What is meant by the term discrimination?

Answer 1

Answer: Price discrimination is the practice of one retailer, wholesaler, or manufacturer charging different prices for the same items to different customer. This is a widespread practice that does not necessarily imply negative discrimination. Early forms of price discrimination certainly existed in Jim Crow law states, where a black consumer might very likely pay more for the same quantity and items than a white consumer would. In general, this type of price discrimination is very rare today.

Price discrimination, as it is now understood, is separated into degrees. First, second and third degree price discrimination exist and apply to different pricing methods used by companies. Much depends on the understanding of the market in segments, and also the consumer's ability to pay a higher or lower price, called elasticity of demand. A person who might pay more for an item is thought to have a low elasticity of demand. Another person who will not pay as much has a high elasticity of demand.