Negative Externalities of Production

Identify the points that represent the equilibrium price and quantity without any externalities existing (socially optimal price and quantity).

Circle the actual equilibrium point that shows the steel firm overproducing as it is not considering its cost on society.

Which answers below are included in the yellow "welfare loss" triangle?

• Creation of jobs, economic growth

• factory pollution, effect on local biodiversity

• staff training, pollution, cleaner local area

• costs of the land, labour, capital included in production

Label correctly on the diagram:

a

b

c

d

e

MPC

MSC

Welfare Loss

MSB

Price of steel

Name the private costs and the external costs for a firm producing steel.

Groups:

(a) Private Costs

,

(b) External Costs

• Cost of Factory Machinery

• Cost of the Factory Land

• Health of Sick Workers

• Fossil Fuel Pollution

• Workers Payment

• Biodiversity Damage from Smoke

The government intervene to try to "internalise the externality" - to make the steel producer pay for external costs. If they impose a tax on the producer, draw a line from MPC showing the effect of the tax. Call it MPC+tax. Show it removing the welfare loss.