The pharmaceutical company Merck Inc. pays the government of Costa Rica (through the national Institute InBIO) money to conserve natural rain forest and to obtain exclusive plant specimens from this forest for their research. Suppose Merck bases the decision about what area x of forest to protect on the aim of maximizing profits. The marginal private benefit MB, the marginal external benefits MEB and the marginal costs MC of forest area r are given by: MB(x) = 10 – r MEB(r) 5 – 2 MC(x) (a) Represent the situation in a diagram and explain in economic terms why the exter- nality associated with forest conservation leads to market failure, i.e. to a market

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8-2. The pharmaceutical company Merck Inc. pays the government of Costa Rica (through
the national Institute InBIO) money to conserve natural rain forest and to obtain
exclusive plant specimens from this forest for their research. Suppose Merck bases the
decision about what area x of forest to protect on the aim of maximizing profits. The
marginal private benefit MB, the marginal external benefits MEB and the marginal
costs MC of forest area r are given by:
MB(x) =
10 – I
ΜEB (1)
= 5 -
MC(r)
= 3
(a) Represent the situation in a diagram and explain in economic terms why the exter-
nality associated with forest conservation leads to market failure, i.e. to a market
equilibrium that is not socially optimal.
Transcribed Image Text:8-2. The pharmaceutical company Merck Inc. pays the government of Costa Rica (through the national Institute InBIO) money to conserve natural rain forest and to obtain exclusive plant specimens from this forest for their research. Suppose Merck bases the decision about what area x of forest to protect on the aim of maximizing profits. The marginal private benefit MB, the marginal external benefits MEB and the marginal costs MC of forest area r are given by: MB(x) = 10 – I ΜEB (1) = 5 - MC(r) = 3 (a) Represent the situation in a diagram and explain in economic terms why the exter- nality associated with forest conservation leads to market failure, i.e. to a market equilibrium that is not socially optimal.
(b) Determine analytically (i) the equilibrium allocation that results from individual
utility maximization, (ii) the socially optimal allocation that results from consider-
ing the full social benefits, and (iii compare both allocations.
(c) Explain graphically and analytically how a regulator could solve the market failure
by either (i) imposing an lower limit on forest conservation or (ii) paying a Pigouvian
subsidy on forest conservation, and determine the limit and the Pigouvian subsidy
rate, respectively.
Transcribed Image Text:(b) Determine analytically (i) the equilibrium allocation that results from individual utility maximization, (ii) the socially optimal allocation that results from consider- ing the full social benefits, and (iii compare both allocations. (c) Explain graphically and analytically how a regulator could solve the market failure by either (i) imposing an lower limit on forest conservation or (ii) paying a Pigouvian subsidy on forest conservation, and determine the limit and the Pigouvian subsidy rate, respectively.
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