Deck 5: Externalities, Environmental Policy, and Public Goods

Question 1

Which of the following activities create a negative externality?

A)cleaning up the sidewalk on your block
B)graduating from college
C)repainting the house you live in to improve its appearance
D)keeping a junked car parked on your front lawn

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Figure 5-1

Figure 5-1 shows a market with an externality.The current market equilibrium output of Q₁ is not the economically efficient output.The economically efficient output is Q₂.
Refer to Figure 5-1.If, because of an externality, the economically efficient output is Q₂ and not the current equilibrium output of Q₁, what does S₁ represent?

A)the market supply curve reflecting external cost
B)the market supply curve reflecting implicit cost
C)the market supply curve reflecting marginal social cost
D)the market supply curve reflecting marginal private cost

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Conceptually, the efficient level of carbon emissions is the level for which

A)the marginal benefit of reducing carbon emissions is maximized.
B)the marginal cost of reducing carbon emissions is minimized.
C)the marginal benefit of reducing carbon emissions is equal to the marginal cost of reducing carbon emissions.
D)the marginal benefit of reducing carbon emissions is minimized and the marginal cost of reducing carbon emissions is maximized.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

A negative externality exists if

A)there are price controls in a market.
B)there are quantity controls in a market.
C)the marginal social cost of producing a good or service exceeds the private cost.
D)the marginal private cost of producing a good or service exceeds the social cost.

Question 5

A carbon tax which is designed to reduce pollution is an example of a

A)command-and-control policy.
B)government administrative rule.
C)noneffective incentive.
D)market-based policy.

Question 6

What is a market failure?

A)It refers to the inability of the market to allocate resources efficiently up to the point where marginal social benefit equals marginal social cost.
B)It refers to the inability of the market to allocate resources efficiently up to the point where marginal social benefit equals marginal private cost.
C)It refers to a situation where an entire sector of the economy (for example, the airline industry)collapses because of some unforeseen event.
D)It refers to a breakdown in a market economy because of widespread corruption in government.

Question 7

When the federal government orders firms to use particular methods to reduce pollution, it is said to be using

A)command-and-control policies.
B)strong-arm tactics.
C)global initiatives.
D)market-based policies.

Question 8

Figure 5-1

Figure 5-1 shows a market with an externality.The current market equilibrium output of Q₁ is not the economically efficient output.The economically efficient output is Q₂.
Refer to Figure 5-1.Suppose the current market equilibrium output of Q₁ is not the economically efficient output because of an externality.The economically efficient output is Q₂.In that case, the diagram shows

A)the effect of a positive externality in the production of a good.
B)the effect of a negative externality in the production of a good.
C)the effect of an external cost imposed on a producer.
D)the effect of an external benefit such as a subsidy granted to consumers of a good.

Question 9

Which of the following is an example of a positive externality?

A)raising the speed limit to 60 mph in school zones
B)planting trees along a sidewalk which add beauty and create shade
C)permitting smoking on commercial airplanes
D)a police department stops enforcing DUI laws

Question 10

What is a "social cost" of production?

A)the cost of the natural resources used up in production
B)the total costs of producing a product, both implicit and explicit costs
C)the sum of all costs to individuals in society, regardless of whether the costs are borne by those who produce the products or consume the product
D)the cost of the environmental damage created by production

Question 11

When a negative externality exists, the private market produces

A)more than the economically efficient output level.
B)less than the economically efficient output level.
C)products at a low opportunity cost.
D)products at a high opportunity cost.

Question 12

An externality is

A)a benefit realized by the purchaser of a good or service.
B)a cost paid for by the producer of a good or service.
C)a benefit or cost experienced by someone who is not a producer or consumer of a good or service.
D)anything that is external or not relevant to the production of a good or service.

Question 13

Which of the following represents the true economic cost of production when firms produce goods that cause negative externalities?

A)the private cost of production
B)the social cost of production
C)the external cost of production
D)the explicit cost of production

Question 14

Which of the following is a source of market failure?

