Chapter 05 Market Failures: Public Goods and Externalities Questions

Chapter 05 - Market Failures: Public Goods and Externalities
Chapter 05 Market Failures: Public Goods and Externalities
QUESTIONS
1. Explain the two causes of market failures. Given their definitions, could a market be affected
by both types of market failures simultaneously? LO1
Answer: A public good is one where consumption in non-rival and non-excludable.

Private goods are not profitable because of the free rider problem. If we want to set off
fireworks and charge for the event, we probably wouldn't generate much revenue. We
can't keep people from watching the fireworks outside the event (non-excludability) and
the fireworks display can be watched by all (non-rival: If one person watches the
fireworks display this does not reduce or eliminate the someone else's ability to see the
same fireworks display). This is the first type of market failure.
The second potential market failure is the presence of an externality. Externalities occur
when the costs or benefits accrue to someone other than the buyer or seller (third parties).
For example, an individual may fully internalize the cost of smoking a cigarette (price,
health, etc...), but he or she does not internalize the negative health effects that the
cigarette may have on others (a third party). This will result in overconsumption (and
production).
ANSWER 1: Yes, it is possible for both to occur if an individual values the good, such as
fireworks, even if the free-rider problem is present. For example, I would like to set off a
fireworks display and charge for the event so it can be larger than the display I would pay
for myself. However, since everyone free-rides on my display I only set off a small one
(the public good is underprovided). Now if my fireworks display causes pollution (noise
and smoke) or potential fire damage a negative externality may be present.
ANSWER 2: No, because if the free-rider problem is present firms will not produce any
of the good. Since no goods are produced or consumed there cannot be an externality.
5-1
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whole or part.
2. Draw a supply and demand graph and identify the areas of consumer surplus and producer
surplus. Given the demand curve, what impact will an increase in supply have on the amount of
consumer surplus shown in your diagram? Explain why. LO2
Answer:
An increase in supply will lower the price and increase the amount of consumer surplus
for a given demand curve. Any individual that was receiving consumer surplus before
the change in supply will realize an increase in consumer surplus as the price falls and the
difference between their maximum willingness to pay and the market price widens.
3. Use the ideas of consumer surplus and producer surplus to explain why economists say
competitive markets are efficient. Why are below- or above-equilibrium levels of output
inefficient, according to these two sets of ideas? LO2
Answer: When the consumers’ utility exceeds the price paid, consumer surplus is
generated. Likewise, when producers receive a price greater than marginal cost, producer
surplus is created. By producing up to the point where MB = MC, the maximum
potential consumer surplus and producer surplus is generated. Producing less than the
equilibrium level means that potential surplus is left unrealized. Overproduction
subtracts from the surplus because society values the use of the additional resources in
other pursuits more than it values them in consumption of that good.
5-2
whole or part.
4. What are the two characteristics of public goods? Explain the significance of each for public
provision as opposed to private provision. What is the free-rider problem as it relates to public
goods? Is U.S. border patrol a public good or a private good? Why? How about satellite TV?
Explain. LO3
Answer: Public goods are nonrival (one person’s consumption does not prevent
consumption by another) and nonexcludable (once the goods are produced nobody—
including free riders—can be excluded from the goods’ benefits). If goods are nonrival,
there is less incentive for private firms to produce them – those purchasing the good
could simply allow others the use without compensation. Similarly, if goods are
nonexcludable, private firms are unlikely to produce them as the potential for profit is
low. The free-rider problem occurs when people benefit from the public good without
contributing to the cost (tax revenue proportionate to the benefit received). The U.S.
border patrol is a public good – my use and benefit does not prevent yours. Satellite TV
is a private good – if the dish, receiver, and service go to my residence it can’t go to my
neighbors. The fact that I could invite my neighbor over to watch does not change its
status from being a private good.
5. Draw a production possibilities curve with public goods on the vertical axis and private goods
on the horizontal axis. Assuming the economy is initially operating on the curve, indicate how the
production of public goods might be increased. How might the output of public goods be
increased if the economy is initially operating at a point inside the curve? LO3
Answer: On the curve, the only way to obtain more public goods is to reduce the
production of private goods (from C to B).
An economy operating inside the curve can expand the production of public goods
without sacrificing private goods (say, from A to B) by making use of unemployed
resources.
5-3
whole or part.
6. Use the distinction between the characteristics of private and public goods to determine
whether the following should be produced through the market system or provided by government:
(a) French fries, (b) airport screening, (c) court systems, (d) mail delivery, and (e) medical care.
State why you answered as you did in each case. LO3
Answers:
(a) French fries—market system (rival and excludable)
(b) airport screening—government (nonrival and nonexcludable)
(c) court systems—government (nonrival and nonexcludable)
(d) mail delivery—government, as long as the law gives postal service a monopoly
(although services such as package delivery have private competition)
(e) medical care—combined market and government; the mix of private and public
production is a controversial topic addressed in the chapter on the economics of
health care
7. What divergences arise between equilibrium output and efficient output when (a) negative
externalities and (b) positive externalities are present? How might government correct these
