Flashcards in Market failure Deck (19):
1
what does social cost equal to
private cost + external cost
2
positive externalities: difference between under-consumption and under-production
1. under-consumption is with merit good, when MSB > MPB
2. under-production is with renewable energy, when MPC > MSC
3
with externalities, what is the 'supply' curve and what is the 'demand' curve
cost is supply and benefit is demand
4
negative externalities: difference between over production and over-consumption
1. over-production e.g. factory pollution - MSC > MPC
2. over-consumption e.g. fast food MSB < MPB
5
define an externality
element of transaction imposed upon an uncompensated third party
6
how do you combat negative production externalities?
taxes
7
how do you combat positive production externalities?
subsidies and grants
8
how do you combat positive consumption externalities?
education
9
how do you combat negative consumption externalities?
tax, information, regulation
10
name a key reason for under-provision of public goods
the free rider problem - there is a large incentive for individuals not to pay for the good because someone else might, which is why it may be left under provided if left to free market allocation
11
key reason for under/over consumption of merit/demerit goods
information failure
12
name reasons for market failure
1. Factor immobility
2. inequality
3. Information asymmetry
4. Lack of competition
5. Under-Provision of public goods
6. demerit and merit goods
13
what is ad valorem tax
a tax levied as a percentage of the value of the good/service e.g. 20% VAT
14
name 3 problems with imposing indirect taxes
1. difficult to target (due to information failure - not knowing extent of market failure)
2. conflict of raising revenue and correcting market failure
3. taxes are unpopular e.g. in 1990s UK had to abandon plan to raise VAT on gas
15
example of failure to remove subsidies
attempts to remove subsidies on food or fuel in Iran have caused riots
16
explain how buffer stock schemes work
this is done to stabilise price of commodities;
if min price is set, and free market price threatens to go below this, the scheme will buy commodity, increasing demand and raising prices
if max price set, then sell, increase supply, raise price
17
name two unintended consequences of CAP
1. in 70s and 80s most of EU budget was spent on CAP, and EU consumers had paid much higher prices than they would otherwise
2. Depressed world prices - EU bought up certain products at min price and sold below this at world markets --> farmers in rich countries suffered for lower prices for their produce, as well as producers in developing countries who wouldn't compete
18
name types of government failure
1. Distortion of price signals (labour market)
2. Unintended consequences (CAP)
3. Admin costs
4. Information gaps
5. Conflicting objectives
6. Politics
19