A)unforeseen circumstances which leads to the bankruptcy of many firms
B)a lack of government intervention in a market
C)incomplete property rights or inability to enforce property rights
D)an inequitable income distribution

Question 15

A positive externality causes

A)the marginal social benefit to be equal to the marginal private cost of the last unit produced.
B)the marginal social benefit to be less than the marginal private cost of the last unit produced.
C)the marginal social benefit to exceed the marginal private cost of the last unit produced.
D)the marginal private benefit to exceed the marginal social cost of the last unit produced.

Question 16

If you burn your trash in the backyard in spite of regulations against it, then you are

A)acting economically irrationally and creating a social cost.
B)avoiding the private costs associated with disposing your trash some other way and creating a social cost.
C)acting rationally and creating a positive externality.
D)saving landfill space and creating a social benefit.

Question 17

Mandatory motorcycle helmet laws are designed to reduce the severity of injuries resulting from motorcycle involvement in traffic accidents.In this sense, these mandatory helmet laws are reducing ________ of risky behavior.

A)positive externalities
B)negative externalities
C)the private benefit
D)the social benefit

Question 18

Figure 5-1

Figure 5-1 shows a market with an externality.The current market equilibrium output of Q₁ is not the economically efficient output.The economically efficient output is Q₂.
Refer to Figure 5-1.If, because of an externality, the economically efficient output is Q₂ and not the current equilibrium output of Q₁, what does S₂ represent?

A)the market supply curve reflecting marginal private cost
B)the market supply curve reflecting marginal social cost
C)the market supply curve reflecting external cost
D)the market supply curve reflecting implicit cost

Question 19

Private costs

A)are borne by producers of a good while social costs are borne by government.
B)are borne by consumers of a good while social costs are borne by government.
C)are borne by producers of a good while social costs are borne by society at large.
D)are borne by producers of a good while social costs are borne by those who cannot afford to purchase the good.

Question 20

What are property rights?

A)the title to ownership of any physical asset
B)a legal document verifying ownership of intangible assets
C)the rights individuals or firms have to the exclusive use of their property, including the right to buy or sell it
D)the right of the government to appropriate private assets for the good of society

Question 21

A market supply curve reflects the

A)external costs of producing a good or service.
B)external benefits of producing a good or service.
C)social costs of producing a good or service.
D)private costs of producing a good or service.

Question 22

In the past the federal government often employed what is called a "command-and-control" approach to the reduction of pollution emissions.Many economists are critical of this approach because

A)it does not lead to significant reductions in pollution.
B)they believe a market-based approach will reduce pollution more efficiently.
C)the "command-and-control" approach is designed to help firms at the expense of consumers.
D)the "command-and-control" approach leads to negative externalities.

Question 23

Which of the following conditions holds in an economically efficient competitive market equilibrium?

A)The deadweight loss is positive but at a minimum.
B)Producer and consumer surplus are exactly equal in size.
C)There are no positive and no negative external effects from consumption and production.
D)The marginal benefit of the last unit produced and consumed is maximized.

Question 24

A positive externality results when

A)economists are sure that a good or service provides benefits to consumers.
B)someone pays for a good or service even though she is not directly affected by the production or consumption of it.
C)people who live in one country benefit from the production of a good or service that occurs in another country.
D)people who are not directly involved in producing or paying for a good or service benefit from it.

Question 25

Figure 5-2

Figure 5-2 shows a market with a negative externality.
Refer to Figure 5-2.The marginal benefit of the last unit produced is represented by the price

A)Pₐ.
B)Pb.
C)Pc.
D)Pf.

Question 26

Figure 5-3

Refer to Figure 5-3.At the competitive market equilibrium, for the last unit produced

A)the size of the external cost is Pm - Pₒ.
B)the size of the external benefit is Pm - Pₒ.
C)the size of the external cost is Pn - Pₒ.
D)the size of the external benefit is Pn - Pₒ.

