The marginal private cost of mulch production is MPC = 20 + 3Q, where Q is the amount of mulch produced. The marginal benefit (both private and social) of mulch is MB = 100 – Q. In addition to the private costs faced by producers of mulch, people who walk or drive past the area where the mulch is produced also face costs because of the horrible smell of the mulch; the marginal external cost generated by the mulch is MEC = 10 + Q.   How much mulch will be produced by the free market?                  What is the efficient quantity of mulch?                                            Calculate the amount of deadweight loss in this market, and clearly explain what this number means.                                           Suppose that the government realizes that the current amount of mulch produced by the free market is inefficient, and decides to correct this inefficiency by taxing the production of mulch. How large should the tax per unit of mulch be to induce the market to produce the efficient amount, and why would such a tax accomplish the goal of making the market operate efficiently?

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ISBN:9781544336329
Author:Robert L. Sexton
Publisher:Robert L. Sexton
Chapter8: Market Failure
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The marginal private cost of mulch production is MPC = 20 + 3Q, where Q is the amount of mulch produced. The marginal benefit (both private and social) of mulch is MB = 100 – Q. In addition to the private costs faced by producers of mulch, people who walk or drive past the area where the mulch is produced also face costs because of the horrible smell of the mulch; the marginal external cost generated by the mulch is MEC = 10 + Q.

 

  1. How much mulch will be produced by the free market?                 
  2. What is the efficient quantity of mulch?                                           
  3. Calculate the amount of deadweight loss in this market, and clearly explain what this number means.                                          
  4. Suppose that the government realizes that the current amount of mulch produced by the free market is inefficient, and decides to correct this inefficiency by taxing the production of mulch. How large should the tax per unit of mulch be to induce the market to produce the efficient amount, and why would such a tax accomplish the goal of making the market operate efficiently?
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