In the market for widgets, 800,000 units are currently being sold every year at the going price of $10/widget. The elasticity of supply at this point has been estimated to be 1.25. On the other hand, studies of consumer behavior in this market have found that buyers reduce their quantity demanded by 25% on average in response to a 10 percent increase in the price. A new bill has been introduced that would impose a $3 tax per widget. a) Proponents of the bill claim it would raise $2.4 million in government revenue every year. Are they right? Explain. b) The widget producers' association opposes the bill arguing that, if enacted, it will reduce the industry's production of widgets by 300,000 a year. Is their claim justified? Explain. c) A consumer organization also came out against the tax, arguing it will end up costing them an additional $1.8 million a year. Is that correct? If so, show why. If not, what

Essentials of Economics (MindTap Course List)
8th Edition
ISBN:9781337091992
Author:N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:N. Gregory Mankiw
Chapter5: Elastic And Its Application
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 10PA
icon
Related questions
Question

8

Econ 3, please answer all parts of the question.
In the market for widgets, 800,000 units are currently being sold every year at the going
price of $10/widget. The elasticity of supply at this point has been estimated to be 1.25. On
the other hand, studies of consumer behavior in this market have found that buyers reduce
their quantity demanded by 25% on average in response to a 10 percent increase in the
price. A new bill has been introduced that would impose a $3 tax per widget.
a) Proponents of the bill claim it would raise $2.4 million in government revenue every
year. Are they right? Explain.
b) The widget producers' association opposes the bill arguing that, if enacted, it will reduce
the industry's production of widgets by 300,000 a year. Is their claim justified? Explain.
c) A consumer organization also came out against the tax, arguing it will end up costing
them an additional $1.8 million a year. Is that correct? If so, show why. If not, what
would be a better measure of how much worse off consumers are as a result of the tax?
Transcribed Image Text:Econ 3, please answer all parts of the question. In the market for widgets, 800,000 units are currently being sold every year at the going price of $10/widget. The elasticity of supply at this point has been estimated to be 1.25. On the other hand, studies of consumer behavior in this market have found that buyers reduce their quantity demanded by 25% on average in response to a 10 percent increase in the price. A new bill has been introduced that would impose a $3 tax per widget. a) Proponents of the bill claim it would raise $2.4 million in government revenue every year. Are they right? Explain. b) The widget producers' association opposes the bill arguing that, if enacted, it will reduce the industry's production of widgets by 300,000 a year. Is their claim justified? Explain. c) A consumer organization also came out against the tax, arguing it will end up costing them an additional $1.8 million a year. Is that correct? If so, show why. If not, what would be a better measure of how much worse off consumers are as a result of the tax?
Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 3 steps

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Public Policy
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, economics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
  • SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Essentials of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Essentials of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:
9781337091992
Author:
N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
ECON MICRO
ECON MICRO
Economics
ISBN:
9781337000536
Author:
William A. McEachern
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
MACROECONOMICS
MACROECONOMICS
Economics
ISBN:
9781337794985
Author:
Baumol
Publisher:
CENGAGE L
Microeconomics: Private and Public Choice (MindTa…
Microeconomics: Private and Public Choice (MindTa…
Economics
ISBN:
9781305506893
Author:
James D. Gwartney, Richard L. Stroup, Russell S. Sobel, David A. Macpherson
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Economics: Private and Public Choice (MindTap Cou…
Economics: Private and Public Choice (MindTap Cou…
Economics
ISBN:
9781305506725
Author:
James D. Gwartney, Richard L. Stroup, Russell S. Sobel, David A. Macpherson
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:
9781337617383
Author:
Roger A. Arnold
Publisher:
Cengage Learning