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According to the source, when supply of a taxed good is more inelastic than its demand, who ends up bearing most of the tax burden?
AThe tax cannot be applied here
BThe burden always splits evenly
CMainly the sellers bear it
DMainly the buyers bear it
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. Mainly the sellers bear it
1. Tax incidence falls more heavily on whichever side of the market is less able to adjust quantity in response to price.
2. Sellers with inelastic supply cannot easily reduce the quantity they offer to avoid the tax.
3. When supply is more inelastic than demand, sellers bear most of the tax burden.
4. There is no fixed rule that the burden always splits evenly; it depends on the relative elasticities of demand and supply.
_Source: OpenStax Principles of Microeconomics for AP Courses (CC BY 4.0), Ch 5 "Elasticity", section 5.3 | Elasticity and Pricing_
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