--%>
Assignment Help - homework help

External costs and external benefits

Question:

(a)         Explain the impact of external costs and external benefits on resource allocation;

(b)         Why are public goods not produced in sufficient quantities by private markets?

(c)         Which of the following are examples of public goods (or services)? Delete the incorrect option

Explain your choice.

  (i)       The Judicial system       ..................................................................................................................... Yes/No

  (ii)      Pencils       ........................................................................................................................................... Yes/No

  (iii)     The quarantine service    ................................................................................................................. Yes/No

  (iv)     The Great Wall of China....................................................................................................................... Yes/No

  (v)      Contact lenses       ............................................................................................................................. Yes/No

Summary:

The question is about externalities affecting resource allocation, public goods and their implication on the profit of a firm have been answered.

Answer:

(a)     External costs and benefits, known as externalities; can affect resource allocation in both positive and negative manner. A negative externality can increase the cost of operations, and this is mainly due to the harmful effect of one industry's or economic agent's operation on the other. An example may be the effect of a factory dumping its waste in a river, which adversely affects the operations of fishing industry. On the other hand, a positive externality helps reduce the cost of operation in one sector due to favourable operation in other sector. An example in case is a highly educated person living in a locality and teaching people about good effects of sanitation, which leads to a decline in healthcare costs of the locality.

(b)  The private markets take into account only the direct benefits accruing to the producer in the calculation of profit optimization. However, public goods by their very nature are non-rival and non-excludable. This generates positive externalities and hence creates social benefits which are not taken into account by the private producers. This leads to an under-provision of public goods in the private market.

(c)

  • Yes
  • No
  • Yes
  • Yes
  • No

   Related Questions in Microeconomics

  • Q : Complementary Goods-Purchasing goods

    Subsequent to Judith buys an American eagle shirt at the mall for 50 percent off, she purchases the matching purse, skirt and earrings. Such extra purchases are illustrations of: (i) Complementary goods. (ii) Substitute goods. (iii) Numbers and ages of the buyers. (iv

    		•
  • Q : Elucidate the merits of mixed economy

    Elucidate the merits of mixed economy system?

    		•
  • Q : Problem on competitive equilibrium

    The economy consists of an equal number of smokers (S-types) and asthma sufferers (A-types). Good 1 is cigarettes, good 2 is “other stuff.” S-types have the utility function: xS1 + xS

    		•
  • Q : Maximizes profit by producing at total

    When the wholesale price P = $4 per dozen roses, it purely competitive increased farm maximizes profit through producing ___ dozen roses at a total (profit /loss) of $___. (1) zero; loss; $2000. (2) 2000; loss; $1500. (3) 3000;profit;

    		•
  • Q : More unit gains marginal revenue by

    A firm which can sell each and every unit of its production at a price of $200 and that sells 500 more units gains marginal revenue by the additional units of: (w) $500,000. (x) $100,000. (y) $200. (z) $10,000. I n

    		•
  • Q : Perpetuities with fixed amount of money

    A security which promises to pay a fixed amount of money annually till the issuer purchases this from an owner is termed as a: (i) present value. (ii) future value. (iii) perpetuity. (iv) residual. (v) trust fund.

  • Q : Problem on numbers of Buyers Even when

    Even when each household’s demand curve didn’t shift, the market demand for the butter would increase if there were a raise in: (1) House-hold income. (2) People’s preferences for the butter. (3) Population. (4) Price of margarine.

    		•
  • Q : Determine the equilibrium prises When

    When both sellers and potential buyers suppose prices for rider lawn mowers to raise as summer approaches, in that case throughout March and April (in the short run), the equilibrium: (w) price falls but quantity changes are ambiguous. (x) price rises

    		•
  • Q : Economies of Scale problem Can someone

    Can someone please help me in finding out the accurate answer from the following question. When average production costs reduce as the total production of a firm rises, the firm is experiencing: (i) Economies of the scale. (ii) Economies of scope. (iii) Diseconomies o

    		•
  • Q : Shutdown point in minimum revenue for

    The minimum revenue which will induce a firm to produce a specified output in place of shutting down into the short run is the: (a) maximum such consumers are willing to pay for that output. (b) total variable cost of producing such output. (c) short-

    		•