Chapter 31: Q. 31.1LO (page 692)
Distinguish between private costs and social costs and understand market externalities and possible ways to correct them.
Short Answer
Social marginal costs so when customer paid all private and external cost.
Chapter 31: Q. 31.1LO (page 692)
Distinguish between private costs and social costs and understand market externalities and possible ways to correct them.
Social marginal costs so when customer paid all private and external cost.
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Get started for freeOne possible method for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide is to inject the gases into deep saltwater-laden rock formations, where they would be trapped for thousands of years. Suppose that the federal government provides a fixed per-unit subsidy to firms that utilize this technology in West Virginia and other locales where such rock formations are known to exist.
a. Consider the effects of the government subsidy on the production and sale of equipment that injects greenhouse gases into underground rock formations. What happens to the market clearing price of such pollution abatement equipment?
b. Who pays to achieve the results discussed in part (a)?
The market price of insecticide is initially per unit. To address a negative externality in this market, the government decides to charge producers of insecticide for the privilege of polluting during the production process. A fee that fully takes into account the social costs of pollution is determined, and once it is put into effect, the market supply curve for insecticide shifts upward by per unit. The market price of insecticide also increases, to per unit. What fee is the government charging insecticide manufacturers?
Explain why a society usually would not determine that a degree of 0 per cent air cleanliness is optimal.
Take a look at Figure 31-2. Suppose that initially, society experiences a degree of air cleanliness that is lower than Q0. What would be true of the marginal benefit in relation to the marginal cost, and why would this fact induce society to increase the degree of air cleanliness toward Q0?
Consider the diagram in Problem , and answer the following questions.
a. Suppose that a new technology for reducing water pollution generates a reduction in the marginal cost of pollution abatement at every degree of water cleanliness. After this event occurs, will the optimal percentage degree of water cleanliness rise or fall? Will the cost incurred for the last unit of water cleanup increase or decrease? Provide a diagram to assist in your explanation.
b. Suppose that the event discussed in part (a) occurs and that, in addition, medical studies determine that the marginal benefit from water pollution abatement is higher at every degree of water cleanliness. Following both events, will the optimal percentage degree of water cleanliness increase or decrease? In comparison with the initial optimum, can you determine whether the cost incurred for the last unit of water cleanup will increase or decrease? Use a new diagram to assist in explaining your answers.
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