Assume that a firm discharges waste into a river. As a result, the marginal social costs (MSC)

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Assume that a firm discharges waste into a river. As a result, the marginal social costs (MSC) are greater than the firm’s marginal (private) costs (MC). The following table shows how MC, MSC, AR and MR vary with output.

Output

1

2

3

4

5

7

MC

23

21

23

25

27

30 

35

42 

MSC

35

34

38

42

46

52 

60

72 

TR

60

102

138

168

195

219 

238

252 

AR

60

51

46

42

39

36.5

34

31.5

MR

60

42

36

30

27

24 

19

14 

(a)  How much will the firm produce if it seeks to maximise profits?

(b)  What is the socially efficient level of output (assuming no externalities on the demand side)?

(c)  How much is the marginal external cost at this level of output?

(d)  What size tax would be necessary for the firm to reduce its output to the socially efficient level?

(e)  Why is the tax less than the marginal externality?

(f)  Why might it be equitable to impose a lump-sum tax on this firm?

(g)  Why will a lump-sum tax not affect the firm’s output (assuming that in the long-run the firm can still make at least normal profit)?

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Related Book For  answer-question

Economics

ISBN: 978-1292187853

10th edition

Authors: John Sloman, Jon Guest, Dean Garratt

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