Market failure Flashcards
Formula for positive externality of consumption
MPB < MSB
Solutions to positive externalities of consumption
- subsidise firms
- direct govt provision
- positive advertisement
- legislation
Problems with subsidizing firms (for positive externalities of consumption)
- cost for govt (opportunity cost)
- production inefficiencies because part of the producer’s revenue is guaranteed by the govt
Problems with direct govt provision (for positive externalities of consumption)
- cost to govt (opportunity cost)
- bad quality of good or service (the govt might be less efficient than the private firms that provide it)
- private firms may be dissuaded from investing in the industry because the govt will provide for it anayway
problems with positive advertising (for positive externalities of consumption)
cost for govt might be high (opportunity cost)
problems with legislations (for positive externalities of consumption)
- will only be successful if the govt provides the good/service free of charge
- some people might see it as an infringement of their rights
- there is additional cost in enforcing the law
formula for positive externality of production
MSC < MPC
solutions to positive externalities of production
direct govt provision, subsidies
problems with direct govt provision (for positive externalities of production)
- opportunity cost for govt
- govt might lack expertise found in firms
- private firms may be dissuaded from investing in the industry
problems with subsidies
(as a method of correcting positive externalities of consumption)
- difficult for govt to estimate the level of subsidy each firm deserves
- opportunity cost for govt
formula for negative externality of consumption
MPB > MSB
solutions to negative externalities of consumption
- banning or regulating the good
- indirect tax
- negative advertisement (education)
problems with banning or regulating the good
(as a solution for negative externalities of consumption)
- negative effect on shareholders and unemployment
- effect of govt revenue because it stops receiving taxes from that industry
- negative reaction from consumers
- additional costs of enforcing the law
problems with indirect taxes (for negative externality of consumption)
- often taxed goods tend to be inelastic so consumption isn’t always decreased
- black markets might appear
problems with negative advertisement / education (for negative externality of consumption)
- opportunity cost for the govt
- doubts about effectiveness