Advertising Elasticity Of Demand - AED

A measure of a market's sensitivity to increases or decreases in advertising saturation. Advertising elasticity is a measure of an advertising campaign's effectiveness in generating new sales. It is calculated by dividing the percentage change in the quantity demanded by the percentage change in advertising expenditures. A positive advertising elasticity indicates that an increase in advertising leads to an increase in demand for the advertised good or service.

The impact of an increase in advertising expenditures has on sales varies by industry. For example, a commercial for a fairly inexpensive good, such as a hamburger, may result in a quick bump in sales. On the other hand, advertising a piece of jewelry may not see a pay back for a period of time because the good is expensive and is less likely to be purchased hastily.

Because a number of outside factors, such as the state of the economy and consumer tastes, may also result in a change in the quantity of a good demanded, the advertising elasticity of demand is not the most accurate predictor of advertising's effect on sales.