divergences? Cite an example (other than the text examples) of an external cost and an external
benefit. LO4
Answers:
(a) When negative externalities are present, the equilibrium output will be greater than
the efficient output. This is because the producer, who is not bearing the full cost of
production, will be able to produce more at a lower price than the efficient level,
which would exist if true costs were reflected in the production decision.
(b) When positive externalities are present, the equilibrium output will be smaller than
the efficient output because the consumer is willing to pay a price equal to the
consumer’s individual marginal benefit, but no more. Since social benefits exist in
addition to the private benefit, the government must either aid the producer to
encourage more output or engage in its own production of the item with the external
benefits.
Government might correct external costs through regulation, which requires firms to
internalize these external costs, or it might tax the externality until it becomes too
expensive for the firm to incur these costs. This effectively shifts the supply curve to
the left as costs of production rise, and the new equilibrium output will be less and
closer to the efficient level. External benefits can be encouraged by government
subsidies to the producers of these products or by government production. In either
case, the supply curve shifts to the right which lowers the equilibrium price and leads
to a greater equilibrium output level.
Other examples of external costs might include secondhand smoke, noise from the
stereo down the hall, or road congestion. External benefits might be generated from
outdoor Christmas lights, music from the stereo down the hall, or attractive
landscaping in the neighborhood.
5-4
whole or part.
8. Why are spillover costs and spillover benefits also called negative and positive externalities?
Show graphically how a tax can correct for a negative externality and how a subsidy to producers
can correct for a positive externality. How does a subsidy to consumers differ from a subsidy to
producers in correcting for a positive externality? LO4
Answers: Spillover costs are called negative externalities because they are external to the
participants in the transaction and reduce the utility of affected third parties (thus
“negative”). Spillover benefits are called positive externalities because they are external
to the participants in the transaction and increase the utility of affected third parties (thus
“positive”). To show how taxes and subsidies can correct externalities, see Figures 5.7
and 5.8. Compare (b) and (c) in Figure 5.8.
9. An apple grower’s orchard provides nectar to a neighbor’s bees, while the beekeeper’s bees
help the apple grower by pollinating his apple blossoms. Use Figure 5.6b to explain why this
situation of dual positive externalities might lead to an underallocation of resources to both apple
growing and beekeeping. How might this underallocation get resolved via the means suggested
by the Coase theorem? LO4
Answers: Using Figure 5.6b in the text the following can be said: The market demand
curves for apples and honey, Da and Dh, would not include the spillover benefits
accruing to the production of the other good. The total benefits associated with the
consumption and production of each good could be shown by Dat or Dht and the optimal
outputs for each good would be Qao and Qho. Both of these outputs are greater than
equilibrium outputs, Qae and Qhe, leading to an underallocation of resources to both
apple-growing and beekeeping.
Using the Coase theorem, we note that it will be to the advantage of individual apple
growers and beekeepers to negotiate so that beekeepers (whose hives can be moved)
locate their production in or near orchards. This negotiation will occur as long as
property ownership is well defined, only a few people are involved, and bargaining costs
are low. For example, an apple grower who owns an orchard could allow a beekeeper to
use a portion of his or her land, charging below-market rents so that both parties gain
from the agreement.
10. The Lojack car recovery system allows the police to track stolen cars. As a result, they not
only recover 90% of Lojack-equipped cars that are stolen but also arrest many auto thieves and
shut down many “chop shops” that take apart stolen vehicles to get at their used parts. Thus,
Lojack provides both private benefits and positive externalities. Should the government consider
subsidizing Lojack purchases? LO4
Answers: If the government were to subsidize Lojack purchases, this would reduce the
private cost of the anti-theft devices. This reduction in the private cost would, in-turn,
increase the purchase of the Lojack system. The fact that this good was under-utilized in
the private sector without the subsidy because part of the benefit accrued to society, not
the individual, in the form of reduced crime (shutting down "chop shops") implies this
subsidy is appropriate. Yes, the government should consider subsidizing Lojack
purchases.
5-5
whole or part.
11. Explain the following statement, using the MB curve in Figure 5.9 to illustrate: “The optimal
amount of pollution abatement for some substances, say, dirty water from storm drains, is very
low; the optimal amount of abatement for other substances, say, cyanide poison, is close to 100
percent.” LO5
Answers: Reducing water flow from storm drains has a low marginal benefit, meaning
the MB curve would be located far to the left of where it is in the text diagram. It will
intersect the MC curve at a low amount of pollution abatement, indicating the optimal
amount of pollution abatement (where MB = MC) is low. Any cyanide in public water
sources could be deadly. Therefore, the marginal benefit of reducing cyanide is
extremely high and the MB curve in the figure would be located to the extreme right
where it would intersect the MC curve at or near 100 percent.
12. Explain why zoning laws, which allow certain land uses only in specific locations, might be
justified in dealing with a problem of negative externalities. Explain why in areas where buildings
sit close together tax breaks to property owners for installing extra fire prevention equipment
might be justified in view of positive externalities. Explain why excise taxes on beer might be
justified in dealing with a problem of external costs. LO5
Answers: Zoning could force businesses producing negative externalities to locate in

