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Negative Externalities

Total questions: 25

Worksheet time: 25mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Refer to the image. Given the position of the marginal social cost curve, one can conclude that

a)

production of good X creates a negative externality.

b)

private cost of producing good X exceeds the social cost of production at all levels of output.

c)

market quantity, Q3, is the socially optimal quantity.

d)

free market will produce too little of good X.

2.

A ______ Externality occurs when a cost of production or consumption falls on a 3rd Party.

a)

Negative

b)

Neutral

c)

Positive

3.

If the production of a good generates a negative externality, which of the following is true at the market equilibrium?

a)

The private market equilibrium quantity is equal to the socially optimal quantity.

b)

The marginal private cost is greater than the marginal social cost.

c)

The price of the product equals the marginal social cost.

d)

The private market equilibrium quantity is greater than the socially optimal quantity.

4.

Which of the following is true when there are negative externalities associated with the production of a good?

a)

The market will adjust automatically to equate marginal social costs and marginal social benefits.

b)

Marginal social costs will exceed marginal private costs unless businesses are forced to internalize the external costs.

c)

Marginal private costs will exceed marginal social costs, but the government can correct the problem.

d)

Producers should be subsidized so that they will produce more of the good.

5.

Negative externalities can be best described as

a)

When the consumption/production of a good or service has a negative impact on a third party

b)

When the consumption/production of a good or service has any impact on a third party

c)

When the consumption/production of a good or service has a positive impact on a third party

d)

When the consumption/production of a good or service depletes the access for a third party

6.

Driving a car on crowded highway produces

a)

a negative externality.

b)

a positive externality.

7.

Marginal Social Cost minus Marginal Private Cost equals

a)

internal cost.

b)

external cost.

c)

marginal cost.

d)

marginal revenue.

8.

A negative externality results due to firms

a)

being very, very , bad.

b)

not paying the full cost of production.

c)

firms internalizing production costs.

d)

firms not realizing they are polluting.

9.

The shaded triangle on the diagram shows

a)

the DWL of overproduction.

b)

the impact of a positive externality.

c)

the DWL of underproduction.

d)

consumer surplus.

10.

Which of the following statements is not true about negative externalities?

a)

Society can experience a welfare loss because of them

b)

Pollution from a factory often causes negative externalities

c)

They result in an under-allocation of resources

d)

MSC is greater than MSB at the market output

11.

Which of the following goods or services is the most likely to lead to negative externalities of consumption?

a)

Mobile phones

b)

Solar panels

c)

An art gallery

d)

Organic vegetables

12.

In the diagram, which of the following is not true?

a)

Arrow A is the external cost

b)

The consumer and producer surplus are not maximised at point C

c)

Point D is the socially efficient output

d)

Supply equals marginal private cost at B

13.

Which of the following is untrue in the diagram?

a)

There is an under allocation of resources

b)

It shows negative consumption externalities

c)

The consumer and producer surplus are maximised at output Q

d)

The welfare loss is the yellow triangle

14.

An externality is present when

a)

there is an efficient allocation of resources

b)

the economy reaches an equilibrium where MSB = MSC 

c)

activities of producers and consumers prevent the economy from reaching an equilibrium 

d)

activities of producers and consumers affect the well-being of third parties whose interests are not taken into account 

15.

A negative externality arising from the production of good Z leads to

a)

an overallocation of resources to the production and consumption of good Z 

b)

an underallocation of resources to the production and consumption of good Z

c)

higher costs of production for good Z 

d)

lower demand for good Z 

16.

Negative production externalities due to the use of fossil fuels arise because

a)

the private costs of production are greater than the social costs 

b)

environmental regulations are strongly enforced 

c)

firms are not aware of environmental regulations 

d)

firms ignore the costs they impose on bystanders 

17.

The use of cars usually leads to _____________________ because _____________________.

a)

negative production externalities / MSC < MPC

b)

negative consumption externalities / MSC > MPC 

c)

positive consumption externalities / MSB > MPB 

d)

negative consumption externalities / MPB > MSB 

18.

Demerit goods are often _____________________ due to _____________________.

a)

non-excludable / their high prices 

b)

underprovided by the market / positive consumption externalities

c)

overprovided by the market / negative consumption externalities 

d)

underprovided by the market / negative production externalities 

19.

What is a negative externality?

a)

A cost imposed on a third party not involved in the transaction

b)

A benefit received by a third party not involved in the transaction

c)

A cost that affects only the buyer and seller

d)

A benefit that affects only the buyer and seller

20.

Which of the following is an example of a negative externality?

a)

A factory polluting a river

b)

A person planting a tree

c)

A company donating to charity

d)

A student receiving a scholarship

21.

How can governments address negative externalities?

a)

By imposing taxes on activities that generate them

b)

By providing subsidies to increase production

c)

By ignoring them

d)

By encouraging more consumption

22.

What happens to the social cost when negative externalities are present?

a)

Social cost exceeds private cost

b)

Social cost is less than private cost

c)

Social cost equals private cost

d)

Social cost is irrelevant

23.

Why do negative externalities lead to market failure?

a)

Because they cause overproduction of goods

b)

Because they cause underproduction of goods

c)

Because they lead to perfect competition

d)

Because they eliminate consumer choice

24.

Which of the following is a characteristic of a negative externality?

a)

It leads to a welfare loss in society

b)

It results in a gain for all parties involved

c)

It has no impact on third parties

d)

It is always beneficial to the environment

25.

What is the relationship between marginal social cost (MSC) and marginal private cost (MPC) in the presence of negative externalities?

a)

MSC is greater than MPC

b)

MSC is less than MPC

c)

MSC equals MPC

d)

MSC is unrelated to MPC