Nobody likes pollution (or crime, or accidents)! But economists, as they so often do, bring a different perspective to the issue of pollution. Assume that a paper plant dumps the chemicals it uses in making paper into the river it is located next to, polluting the river for downstream users. The paper plant operates in a perfectly competitive market (the price it charges for its products equals its average total cost of production, not counting the costs of pollution, and it earns only a normal profit on its business.) (1) Who loses and who gains from the pollution caused by this plant? (2) Explain why the economist says that it doesn't make sense to reduce the amount of pollution to zero. What is the "optimal" amount of pollution? (3) The U.S. adopts strict pollution controls, forcing paper plants either to clean

Nobody likes pollution (or crime, or accidents)! But economists, as they so often do, bring a different perspective to the issue of pollution. Assume that a paper plant dumps the chemicals it uses in making paper into the river it is located next to, polluting the river for downstream users. The paper plant operates in a perfectly competitive market (the price it charges for its products equals its average total cost of production, not counting the costs of pollution, and it earns only a normal profit on its business.) (1) Who loses and who gains from the pollution caused by this plant? (2) Explain why the economist says that it doesn't make sense to reduce the amount of pollution to zero. What is the "optimal" amount of pollution? (3) The U.S. adopts strict pollution controls, forcing paper plants either to clean

Principles of Microeconomics

7th Edition

ISBN:9781305156050

Author:N. Gregory Mankiw

Publisher:N. Gregory Mankiw

Chapter10: Externalities

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 10PA

See similar textbooks

Similar questions

The dry-cleaning industry is a major source of air pollution. Based on this information, which conclusion is the most likely to be true about the price and output of dry-cleaning services? O Because dry-cleaning does not have much demand, pollution is not affecting their demand. O Dry-cleaning is a complimentary good. O Dry-cleaners see it as less profitable to cause pollution. Because there are no financial consequences for the pollution, fixing it wouldn't be as profitable for dry-cleaners.
cap-and-trade and windfall profitsA city called Seoul is suffering from high concentrations of mercury in the air, caused by burningcoal in power plants. There are two of these plants close to the city. The city’s mayor wants touse cap-and-trade to reduce emissions to a reportedly “safe” level of 60 tons. The two firms havethe following marginal benefits of emissions: MB1 = 100 – 2e1, MB2 = 25 – 0.5e2.a. How much mercury will each firm emit? What allowance price will prevail in themarket?Firm 2 hires a smart lobbyist who convinces the government that its profits are relatively low andthat it therefore deserves a generous allowance allocation. The government agrees and allocatesa1 = 20 allowances to firm 1 (for free) and a2 = 40 allowances to firm 2 (for free).b. What are the firms’ profits? Do any of the firms earn windfall profits? [Hint: compareprofits with and without regulation.] Windfall profits have been sharply criticized by consumer advocacy groups and politicians.c. What can…
Only typed answer and please don't use chatgpt The inverse demand for leather is given by P = 50-0.5Q. The industry supply of leather is determined by its marginal cost: MC = 0.4Q. Unfortunately, the production of leather causes noxious chemical residue to leach into groundwater supplies. The external marginal cost caused by these residues grows with the amount of output, and is measured as EMC = 0.05Q. 1A. How many leather is produced in the free market if the externality is not corrected. B) What is the free market price of the leather if the externality is not corrected? C) What is the social marginal cost?
Which of the following is an example of environmental standards? O A. tradable pollution permits O B. taxes on the level of pollution OC. legal limits on SO2 emissions O D. none of the above
An increase in globalization has lead to an increase in pollution, and this is a problem because pollution is seen to be the classic example of a This is a that individuals impose on others but do not pay for. O negative externality, cost O possitive externality, benefit O negative externality, benefit O possitive externality, cost
The table below shows the demand for pollution permits to emit hydrocarbons in a particular industrial park. Each permit allows the owner to release one tonne of pollutants into the atmosphere. Price perPollution Permit Quantity of Permits $4,500 75 4,000 150 3,500 225 3,000 300 2,500 375 2,000 450 1,500 525 a. If no fee for a pollution permit were charged, how many tonnes of pollutants would be discharged into the atmosphere, assuming a straight-line demand curve? Quantity: tonnesb. Suppose government were to set a fee of $3,500 per pollution permit. How many tonnes of pollutants would now be dumped? What is the total revenue received by government? Quantity: tonnes Total revenue: $ c. Suppose that a new technology allows for a significant reduction in hydrocarbons at a relatively low cost so that the demand for pollution permits in the industrial park drops by 150 tonnes. Assuming that government holds the permit fee at $3,500, how many tonnes of…
ASAP plz Why don't people/stores make different decisions? Cost is a factor: a case of foam take-out containers costs $25, compared with $58 for paper and recyclable-plastics. How does this affect the firm's profit? Are consumers willing to pay more? Negative externality Consider the demand and supply given above. Suppose there is an external cost given by MEC=5Q. Find social equilibrium price and quantity. Draw a graph and label both private and social equilibrium.
Dollars Firm 2 60 60 MC 50 MC S0 40 40 30 30 20 20 10 10 Q1 0: Os Q, Q, Q. Q, Q, Q2 Q Q. Qs Q. Ahatemene Ahstement
In the Land of Purity, there is only one form of pollution, called gunk. Table 12.14 shows possible combinations of economic output and reduction of gunk, depending on what kinds of environmental regulations you choose. Sketch a graph of a production possibility frontier with environmental quality on the horizontal axis, measured by the percentage reduction of gunk, and with the quantity of economic output on the vertical axis. Which choices display productive efficiency? How can you tell? Which choices show allocative efficiency? How can you tell? In the choice between K and L, can you say which one is better and why? In the choice between K. and N, can you say which one is better, and why? If you had to guess, which choice would you think is move likely to represent a command-and-control environmental policy and which choice is more likely to represent a market-oriented environmental policy, choice L or M? Why?
A country called Sherwood is very heavily covered with a forest of 50,000 trees. There are proposals to clear some of Sherwoods forest and grow com, but obtaining this additional economic output will have an environmental cost from reducing the number of trees. Table 12.11 shows possible combinations of economic output and environmental protection. Sketch a graph of a production possibility frontier with environmental quality on the horizontal axis, measured by the number of trees, and the quantity of economic output, measured in corn, on the vertical axis. Which choices display productive efficiency? How can you tell? Which choices show allocative efficiency? How can you tell? In the choice between T and R, decide which one is better. Why? In the choice between T and S, can you say which one is better, and why? If you had to guess, which choice would you think is more likely to represent a command-and-control environmental policy and which choice is more likely to represent a market-oriented environmental policy, choice Q or S? Why?
Consider the case of global environmental problems that spill across international borders as a prisoners dilemma of the sort studied in Monopolistic Competition and Oligopoly. Say that there are two countries, A and B. Each country can cheese whether to protect the environment, at a cost of 10, or not to protect it, at a cost of zero. If one country decides to protect the environment, there is a benefit of 16, but the benefit is divided equally between the two countries. If both countries decide to protect the environment, there is a benefit of 32, which is divided equally between the two centuries. In Table 12.10, fill in the costs, benefits, and total payoffs to the countries of the following decisions. Explain why, without some international agreement, they are likely to end up with neither country acting to protect the environment.
Some years ago. two intercity bus companies, Greyhound Lines, Inc. and Trailways Transportation System, wanted to merge. One possible definition of the market for this case was the market for intercity bus service. Another possible definition was the market for intercity transportation, including personal cars, car rentals, passenger trains, and commuter air flights.' Which definition do you think the bus companies preferred, and why?