regions where these costs would not spill over onto third parties, or where such costs
would at least be reduced. Businesses wanting to locate in regions where external costs
would cause the most damage (but where zoning restricts their location) would be forced
to eliminate or reduce those external costs. In either case, a more efficient allocation of
resources would result.
Tax breaks to property owners who install fire prevention equipment reduces the
potential of fire spreading to nearby buildings. Thus, the fire prevention equipment will
have positive externalities because of the additional benefit to the community. At the
individual level the building owners take into account the benefits for their own business,
which implies that fire prevention equipment will be underutilized without the tax break
(which reduces direct cost).
5-6
whole or part.
13. LAST WORD Distinguish between a carbon-tax and a cap-and-trade strategy for reducing
carbon dioxide and other so-called greenhouse gases (that are believed by many scientists to be
causing global warming). Which of the two strategies do you think would have the most political
support in an election in your home state? Explain your thinking.
Answers: Scientific evidence suggests that carbon dioxide and other gas emissions are
accumulating and causing the average temperature of the atmosphere to increase. In the
Kyoto Protocol, the industrialized nations agreed to cut emissions 6 to 8 percent below
1990 by 2012. Flooding may occur in some regions, thus decreasing the land upon which
the population lives, whereas temperatures in the northern parts of the globe may
moderate and make these areas more habitable. (Al Gore’s film An Inconvenient Truth
illustrates this effectively.)
A carbon-tax affects each polluting firm by charging them for emissions. The cap-and-
trade strategy would allow more efficient firms to sell their permits to the less efficient
firms resulting in greater efficiency (Heavier polluters must pay more to maintain the
same level of production).
PROBLEMS
1. Refer to Table 5.1. If the six people listed in the table are the only consumers in the market and
the equilibrium price is $11 (not the $8 shown), how much consumer surplus will the market
generate? LO2
Answer: $3
Feedback: Consider the following table as an example:
Using the values above, and assuming an equilibrium price of $11 (not the $8 shown), we
first note that an individual will only purchase the good if his or her "maximum price
willing to pay" is greater than or equal to the price of the product ($11). This implies that
only Bob, Barb, and Bill are willing to purchase the good at the price of $11.
Now we can calculate the consumer surplus by adding up the difference between the
"maximum price willing to pay" and the actual price paid.
5-7
whole or part.
Bob's consumer surplus is $2 (= $13 - $11)

