The government of Washlovia wants to impose a tax on clothes dryers. In East Washlovia the demand elasticity for clothes dryers is -2.4 while in West Washlovia the demand elasticity is -1.7. Where will the tax inefficiency be greater? Explain.
Absolute value of elasticity of demand in East Washlovia is higher than that in West Washlovia, so demand is more elastic in East Washlovia. When demand is elastic, a N% rise in price (caused by tax) will lead to a more than N% decrease in quantity demanded. The more elastic the demand, the higher than % fall in quantity for a given % increase in price. As a result, the more elastic the demand, the higher the deadweight loss from tax and the greater the tax inefficiency. So East Washlovia will have greater tax inefficiency.
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