Snickers and Twix are substitutes, a price increase in Snickers could lead to higher Twix demand. Conversely, if they are complements, like a bottle of coke with Snickers, the demand for coke might decrease if the price of Snickers increases .

Requiring students to spend all their income simulates budget constraints, highlighting prioritization and trade-offs in consumer behavior. It underscores the necessity of allocating finite resources efficiently, demonstrating how consumers make purchasing decisions based on preferences, price changes, and available income .

Students can calculate unitary elasticity if they observe that demand changes proportionally with price changes. For example, if a 10% price increase results in an exact 10% decrease in demand, the product demonstrates unitary elasticity, as discussed through elasticity calculations in the game .

The game's structure allows students to see how efficient markets operate when individuals make rational decisions with given constraints. Factors such as price changes, income variations, and preferences illustrate how efficiently goods are allocated. If students quickly adjust their purchases based on price or income changes, it reflects an efficient market, responding dynamically to new information .

Introducing a 'peanut crisis' as a price-altering event provides a realistic and engaging scenario to explore market dynamics. Students must adapt their strategies, reflecting how real market participants respond to sudden supply shocks and price changes. This enhances understanding of supply-side disruptions and their effects on demand .

The game simulates real-world market scenarios by allowing students limited purchasing options and varying factors like price changes and income levels. This requires them to make strategic decisions on spending, similar to real consumers and firms who must adapt to market conditions. The game also introduces the concept of demand curves and elasticity, fundamental tools in evaluating market dynamics .

In the game, when student income increases from £5 to £8, it represents a shift in the demand curve. With more income, students can purchase more goods, demonstrating that a change in income causes a shift, not just movement, along the demand curve. This reflects the concept of normal goods, where demand increases as income rises .

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