Barb's consumer surplus is $1 (= $12 - $11)
Bob's consumer surplus is $0 (= $11 - $11)
Thus, the total consumer surplus equals $3 (= $2 + $1 + $0)
2. Refer to Table 5.2. If the six people listed in the table are the only producers in the market and
the equilibrium price is $6 (not the $8 shown), how much producer surplus will the market
generate? LO2
Answer: $6
Feedback: Consider the following table as an example:
Using the values above, and assuming an equilibrium price of $6 (not the $8 shown), we
first note that an individual will only sell the good if his or her "minimum acceptable
price" is less than or equal to the price of the product ($6). This implies that only Carlos,
Courtney, Chuck, and Cindy are willing to sell the good at the price of $6.
Now we can calculate the producer surplus by adding up the difference between the
actual (equilibrium) price and the "minimum acceptable price".
Carlos's producer surplus is $3 (= $6 - $3)

Courtney's producer surplus is $2 (= $6 - $4)
Chuck's producer surplus is $1 (= $6 - $5)
Cindy's Producer surplus is $0 (= $6 - $6)
Thus, the total producer surplus equals $6 (=$3 + $2 + $1 + $0)
3. Look at Tables 5.1 and 5.2 together. What is the total surplus if Bob buys a unit from Carlos?
If Barb buys a unit from Courtney? If Bob buys a unit from Chad? If you match up pairs of
buyers and sellers so as to maximize the total surplus of all transactions, what is the largest total
surplus that can be achieved? LO2
Answers: $10 (= $13 - $3); $8 (= $12 - $4); $5 = ($13 - $8); $30.
5-8
whole or part.
Feedback: Consider the following tables as an example:
If Bob buys a unit of the good from Carlos, then the economic surplus is the difference
between Bob's "maximum price willing to pay" and Carlos's the "minimum acceptable
price." The economic surplus is $10 (= $13- $3)
If Barb buys a unit form Courtney, then the economic surplus equals $8 (= $12 - $4).
If Bob buys a unit form Chad, then the economic surplus is $5 (= $13 - $8).
If we match up buyers and sellers to maximize the total economic surplus then we need to
choose the pairs with the largest gap between "maximum price willing to pay" and the
"minimum acceptable price."
This implies the following pairs (Bob, Carlos) with an economic surplus of $10, (Barb,
Courtney) with an economic surplus of $8, (Bill, Chuck) with an economic surplus of $6,
(Bart, Cindy) with an economic surplus of $4, (Brent, Craig) with an economic surplus of
$2, and (Betty, Chad) with an economic surplus of $0. Adding this up across all pairs
gives us a total economic surplus of $30.
5-9
whole or part.
4. ADVANCED ANALYSIS Assume the following values for Figures 5.4a and 5.4b. Q1 = 20
bags. Q2 = 15 bags. Q3 = 27 bags. The market equilibrium price is $45 per bag. The price at a is
$85 per bag. The price at c is $5 per bag. The price at f is $59 per bag. The price at g is $31 per
bag. Apply the formula for the area of a triangle (Area = ½ x Base x Height) to answer the
following questions. LO2
a. What is the dollar value of the total surplus (producer surplus plus consumer surplus) when the
allocatively efficient output level is being produced? How large is the dollar value of the
consumer surplus at that output level?
b. What is the dollar value of the deadweight loss when output level Q2 is being produced? What
is the total surplus when output level Q2 is being produced?
c. What is the dollar value of the deadweight loss when output level Q3 is produced? What is the
dollar value of the total surplus when output level Q3 is produced?
Answers: (a) At output level Q1, total surplus is $800; consumer surplus at Q1 is $400.
(b) The deadweight loss at Q2 is $50; the total surplus at Q2 is $750.
(c) The deadweight loss at Q3 is $98; the dollar value of the total surplus at Q3 is $702.
Feedback: To answer this question, let us first find the mathematical representation of
the supply and demand schedules. To help us accomplish this objective we us the
following figures.
5-10
whole or part.
Now consider the following values as an example. Assume the following values for
Figures 5.4a and 5.4b: The equilibrium quantity Q1 = 20, the market equilibrium price is
$45 per bag, the price at a is $85 per bag, the price at c is $5 per bag.
To derive the demand schedule (inverse demand schedule), we use the following ordered
pairs: (20,45) equilibrium and (0,85) point a.
We know the form of the demand schedule will be P=C1 + C2Q where C1 and C2 are
unknown constants. The intercept, C1, can be found by setting Q equal to zero. This is
