3. The effect of negative externalities on the optimal quantityof consumption Consider the market for pharmaceuticals. Suppose that a pharmaceutical factory dumps toxic waste into a nearby river, creating a negative externality for those living downstream from the factory. Producing additional pharmaceuticals imposes a constant per-unit external cost of $240. The following graph shows the demand (private value) curve and the supply (private cost) curve for pharmaceuticals. Use the purple points (diamond symbol) to plot the social cost curve when the external cost is $240 per unit. 800 720 640 560 480 400 PRICE (Dollars per unit of pharmaceuticals) 320 240 160 80 ° D " " ㅁ Supply (Private Cost) Demand (Private Value) 0 0 1 3 5 6 QUANTITY (Units of pharmaceuticals) Social Cost The market equilibrium quantity is units of pharmaceuticals, but the socially optimal quantity of pharmaceuticals production is units. To create an incentive for the firm to produce the socially optimal quantity of pharmaceuticals, the government could impose a per unit of pharmaceuticals.
3. The effect of negative externalities on the optimal quantityof consumption Consider the market for pharmaceuticals. Suppose that a pharmaceutical factory dumps toxic waste into a nearby river, creating a negative externality for those living downstream from the factory. Producing additional pharmaceuticals imposes a constant per-unit external cost of $240. The following graph shows the demand (private value) curve and the supply (private cost) curve for pharmaceuticals. Use the purple points (diamond symbol) to plot the social cost curve when the external cost is $240 per unit. 800 720 640 560 480 400 PRICE (Dollars per unit of pharmaceuticals) 320 240 160 80 ° D " " ㅁ Supply (Private Cost) Demand (Private Value) 0 0 1 3 5 6 QUANTITY (Units of pharmaceuticals) Social Cost The market equilibrium quantity is units of pharmaceuticals, but the socially optimal quantity of pharmaceuticals production is units. To create an incentive for the firm to produce the socially optimal quantity of pharmaceuticals, the government could impose a per unit of pharmaceuticals.
Chapter1: Making Economics Decisions
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
Transcribed Image Text:3. The effect of negative externalities on the optimal quantityof consumption
Consider the market for pharmaceuticals. Suppose that a pharmaceutical factory dumps toxic waste into a nearby river, creating a negative externality
for those living downstream from the factory. Producing additional pharmaceuticals imposes a constant per-unit external cost of $240. The following
graph shows the demand (private value) curve and the supply (private cost) curve for pharmaceuticals.
Use the purple points (diamond symbol) to plot the social cost curve when the external cost is $240 per unit.
800
720
640
560
480
400
PRICE (Dollars per unit of pharmaceuticals)
320
240
160
80
°
D
"
"
ㅁ
Supply
(Private Cost)
Demand
(Private Value)
0
0
1
3
5
6
QUANTITY (Units of pharmaceuticals)
Social Cost
The market equilibrium quantity is
units of pharmaceuticals, but the socially optimal quantity of pharmaceuticals production is
units.
To create an incentive for the firm to produce the socially optimal quantity of pharmaceuticals, the government could impose a
per unit of pharmaceuticals.
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