CHAPTER 5 - ExternalitiesMultiple-Choice Questions1. Reducing output from the privately optimal level to the socially optimal level willa) cause a loss of consumption to consumers.b) reduce marginal damages.c) reduce the production costs.d) cause all of the above.2. Marginal damages are hard to measure becausea) they can be generated from multiple sources.b) they are hard to graph.c) they happen over time.d) no one cares about them.3. In Figure 5.4, if the marginal damages line did not originate at 0,a) it would mean that marginal damages did not exist.b) there is no way to find MSC.c) MSC would not originate at the same intercept as MPC.d) then all of the above.4. Externalities can be positive becausea) marginal damages do not last over time.b) utility can be impacted positively as well as negatively.c) there is no concept for marginal benefit.d) positive externalities are subsidies.5. Refer to the graphs below. Which graph(s) represent(s) an externality?a) graph Ab) graphs A and Bc) graph Bd) neither graph A nor graph BA B6. Refer to Figure 5.7 in the textbook. What does it mean if all firms have to reduce to apoint2*)*(XZ?a) Firm X will reduce more than optimal.b) Firm Z will reduce less than optimal.c) The new point is between X* and Z*.d) All of the above.7. The Coase theorem has problems becausea) generally, bargaining costs are not zero.b) individuals are not concerned with others.c) markets always exist.d) all of the above.8. Pollution rights may be traded ifa) polluters try to hide pollution.b) administrators are uncertain about Pigouvian taxes.c) there is no market for pollution.d) pollution is harmless.9. Externalities can be produced by ____________, as well as ____________.a) individuals; firmsb) market prices; market incomesc) oceans; streamsd) none of the above10. A Pigouvian tax corrects fora) market congestion.b) market losses.c) inefficient sales.d) low market prices.11. Which of the following is correct?a) SMC = PMC - MDb) MPB = MSB + MEBc) SMC = PMC + MDd) MSC = MPBe) MSB =MSC + MPB12. Marginal benefits are downward sloping whena) there are no total benefits.b) the slope of the marginal benefits curve is negative.c) total benefits are increasing at a decreasing rate.d) marginal costs are upward sloping.13. A Pigouvian subsidya) can not exist with externalities.b) is the same thing as a Pigouvian tax.c) is measured in terms of Pigouvian dollars.d) moves production to the socially optimal level of output.14. As a general rule, zero pollution is not socially desirable becausea) there would be no production.b) the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) needs to have something to do.c) no pollution would lead to global warming.d) all of the above.15. Externalities require government intervention whena) violence will result between disputing parties.b) there are only a few sellers in the market.c) property rights are not clearly established.d) the government imposes sales taxes.e) all of the above.16. Which method helps in obtaining the socially optimal level of output?a) Pigouvian taxesb) regulationc) property rights and bargainingd) all of the above17. Marginal damagesa) must always be considered in social marginal costs.b) must not be considered in social marginal costs.c) must sometimes be considered in social marginal costs.d) have nothing to do with social marginal costs.Discussion Questions1. Suppose the factory Afro-Puffs Inc. produces wigs. As a by-product of this wigproduction, they also produce dangerous emissions of toxic gases (as a result of the strong glue used to hold the hair in place). The De-Lite car factory, down the road, experiences a negative externality from this production process. Suppose that the supply curve (private marginal costs) for the wig factory is X=(2/5)P- 2, and it faces a market demand of X d=15 - P/2. The marginal damages caused by the production of wigs can be written as X=P – 1/2.a. Find the equilibrium price and quantity in the market for wigs.b. Find the socially optimal level of wigs and the corresponding price.c. How much should the wig factory be taxed per wig?2. A steel factory has the right to discharge waste into a river. The waste reduces thenumber of fish, causing damage for swimmers. Let X denote the quantity of waste dumped. The marginal damage, denoted MD, is given by the equation MD = 2 + 5X.The marginal benefit (MB) of dumping waste is given by the equation MB = 34 – 3X.a. Calculate the efficient quantity of waste.b. What is the efficient fee, in dollars per unit of waste, that would cause the firm todump only an efficient quantity of waste?c. What would be the quantity dumped if the firm did not care about the fishery?3. The private marginal benefit for commodity X is given by 15 – X, where X is the numberof units consumed. The private marginal cost of producing X is constant at 10. In the absence of any government intervention, how much X is produced? What is the gain to society involved in moving from the inefficient to the efficient level of production?4. Consider the case of two farmers, Tony and Hakim, depicted in the figure below. Bothuse DDT (a chemical pesticide) for their crops. The use of DDT causes an externality for swimmers down river from the farms.a. Show the amount of pesticides used if each uses the privately optimal level ofpesticides.b. Show the amount of pesticides used if they are socially concerned.c. Why is a reduction back to X H = H T not socially desired?5. Redo discussion question 10, part a, from Chapter 5 in your book. Suppose emissions arelimited to 25 units per year instead of 50. How does your answer change?True/False/Uncertain Questions1. Externalities always work themselves out.2. Negative externalities cause loss of welfare not transmitted by market factors.3. Externalities can be positive, as well as negative.4. A subsidy for pollution not produced can induce producers to pollute at the efficient level.5. Pollution rights can be traded and are always efficient.6. Regulation helps to correct for externalities.7. Any commodity market has the potential to have an externality.8. Market-oriented solutions to externalities rarely work.9. For market efficiency, MSC must be equated to MSB.10. College education is an example of a positive externality.T H X X SMC(PMC+MB)PMCMB HMB/MCPesticidesMB TEssay Questions1. How do social conventions help in alleviating externalities without governmentintervention?2. How do you feel the U.S. has fared in its attempt to impose market forces to correctexternalities?3. List and discuss three problems that might arise when using the Coase theorem.。