Question 27

Figure 5-3

Refer to Figure 5-3.The private profit-maximizing output level is

A)Qm.
B)Qn.
C)Qₒ.
D)Qₒ - Qm.

Question 28

Figure 5-2

Figure 5-2 shows a market with a negative externality.
Refer to Figure 5-2.The private profit-maximizing quantity for the firm is

A)Qₐ.
B)Qb.
C)Qb - Qd.
D)Qd.

Question 29

Figure 5-3

Refer to Figure 5-3.In the absence of any government intervention, the private market

A)underproduces by Qₒ - Qm units.
B)overproduces by Qₒ - Qm units.
C)overproduces by Qn - Qm units.
D)underproduces by Qn - Qm units.

Question 30

Figure 5-3

Refer to Figure 5-3.The deadweight loss due to the externality is represented by the area

A)mso.
B)msn.
C)nso.
D)mtn.

Question 31

Figure 5-2

Figure 5-2 shows a market with a negative externality.
Refer to Figure 5-2.The size of marginal external costs can be determined by

A)S₂ + S₁ at each output level.
B)S₂ - S₁ at each output level.
C)the supply curve S₂.
D)the supply curve S₁.

Question 32

A market demand curve reflects the

A)marginal private benefits of consuming a product.
B)external benefits of consuming a product.
C)marginal social benefits of consuming a product.
D)sum of private and social benefits of consuming a product.

Question 33

Pollution is an example of a

A)public good.
B)positive externality.
C)private cost.
D)negative externality.

Question 34

Which of the following would result in a positive externality?

A)A local government establishes a price ceiling on rental apartments.
B)An electric utility burns coal that causes acid rain.
C)Medical research results in a cure for malaria.
D)McDonald's adds new fat-free items to its menu.

Question 35

Which of the following describes how a negative externality affects a competitive market?

A)The externality causes a difference between the private cost of production and the social cost.
B)The externality causes a difference between the private cost of production and the private benefit from consumption.
C)The externality causes consumer surplus to exceed producer surplus.
D)The externality causes a difference between the private cost of production and the equilibrium price.

Question 36

Figure 5-2

Figure 5-2 shows a market with a negative externality.
Refer to Figure 5-2.The efficient output level is

A)Qd.
B)Qb.
C)Qₐ.
D)Qb - Qd.

Question 37

Figure 5-2

Figure 5-2 shows a market with a negative externality.
Refer to Figure 5-2.The deadweight loss due to the externality is represented by the area

A)abc.
B)abf.
C)abd.
D)ade.

Question 38

Figure 5-3

Refer to Figure 5-3.The efficient output level is

A)Qm.
B)Qn.
C)Qₒ.
D)Qₒ - Qm.

Question 39

Figure 5-3

Refer to Figure 5-3.The size of marginal external benefits can be determined by

A)the demand curve D₂.
B)D₂ + D₁ at each output level
C)D₂ - D₁ at each output level.
D)the demand curve D₁.

Question 40

Figure 5-2

Figure 5-2 shows a market with a negative externality.
Refer to Figure 5-2.The true marginal cost of the last unit produced is represented by the price

A)Pₐ.
B)Pb.
C)Pc.
D)Pf.

Question 41

When there is an externality in a market

A)the externality will move the market to an economically efficient equilibrium.
B)the externality will cause the market price to be less than or greater than the equilibrium price.
C)the government should use price controls to enable the market to reach equilibrium.
D)government intervention may increase economic efficiency.

Question 42

When there is a positive externality

A)the marginal private benefit received by consumers is greater than the external benefit.
B)the marginal social benefit received by consumers is greater than the marginal private benefit.
C)the marginal private benefit received by consumers is greater than the marginal private cost.
D)the marginal private benefit received by consumers is greater than the marginal social benefit.