point a, so C1 equals 85. To find the slope, C2, we divide the change in quantity by the
change in price using our two ordered pairs above (rise-over-run). This implies C 2 equals
(20 - 0) / (45 - 85) = -2.
Thus, we have the following demand schedule: P = 85 - 2Q
To derive the supply schedule (inverse supply schedule), we use the following ordered
pairs: (20,45) equilibrium and (0,5) point c.
5-11
whole or part.
We know the form of the supply schedule will also be P = C1 + C2Q where C1 and C2 are
once again unknown constants. The intercept, C1, can be found by setting Q equal to zero.
This is point c, so C1 equals 5. To find the slope, C2, we divide the change in quantity by
the change in price using our two ordered pairs above (rise-over-run). This implies C 2
equals (20 - 0) / (45 - 5) = 2.
Thus, we have the following supply schedule: P = 5 + 2Q
With these schedules we can now answer the following questions:
Part (a): What is the dollar value of the total surplus (producer surplus plus consumer
surplus) when the allocatively efficient output level is being produced? How large is the
dollar value of the consumer surplus at that output level?
To calculate total surplus we use the following formula for the area of a triangle (Area =
½ (Base x Height)).
The area between the demand schedule P = 85 - 2Q and the supply schedule P = 5 + 2Q
for the quantity ranging from 0 to 20 is the total economic surplus. This is a triangle with
a base of 80 (the price difference at Q = 0, or points a and c) and a height of 20 (the
number of units purchased in equilibrium). Using these values we have a total surplus =
(1/2) x 80 x 20 = 800.
The consumer surplus is the area between the demand curve and the equilibrium price
line. Here we have a base of 40 (the price difference between the demand schedule price
at Q = 0, which is $85, and the equilibrium price of $45). The height of the triangle is
once again 20 (the number of units purchased in equilibrium). Using these values we
have a consumer surplus = (1/2) x 40 x 20 = 400.
Consider the following additional values for the figures above: Q2 = 15 bags. Q3 = 27
bags, the price at f is $59 per bag, and the price at g is $31 per bag.
Part (b): What is the dollar value of the deadweight loss when output level Q2 is being
produced? What is the total surplus when output level Q2 is being produced?
The first thing we need to do is calculate the price at Q 2 = 15 for the supply and demand
schedules. The price on the supply schedule is P = 5 + 2 x 15 = 35. The price on the
demand schedule is P = 85 – 2 x 15 = 55. The difference between these two prices is our
base, which equals 20. The height is the quantity difference between the equilibrium
quantity Q1 = 20 and the underproduction quantity Q2 = 15 (= 5). Thus, the deadweight
loss from underproduction is (1/2) x 20 x 5 = 50.
The total surplus can be found by subtracting the deadweight loss from the original total
surplus that maximized efficiency. This is 800 (maximum total surplus) - 50 (deadweight
loss) = 750.
Part (c): What is the dollar value of the deadweight loss when output level Q3 is
produced? What is the dollar value of the total surplus when output level Q3 is produced?
5-12
whole or part.
Here we follow the same procedure. We are given the price at point f is $59 and the price
at point g is $31 (we do not need to calculate these prices using the demand and supply
schedule). The quantity Q =27 represents over production (the marginal cost to society
exceeds the marginal benefit to society) of 7 units. To calculate the deadweight loss from
this overproduction we use the price difference as the base, which is 28 (= 59 - 31), and
the amount of overproduction as the height, which is 7 (= 27 - 20). This results in a
deadweight loss of 98 (= (1/2) x 28 x 7).
The total surplus can be found by subtracting the deadweight loss from the original total
surplus that maximized efficiency. This is 800 (maximum total surplus) - 98 (deadweight
loss) = 702. Note here that we capture all of the surplus from producing the equilibrium
quantity, but we lose surplus from overproduction (inefficient use of resources).
5. On the basis of the three individual demand schedules below, and assuming these three people
are the only ones in the society, determine (a) the market demand schedule on the assumption that
the good is a private good and (b) the collective demand schedule on the assumption that the good
is a public good. LO3
Answers: (a) Market demand schedule
Quantity Demanded Price

