Movements vs Shifts of Demand Curve
Demand
AO2·AO4·Diagram required
Syllabus requirement
Movement along the curve caused by price change vs. shifts caused by non-price factors.
Assessment objectives
AO2 Application and AnalysisAO4 Use of Appropriate Skills
Required diagram: A movement along the demand curve happens when a change in the quantity demanded is solely due to a change in price and vice versa. A shift of the demand curve happens when a non-price determinant (like income, tastes, prices of related goods, or expectations) changes, causing the whole curve to move left (decrease in demand) or right (increase in demand).
Summary
This topic explains the difference between a movement along a demand curve and a shift of the entire demand curve. A movement along the curve happens when price changes cause the quantity demanded to expand or contract; a shift occurs when a non-price determinant (such as income, tastes, prices of related goods, expectations, or the number of buyers) changes so that demand is higher or lower at every price. Understanding this distinction is essential for analysing how markets respond to price signals versus other economic influences.
