In: Economics
3. Assume that a chemical plant in your area has been
dumping its toxic waste free of charge into a local stream.
A. What is the criterion that we use to define “static economic
efficiency”? Why would the market allocation not meet this economic
efficiency criterion? (4)
B. Use a supply and demand (i.e., marginal benefit-marginal cost)
diagram to compare the market allocation (price and quantity) with
the socially optimal (i.e., statically efficient) allocation.
(4)
C. How could you use a marketable permit system to solve this
problem? Explain. (6)
D. How could you use Pigovian taxes to solve this problem? Explain.
(6)