1 $8
2 $7
4 $6
7 $5
10 $4
13 $3
16 $2
19 $1
5-13
whole or part.
(b) Collective demand schedule
Quantity Amount Society is

Willing to Pay
1 $19
2 $16
3 $13
4 $10
5 $7
6 $4
7 $2
8 $1
Feedback: Consider the following table:
Part (a): Derive the market demand schedule on the assumption that the good is a private
good. To accomplish we use the principle of horizontal summation. That is, we fix price
and add up the quantities demanded by the individuals.
At a price of $8: individual 1 (I1) demands 0, individual 2 (I2) demands 1, and individual
3 (I3) demands 0. Thus, we have the following market demand ordered pair (1,8).
At a price of $7: I1 demands 0, I2 demands 2, and I3 demands 0. Thus, we have the

following market demand ordered pair (2,7).

following market demand ordered pair (4 [=3+1],6).

following market demand ordered pair (7[=1+4+2],5).


5-14
whole or part.


Part (b): Derive the collective demand schedule on the assumption that the good is a
public good. To accomplish we use the principle of vertical summation. That is, we fix
quantity and add up the price (willingness to pay) for the individuals. The logic here is
that the individuals (society) can pool resources to purchase a given quantity because this
good will be shared (public good).
At the quantity 1: I1 is willing to pay $5, I2 is willing to pay $8, and I3 is willing to pay
$6. Thus, we have the following collective demand ordered pair (1,19=5+8+6).
$5. Thus, we have the following collective demand ordered pair (2,16).
6. Use your demand schedule for a public good, determined in problem 5, and the following
supply schedule to ascertain the optimal quantity of this public good. LO3
Answer: 4 units
5-15
whole or part.
Feedback: From the example table in problem 5, we calculated the collective demand
schedule from the individual demand schedules:
Collective Demand Schedule:
Quantity Price Society is

Willing to Pay
1 $19
2 $16
3 $13
4 $10
5 $7
6 $4
7 $2
8 $1
Combining this collective demand schedule with the following supply schedule, we can
determine the optimal provision (quantity) of the public good.
The optimal quantity can be found by finding the price where the willingness to pay
equals price required by the firm to supply that last unit (basically the price that clears the
market). For example, at $19 society demands one unit but firms are willing to supply 10
units. At $16 society demands 2 units but firms are willing to supply 8 units. This
continues until we reach the price of $10 where society demands 4 units and firms are
willing to supply 4 units. Thus, the optimal quantity is 4 units.
5-16
whole or part.
7. Look at Tables 5.1 and 5.2, which show, respectively, the willingness to pay and willingness to
accept of buyers and seller of bags of oranges. For the following questions, assume that the
equilibrium price and quantity will depend on the indicated changes in supply and demand.
Assume that the only market participants are those listed by name in the two tables. LO4
a. What is the equilibrium price and quantity for the data displayed in the two tables?
b. What if instead of bags of oranges, the data in the two tables dealt with a public good like
fireworks displays. If all the buyers free ride, what will be the quantity supplied by private
sellers?
c. Assume that we are back to talking about bags of oranges (a private good), but that the
government has decided that tossed orange peels impose a negative externality on the public that
must be rectified by imposing a $2-per-bag tax on sellers. What is the new equilibrium price and
quantity? If the new equilibrium quantity is the optimal quantity, by how many bags were
oranges being overproduced before?
Answers: P* = $8 and Q* = 6 bags; Q* = 0; P* = $9 and Q* = 5 bags.
Feedback: Here we consider the tables from Problems 1 and 2.
5-17
whole or part.
Part (a): To determine the equilibrium price of oranges, we begin by comparing the
highest willingness to pay with the lowest minimum acceptable price. Bob is willing to
pay $13 and Carlos is willing to accept at minimum $3. This trade is made because Bob
is willing to pay more than Carlos requires for the sale. We then move on to the trade
between Barb and Courtney. This trade is also made because Barb is willing to pay $12
and Courtney only requires $4 to make the sale. This goes on until the "maximum
willingness to pay" equals the "minimum acceptable price". This occurs for the trade
between Betty and Chad. Betty's "maximum willingness to pay" is $8 and Chad's
"minimum acceptable price" is also $8. Since the six purchasers (each purchases 1 unit)
buy the 6 units produced by the six producers (each produces 1 unit), the equilibrium
quantity is 6 at the equilibrium price of $8.
Part (b): If instead of bags of oranges, the data in the two tables dealt with a public good
like fireworks displays, and all the buyers free ride, then the quantity supplied will be
zero. Everyone will try to pay a zero price.
Part (c): If the government decides that tossed orange peels impose a negative externality
on the public that must be rectified by imposing a $2-per-bag tax on sellers, then the
"minimum acceptable price" will increase by the amount of the tax. The reason is that the
producers must now pay an additional $2 on top production costs. This implies that the
"minimum acceptable price" for Carlos is $5(= $3 + $2), Courtney $6, Chuck $7, Cindy
$8, Craig $9, and Chad $10. Comparing this new "minimum acceptable price" schedule
with the original "maximum willingness to pay" schedule we have the following new
equilibrium.
Bob is willing to pay $13 and Carlos is willing to accept at minimum $5. This trade is
made because Bob is willing to pay more than Carlos requires for the sale. We then move
on to the trade between Barb and Courtney. This trade is also made because Barb is
willing to pay $12 and Courtney only requires $6 to make the sale. This goes on until the
"maximum willingness to pay" equals the "minimum acceptable price". This occurs for
the trade between Brent and Craig now. Brent's "maximum willingness to pay" is $9 and
Craig's "minimum acceptable price" is also $9. The potential trade between Betty and
Chad no longer takes place. Betty is only willing to pay $8 and Chad requires $10 to
make the sale. Since only five purchasers (each purchases 1 unit) buy the 5 units
produced by the five producers (each produces 1 unit), the new equilibrium quantity is 5
at the equilibrium price of $9.
If this is the optimal quantity, then the market was overproducing by 1 unit before the tax
was imposed on orange producers.
5-18
whole or part.

