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Demand Shifters Cause-Effect Map

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About This MicroSim

This MicroSim teaches the five TRIBE factors that shift the entire demand curve left or right: Tastes, Related goods, Income, Buyers (number of), and Expectations. Unlike a change in the good's own price (which causes movement along the curve), these factors shift the whole curve to a new position. Students click on each TRIBE factor card to see the demand curve animate its shift, with a real-world example and explanation for each factor. The original curve remains visible as a dashed line so students can compare the before and after positions.

How to Use

  1. Click on any TRIBE factor card on the right side of the simulation (T, R, I, B, or E). The demand curve will animate a shift to the right, and the original curve will appear as a dashed "D1" line.
  2. Read the example on each card to understand a concrete scenario that would cause this shift (for example, "Coffee becomes trendy on TikTok" for Tastes).
  3. Read the explanation at the bottom of the graph, which states the direction of the shift and shows how quantity demanded at a given price changes before and after the shift.
  4. Click the same card again to deselect it and return the curve to its original position.
  5. Click "Reset Curve" at the bottom to clear any shift and return to the starting state.
  6. Compare different factors by clicking through each card to see that all five TRIBE factors shift the curve in the same direction (rightward for an increase).

Iframe Embed Code

You can add this MicroSim to any web page by adding this to your HTML:

<iframe src="https://dmccreary.github.io/economics-course/sims/demand-shifters/main.html"
        height="482px"
        width="100%"
        scrolling="no"></iframe>

Lesson Plan

Grade Level

9-12 (High School Economics)

Duration

10-15 minutes

Prerequisites

  • Understanding of the law of demand and how to read a demand curve
  • Knowledge of the difference between a movement along the demand curve and a shift of the curve

Activities

  1. Exploration (5 min): Click through each of the five TRIBE factor cards and record the name, real-world example, and direction of shift for each one. Use the mnemonic TRIBE to memorize the five demand shifters.
  2. Guided Practice (5 min): Select the "Income" factor and observe the rightward shift. Discuss with a partner: if this were an inferior good (like instant noodles), which direction would the curve shift when income rises? Then select "Related Goods" and explain why an increase in a substitute's price shifts demand for coffee to the right.
  3. Assessment (5 min): For each scenario below, identify which TRIBE factor applies and predict the shift direction: (a) A health study shows green tea prevents colds, (b) A new housing development adds 500 families to a neighborhood, (c) Consumers expect a supply shortage of gasoline next month.

Assessment

  • Students can name all five TRIBE demand shifters from memory
  • Students can distinguish between a shift of the demand curve and a movement along it
  • Students can identify which TRIBE factor applies to a given real-world scenario and predict the direction of the shift

References

  1. Demand - Wikipedia - Overview of demand theory including factors that shift the demand curve.
  2. Factors That Change Demand - Khan Academy - Detailed lesson on the non-price determinants of demand.
  3. Demand Curve Shifts - Investopedia - Explanation of what causes the demand curve to shift and how to interpret those changes.