In 2010, Americans smoked 315 billion cigarettes, or 15.75 billion packs of cigarettes. The average retail price (including taxes) was about $5.00 per pack. Statistical studies have shown that the price elasticity of demand is 0.4, and the price elasticity of supply is 0.5.
a. Using this information, derive linear demand and supply curves for the cigarette market.
b. In 1998, Americans smoked 23.5 billion packs cigarettes, and the retail price was about $2.00 per pack. The decline in cigarette consumption from 1998 to 2010 was due in part to greater public awareness of the health hazards from smoking, but was also due in part to the increase in price. Suppose that the entire decline was due to the increase in price. What could you deduce from that about the price elasticity of demand?