Chapter 05 Market Failures: Public Goods and Externalities Questions

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Chapter 05 Market Failures: Public Goods and Externalities Questions

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Chapter 05 - Market Failures: Public Goods and Externalities

Chapter 05 Market Failures: Public Goods and Externalities

Answer: A public good is one where consumption in non-rival and non-excludable.

Answers: Zoning could force businesses producing negative externalities to locate in

Feedback: Consider the following table as an example:

Bob's consumer surplus is $2 (= $13 - $11)

Thus, the total consumer surplus equals $3 (= $2 + $1 + $0)

Feedback: Consider the following table as an example:

Carlos's producer surplus is $3 (= $6 - $3)

Thus, the total producer surplus equals $6 (=$3 + $2 + $1 + $0)

Answers: $10 (= $13 - $3); $8 (= $12 - $4); $5 = ($13 - $8); $30.

Feedback: Consider the following tables as an example:

Thus, we have the following demand schedule: P = 85 - 2Q

Thus, we have the following supply schedule: P = 5 + 2Q

With these schedules we can now answer the following questions:

Answers: (a) Market demand schedule

Quantity Demanded Price

(b) Collective demand schedule

Quantity Amount Society is

Feedback: Consider the following table:

At a price of $7: I1 demands 0, I2 demands 2, and I3 demands 0. Thus, we have the

At a price of $6: I1 demands 0, I2 demands 3, and I3 demands 1. Thus, we have the

At a price of $5: I1 demands 1, I2 demands 4, and I3 demands 2. Thus, we have the

At a price of $4: I1 demands 2, I2 demands 5, and I3 demands 3. Thus, we have the

At a price of $3: I1 demands 3, I2 demands 6, and I3 demands 4. Thus, we have the

At a price of $2: I1 demands 4, I2 demands 7, and I3 demands 5. Thus, we have the

At a price of $1: I1 demands 5, I2 demands 8, and I3 demands 6. Thus, we have the

Collective Demand Schedule:

Quantity Price Society is

Answers: P* = $8 and Q* = 6 bags; Q* = 0; P* = $9 and Q* = 5 bags.

Feedback: Here we consider the tables from Problems 1 and 2.

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