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Chapter 13: Q.13 (page 316)

What are the two key characteristics of public goods?

Short Answer

Expert verified

Public goods are nonexcludable and non-rival.

Step by step solution

01

Content Introduction

Market producers cannot sell public goods to individual consumers because they are produced for the entire society. All products subsidized by taxes, on the other hand, are not considered public goods.

02

Content Explanation

Two essential characteristics of a public good are nonexcludable and nonrivalry. The term "nonexcludable" refers to the fact that one consumer cannot or will not be able to prevent another from using the goods. The phrase "non-rival" refers to the fact that one person's use of a product does not prevent others from doing so as well.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

HighFlyer Airlines wants to build new airplanes with greatly increased cabin space. This will allow HighFlyer Airlines to give passengers more comfort and sell more tickets at a higher price. However, redesigning the cabin means rethinking many other elements of the airplane as well, like engine and luggage placement, and the most efficient shape of the plane for moving through the air. HighFlyer Airlines has developed a list of possible methods to increase cabin space, along with estimates of how these approaches would affect the plane's operating costs and ticket sales. Based on these estimates, Table 13.5 shows the value of R&D projects that provide at least a certain private rate of return. Column 1 = Private Rate of Return. Column 2 = Value of R&D Projects that Return at Least the Private Rate of Return to HighFlyer Airlines. Use the data to answer the following questions.

Private rate of returnValue of R&D
12%\(100
10%\)200
8%\(300
6%\)400
4%$500

a. If the opportunity cost of financial capital for HighFlyer Airlines is 6%, how much should the firm invest in R&D?

b. Assume that the social rate of return for R&D is an additional 2% on top of the private return; that is, an R&D investment that had a 7% private return to HighFlyer Airlines would have a 9% social return. How much investment is socially optimal at the 6% interest rate?

Assume that the marginal private costs of a firm producing fuel-efficient cars is greater than the marginal social costs. Assume that the marginal private benefits of a firm producing fuel-efficient cars is the same as the marginal social benefits. Discuss one way that the government can try to increase production and sales of fuel efficient cars to the socially desirable amount. Hint: the government is trying to affect production through costs, not benefits.

What can government do to encourage the development of new technology?

Radio stations, tornado sirens, light houses, and street lights are all public goods in that all are nonrivalrous and nonexclusionary. Therefore why does the government provide tornado sirens, street lights and light houses but not radio stations (other than PBS stations)?

The Junkbuyers Company travels from home to home, looking for opportunities to buy items that would otherwise end up with the garbage, but which the company can resell or recycle. Which will be larger, the private or the social benefits?
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