wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Market Failures and Externalities

Total questions: 16

Worksheet time: 8mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

In which of the following situations is market failure least likely to occur? A situation where;

a)

externalities exist

b)

many producers compete in the market

c)

there is a sole producer in market

d)

there is a very uneven distribution of income and wealth

2.

Which of the following statements is true about externalities?

a)

When externalities exist, resources are allocated efficiently

b)

When positive externalities exist, efficiency is improved by taxing the product

c)

From society's point of view, the output of goods for which a positive externality exists is too low

d)

The price system overproduces goods with positive externalities

3.

When social costs are greater than private costs, there is a;

a)

positive externality

b)

negative externality

c)

less than socially optimal output

d)

socially optimal output

4.

A tin-mining company is found guilty of polluting a river. Which one of the following government measures would an economist describe as an appropriate market-based solution?

a)

Imposition of regulations and direct control on the company

b)

A reduction of private property rights over the river

c)

Increase tax on the tin produced

d)

Nationalization of the tin-mining company

5.
Government regulations exist to
a)
Increase economic freedom
b)
Protect consumers from negative externalities
c)
Punish people who intervene in the free market
d)
Provide incentives to privatize
6.

Driving a car on crowded highway produces

a)

a negative externality.

b)

a positive externality.

7.

Apartment dwellers who buy fire alarms or fire extinguishers generate a

a)

negative externality.

b)

positive externality.

8.

A tax equal to the external cost on firms that emit pollutants would

a)

not reduce pollution levels at all.

b)

provide firms with the incentive to increase the level of activity creating the pollution.

c)

provide firms with the incentive to decrease the level of activity creating the pollution.

d)

provide firms with little incentive to search for less environmentally damaging production methods.

9.

Which of the following is an example of a positive externality resulting from an outdoor band concert?

a)

An elderly woman in her apartment hears a song that she liked as a child.

b)

A pair of endangered birds leave their nest in a nearby tree when the concert starts.

c)

A pizza parlor closes early, because all of its customers are at the concert.

d)

A traffic jam occurs as drivers hunt for parking spots near the concert.

10.

An Economic side effect of a good or service that generates benefits or costs to someone other than the person deciding how much to produce or consume.

a)

Public good

b)

Free rider

c)

Externalities

d)

Private sector

11.

Who tries to prevent market failures due to negative externalities?

a)

The FBI

b)

Merchant Marines

c)

The Government

d)

Porch Pirates

12.

Going to the gym and seeing results, is a form of _______ externalities.

a)

positive

b)

negative

13.

_____ are situations when there's an external costs or external benefits that accrue to other people or society as a whole.

a)

Externalities

b)

Internalities

c)

Progressives

14.

Education is a negative externality.

a)

False

b)

True

15.

Regulatory policies are rules established by _____ decree.

a)

government

b)

social

c)

private

d)

market

16.

“Side effects” of producing the good or service and can have a positive or negative affect on others.

a)

Externalities

b)

Public Goods

c)

Free-rider problem