Question 43

Figure 5-4

Suppose there are several paper mills producing paper for a market.These mills, located upstream from a fishing village, discharge a large amount of wastewater into the river.The waste material affects the number of fish in the river and the use of the river for recreation and as a public water supply source.Figure 5-4 shows the paper market.Use this Figure to answer the following question(s).
Refer to Figure 5-4.What does S₂ represent?

A)the market supply curve that reflects social cost
B)the market supply curve that reflect private cost
C)the market supply curve that reflects external cost
D)the market supply curve that reflects social benefit

Question 44

"A competitive market achieves economic efficiency by maximizing the sum of consumer surplus and producer surplus." This statement

A)is true only if there are positive externalities in production in the market.
B)is true only if there are no negative externalities in the market.
C)is true only if there are no positive or negative externalities in the market.
D)is true in theory, but economic efficiency cannot be achieved in a real market.

Question 45

An external cost is created when you

A)graduate from college.
B)buy flowers for your mother on Mother's Day.
C)litter on the side of the road.
D)buy a sandwich for lunch.

Question 46

When production generates a negative externality, the true cost of production is the

A)private cost of production.
B)public cost of production.
C)social cost of production.
D)average cost of production.

Question 47

The cost borne by a producer in the production of a good or service is called

A)private cost.
B)public cost.
C)social cost.
D)internal cost.

Question 48

The social cost of cutting trees for firewood in a government forest is

A)the increased likelihood of flooding as more trees are cut.
B)the increased likelihood of flooding as more trees are cut plus the private cost of cutting the trees.
C)opportunity cost to the individual of cutting the wood.
D)the marginal costs of cutting the last tree.

Question 49

Alternative approaches for reducing carbon dioxide emissions are

A)carbon taxes and carbon scrubbing.
B)carbon trading and carbon subsidies.
C)carbon taxes and carbon trading.
D)burning low carbon coal and deforestation.

Question 50

If there are no externalities, a competitive market achieves economic efficiency.If there is a negative externality, economic efficiency will not be achieved because

A)too little of the good will be produced.
B)too much of the good will be produced.
C)a deadweight loss will occur that is equal to the area under the demand curve for the good.
D)economic surplus is maximized.

Question 51

Which of the following could be evidence of a market failure?

A)Resources in an economy are not fully utilized.
B)The market price of a product is above the average cost of production.
C)There are only a handful of firms competing against each other in an industry.
D)Market prices do not reflect true production costs.

Question 52

When there is a negative externality, the marginal private cost of production ________ the marginal social cost of production.

A)is greater than
B)is equal to
C)eliminates
D)is less than

Question 53

Figure 5-4

Suppose there are several paper mills producing paper for a market.These mills, located upstream from a fishing village, discharge a large amount of wastewater into the river.The waste material affects the number of fish in the river and the use of the river for recreation and as a public water supply source.Figure 5-4 shows the paper market.Use this Figure to answer the following question(s).
Refer to Figure 5-4.What does S₁ represent?

A)the market supply curve that reflects social cost
B)the market supply curve that reflects only external cost
C)the market supply curve that reflects only private benefit
D)the market supply curve that reflects private cost

Question 54

If the social cost of producing a good or service exceeds the private cost

A)a positive externality exists.
B)the sum of consumer surplus and producer surplus is maximized.
C)the market achieves economic efficiency.
D)a negative externality exists.

Question 55

Figure 5-4

Suppose there are several paper mills producing paper for a market.These mills, located upstream from a fishing village, discharge a large amount of wastewater into the river.The waste material affects the number of fish in the river and the use of the river for recreation and as a public water supply source.Figure 5-4 shows the paper market.Use this Figure to answer the following question(s).
Refer to Figure 5-4.What is the economically efficient output level?

A)Q₁
B)Q₂ minus Q₁
C)Q₂
D)Q₁ plus Q₂

Question 56

Which of the following describes how a positive externality affects a competitive market?

