Calculating Marginal Environmental Damage
A chemical plant's production process pollutes a local water source. The table below shows the estimated total external cost to the community at different levels of the plant's weekly output. Based on this data, calculate the marginal external cost of producing the 4th ton of chemicals for the week. Explain what this calculated value signifies in the context of the pollution problem.
| Output (tons/week) | Total External Cost ($) |
|---|---|
| 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 20 |
| 2 | 50 |
| 3 | 100 |
| 4 | 180 |
| 5 | 300 |
0
1
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Ch.10 Market successes and failures: The societal effects of private decisions - The Economy 2.0 Microeconomics @ CORE Econ
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Application in Bloom's Taxonomy
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Steeper Slope of MSC Compared to MPC
A manufacturing plant's production process generates air pollution. An economic study concludes that the marginal external cost of this pollution increases as the plant's output rises. Which of the following statements is the most accurate interpretation of this finding?
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The marginal social cost (MSC) of production is the sum of the marginal private cost (MPC) and the marginal external cost (MEC). Match each type of marginal external cost with its correct graphical representation.
A factory's production process generates pollution with an increasing marginal external cost. This means that the total external cost of producing the first 10 units is less than one-tenth of the total external cost of producing the first 100 units.
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A chemical factory's production process pollutes a nearby river. At low levels of output, the river's ecosystem can absorb the pollution with minimal impact. As output increases, however, each additional unit of production causes progressively more severe damage to the aquatic life. How does this situation affect the relationship between the Marginal Private Cost (MPC) and the Marginal Social Cost (MSC) of production?
Calculating Marginal Environmental Damage
Prioritizing Pollution Reduction
A factory's production process creates a negative externality. Economists have determined that the marginal external cost (MEC) of this externality increases as the factory's output (Q) rises. Which of the following descriptions best represents the shape of the total external cost (TEC) curve when plotted against the quantity of output (Q)?