Week 11 Flashcards
what is an externality?
impact of one agent’s actions on the wellbeing of a bystander
what is a negative externality?
an externality with an adverse impact on the wellbeing of a bystander
what is the market outcome?
MB= private MC
what is the efficient outcome?
MB= Social MC
Social MC = private MC + Marginal External Cost
show social MC and private MC on a graph and DW loss
what is a positive externality?
an externality that has a beneficial impact on the welfare of bystanders
what is the market outcome for positive externalities?
MC = private MB
efficient outcome for positive externalities where
MC = social MB
social MB = Private MB + marginal external benefit
show social MB and private MB on a graph and deadweight loss
how do you remedy externalities?
internalize externalities by
- mergers
- pigouvian tax or subsidy
what is pigouvian emissions tax?
levy unit tax on polluter equal to MEC at the efficient output level
A tax levied on each unit of a polluter’s output in an amount just equal to the marginal damage it inflicts at the efficient level of output
what are issues with tax?
- informational problem
- ignores reciprocal nature of externalities
what are other remedies for externalities?
- command and control regulations
- tradable permits
describe command and control regulations as a way to remedy externalities
can come in the form of government-imposed standards, targets, process requirements, or outright bans. Such measures make certain behaviors either required or forbidden with the goal of addressing the externality . For example, the government may make it illegal for a company to dump certain chemicals in a river
what is the purpose of market-based policies such as taxes and subsidies?
provides incentives for producers to change their behavoiur
why may regulations be difficult to implement?
It requires the regulator to have in-depth knowledge of a certain industry or sphere of economic activity. If done incorrectly, regulation can introduce inefficiency. For example, if the government makes it illegal to dump in the river, the companies and their customers may suffer because the products must be produced using less efficient methods
show graph that internalizes negative externalities
what is coarse theorem
what does this example show?
what are the different combinations? what is the most efficient outcome?
Assignment of property rights
if fishery has right to clean water, what happens?
- S installs filter
- efficient outcome results
Profit for S = 300k, profit for F= 500k