A)The externality causes a difference between the private benefit from consumption and the social benefit.
B)The externality causes a difference between the private benefit from production and the social cost of production.
C)The externality causes quantity demanded to exceed quantity supplied.
D)The externality causes a difference between the social cost of production and the social cost of consumption.

Question 57

Assume that emissions from electric utilities contribute to pollution in the form of acid rain.Which of the following describes how this affects the market for electricity?

A)The equilibrium in the market is not efficient; the marginal benefit from electricity is greater than the marginal social cost.
B)A deadweight loss occurs; at equilibrium the additional social cost of production is greater than the additional benefit to consumers.
C)The equilibrium in the market is not efficient; because of the cost of the acid rain, economic efficiency would be greater if more electricity were produced.
D)The equilibrium in the market is not efficient; consumer surplus is equal to producer surplus.

Question 58

A free market fails when

A)there is government intervention.
B)there is an external effect in either production, consumption, or both.
C)firms that produce goods which create positive externalities go bankrupt.
D)firms that produce goods which create negative externalities earn high profits.

Question 59

Medical research that results in a cure for a serious disease produces positive externalities.What is the impact of this positive externality on economic efficiency?

A)At equilibrium, less than the economically efficient quantity of medical research is produced.
B)A deadweight loss occurs because at equilibrium the marginal social cost of medical research is greater than the marginal social benefit.
C)At equilibrium, more than the economically efficient quantity of medical research is produced.
D)A deadweight loss occurs because at equilibrium the marginal social cost equals the marginal social benefit.

Question 60

If the marginal social benefit of consuming a good or a service exceeds the marginal private benefit

A)a negative externality exists.
B)the market achieves economic efficiency.
C)a positive externality exists.
D)the sum of consumer surplus and producer surplus is maximized.

Question 61

Figure 5-6

Figure 5-6 shows the market for measles vaccinations, a product whose use generates positive externalities.
Refer to Figure 5-6.What does D₂ represent?

A)the social welfare curve
B)the demand curve reflecting marginal social benefits
C)the demand curve reflecting marginal private benefits
D)the positive externalities curve

Question 62

The private cost of a good or service is the cost borne by the producer.

Question 63

Figure 5-6

Figure 5-6 shows the market for measles vaccinations, a product whose use generates positive externalities.
Refer to Figure 5-6.Why is there a deadweight loss?

A)because the marginal private benefit for each additional unit between Q₁ and Q₂ exceeds the marginal cost
B)because the marginal private cost for each additional unit between Q₁ and Q₂ exceeds the marginal private benefit
C)because the marginal social cost for each additional unit between Q₁ and Q₂ exceeds the marginal social benefit
D)because the marginal social benefit for each additional unit between Q₁ and Q₂ exceeds the marginal cost

Question 64

Figure 5-6

Figure 5-6 shows the market for measles vaccinations, a product whose use generates positive externalities.
Refer to Figure 5-6.What does D₁ represent?

A)the demand curve reflecting social benefits
B)the positive externalities curve
C)the demand curve reflecting private benefits
D)the social welfare curve

Question 65

The marginal social cost of a good or service is the cost borne by the producer.

Question 66

A market failure arises when an entire sector of the economy (for example, the airline industry)collapses because of some unforeseen event.

Question 67

When there is a negative externality, the competitive output is greater than the economically efficient output level.

Question 68

When there is a positive externality in a free market, too much of the good is produced and consumed.

Question 69

An externality refers to economic events outside a market.

Question 70

Figure 5-6

Figure 5-6 shows the market for measles vaccinations, a product whose use generates positive externalities.
Refer to the Article Summary above.Assuming the findings are correct and all else equal, higher increases in home values which result from close proximity to a Trader Joe's are an example of a ________ due to the location of the Trader Joe's.

A)positive externality.
B)negative externality.
C)private cost.
D)social cost.

