Suppose a particular production process results in a large amount of pollution and the government decides to impose a tax to correct for this externality, such that the socially optimal output will be produced. The tax will have the effect of shifting the
Answer: shifting the supply curve to the left from MPC0 to MPC1.
EXPLANATION:
In presence of negative externality of pollution, marginal social cost of production is sum of marginal private cost of production and marginal damage due to pollution. The firm considers only marginal private cost while taking decision of how much amount to produce. And as a result the firm produces at the intersection of marginal private cost MPC0 and MB, I.e.Q0.
But the socially optimal level of production should be at the intersection of marginal social cost MPS and MB.i.e. Q1.
This extra amount of production Q1Q0 can be reduced by imposing tax of AB amount. As a result marginal private cost curve will shift from MPC0 TO MPC1. This is also the supply curve of the firm. Now socially optimal level of production Q1 will be produced.
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