The market for electricity in a particular region has the following supply and demand curves: QD=200,000-4,000P, QS=50,000+2,000P.
Electricity generation results in carbon emissions that have a marginal external cost (MEC) given by MEC=0.00005Q.
- Calculate the competitive price and quantity when there is no regulation.
- What is the socially efficient price and quantity of electricity?
- Display graphically the costs and benefits to society of allowing the market to operate in an unregulated manner.
- On the same graph, show the Pigouvian tax that would lead to the socially efficient quantity of electricity.