In: Economics
Assume a market exhibits externalities of $40 per unit and supply and demand curves are equally steep. What is the resulting rate for a Pigou Tax?
The resulting rate for pigou is $40 per unit.
When externality per unit is $40, pigou tax will be equal to $40 per unit. In diagram vertical distance between Supply curves is $40. So distance A-B is tax per unit.
From this $40 tax, $20 will be borne by buyer and $20 will be borne by producer because both curves are equally steep. Before tax price was P0 and after tax buyer will pay P1 and producer will receive P2.