Question 71

Figure 5-5

Figure 5-5 shows a market with an externality.The current market equilibrium output of Q₁ is not the economically efficient output.The economically efficient output is Q₂.
Refer to Figure 5-5.Suppose the current market equilibrium output of Q₁ is not the economically efficient output because of an externality.The economically efficient output is Q₂.In that case, diagram shows

A)the effect of a subsidy granted to producers of a good.
B)the effect of an excess demand in a market.
C)the effect of a positive externality in the consumption of a good.
D)the effect of a negative externality in the consumption of a good.

Question 72

Figure 5-6

Figure 5-6 shows the market for measles vaccinations, a product whose use generates positive externalities.
Refer to Figure 5-6.What is the economically efficient output level?

A)Q₁
B)Q₁ + Q₂
C)Q₂ - Q₁
D)Q₂

Question 73

Figure 5-5

Figure 5-5 shows a market with an externality.The current market equilibrium output of Q₁ is not the economically efficient output.The economically efficient output is Q₂.
Refer to Figure 5-5.If, because of an externality, the economically efficient output is Q₂ and not the current equilibrium output of Q₁, what does D₁ represent?

A)the demand curve reflecting external benefits
B)the demand curve reflecting social benefits
C)the demand curve reflecting private benefits
D)the demand curve reflecting the sum of private and social benefits

Question 74

Figure 5-4

Suppose there are several paper mills producing paper for a market.These mills, located upstream from a fishing village, discharge a large amount of wastewater into the river.The waste material affects the number of fish in the river and the use of the river for recreation and as a public water supply source.Figure 5-4 shows the paper market.Use this Figure to answer the following question(s).
Refer to Figure 5-4.Why is there a deadweight loss?

A)because the marginal social cost of producing each additional unit in excess of Q₂ exceeds the marginal benefit
B)because the marginal private cost of producing each additional unit in excess of Q₂ exceeds the marginal benefit
C)because the marginal social benefit of producing each additional unit in excess of Q₂ exceeds the private cost
D)because the marginal private benefit of producing each additional unit in excess of Q₂ exceeds the social cost

Question 75

An externality is an example of a market failure.

Question 76

Figure 5-6

Figure 5-6 shows the market for measles vaccinations, a product whose use generates positive externalities.
Refer to the Article Summary above.Assuming the findings are correct and all else equal, people who do not shop at Trader Joe's can still benefit from living near the store, as is shown by the higher home values.As a result, the marginal social benefit from living near a Trader Joe's is ________ the marginal private benefit to those who shop at Trader Joe's.

A)equal to
B)greater than
C)less than
D)unrelated to

Question 77

Figure 5-4

Suppose there are several paper mills producing paper for a market.These mills, located upstream from a fishing village, discharge a large amount of wastewater into the river.The waste material affects the number of fish in the river and the use of the river for recreation and as a public water supply source.Figure 5-4 shows the paper market.Use this Figure to answer the following question(s).
Refer to Figure 5-4.What is the deadweight loss from producing at the market equilibrium?

A)area C
B)area E
C)area D
D)area F

Question 78

Figure 5-6

Figure 5-6 shows the market for measles vaccinations, a product whose use generates positive externalities.
Refer to Figure 5-6.What is the deadweight loss resulting from producing at the market equilibrium?

A)B + C
B)E + C
C)F
D)C

Question 79

Figure 5-5

Figure 5-5 shows a market with an externality.The current market equilibrium output of Q₁ is not the economically efficient output.The economically efficient output is Q₂.
Refer to Figure 5-5.If, because of an externality, the economically efficient output is Q₂ and not the current equilibrium output of Q₁, what does D₂ represent?

A)the demand curve reflecting external benefits
B)the demand curve reflecting social benefits
C)the demand curve reflecting private benefits
D)the demand curve reflecting the sum of social and external benefits

Question 80

Figure 5-6

Figure 5-6 shows the market for measles vaccinations, a product whose use generates positive externalities.
Refer to Figure 5-6.What is the market equilibrium output level?

A)Q₁
B)Q₂
C)Q₁ + Q₂
D)Q₂ - Q₁