--%>

Question on Demand-Supply curves

Assume that the market for cigarettes in a specific town has the given supply and demand curves: QS = P; QD = 50 − P, here the quantities are evaluated in thousands of units. Assume that the town council requires raising $300,000 in revenue and decides to do this by taxing the cigarette market. What must be the excise tax in order to increase the needed amount of money?

E

Expert

Verified

Let assume that the needed tax is $T. Then in equilibrium, PD = PS + T. This entails that 50 – Q = Q + T, or Q = 25 – 0.5T.  As the needed quantity is $300,000, we should have T*Q = 600. (Keep in mind that Q is measured in thousands of units). Therefore T (25 – 0.5T) = 600. By solving this equation we obtain two possible values for tax: T = $20 or T = $30.  Either one would produce $300,000 in tax revenues, although of course T = $20 would do so with much smaller deadweight loss.

   Related Questions in Microeconomics

  • Q : Essay why is marginal revenue

    why is marginal revenue product=marginal resource cost a formula for profit maximization?

  • Q : Find price elasticity of demand for

    Suppose yearly steel sales double to 80 million tons while the price falls $40 per ton, to $180 per ton. Therefore price elasticity of demand for steel is approximately: (w) 3.333. (x) 10.000. (y) 2.500. (z) 6.667.

    Q : Marginal revenue for purely competitive

    For a purely competitive firm and for a nondiscriminating unregulated monopolist, the marginal revenue is: (1) identical to the price per unit of output. (2) equal to marginal cost when profit is maximized. (3) greate

  • Q : Main deficiencies of current welfare

    Not among main deficiencies of the current welfare system is which it sometimes: (w) gives low benefits to the poor relative to total budgetary outlays. (x) collects taxes from the poor to provide benefits to the rich. (y) yields effective marginal ta

  • Q : Principle of equal marginal utilities

    The thought that, in equilibrium, the more you pay for the good, more it is worth (that is, at the margin) to you is most intimately associated to the: (1) Law of diminishing returns. (2) Equivalent satisfaction corollary. (3) Veblen effect. (4) Rising cost hypothesis

  • Q : Estimate elasticity of supply When a 20

    When a 20 percent price hike causes quantity supplied to develop 50 percent, elasticity of supply is just about: (w) 5/2. (x) 2/5. (y) 2. (z) 1/2. Please choose the right answer from above...I want your suggestion

  • Q : Statement of Demand Prices I have a

    I have a problem in economics on Statement of Demand Prices. Please help me in the following question. Demand prices are stated as the relative: (1) Prices sellers charge for goods whether we purchase or not. (2) Values that individual subjectively put on having a bit

  • Q : Demand curve of an oligopolist The

    The demand curve an oligopolist faces is kinked at the current price when other firms into the industry: (1) face unitary elasticity of demand at their current output levels.(2) will match any price cuts although not price hikes. (3)

  • Q : Joint Profit Maximization Joint profit

    Joint profit maximization is least compatible along with the behavior of: (w) General Motors’ division in Chevrolet, Cadillac, Hummer, Delco Remy and Frigidaire, etc. (x) a successful cartel as like OPEC. (y) a collusive agreement leading to sha

  • Q : Enter an industry by barriers to entry

    Barriers to entry: (w) make this complicated or impossible for new firms to profitably enter an industry. (x) uniformly violate U.S. antitrust statutes. (y) are fundamentally technological instead of economic. (z) stimulate aggressive competition.