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The key takeaways are that externalities can lead to market failure when private costs/benefits differ from social costs/benefits. This passage discusses the different types of externalities and how governments can intervene to correct market failures.

Market failure occurs when the free market fails to allocate resources efficiently. It arises when private costs/benefits differ from social costs/benefits due to externalities.

An externality is an impact of production or consumption that is not reflected in market prices. It imposes costs or benefits on third parties not involved in the production or consumption decision.

IB Economics – Market Failure

1.12 Externalities

IB Economics: www.IBDeconomics.com

1.12 EXTERNALITIES: STUDENT LEARNING ACTIVITY

Answer the questions that follow.

1. DEFINITIONS

Define the following terms: [10 marks]

 Factors of production  Short run


 Allocative efficiency  Profit
 Marginal cost  Social optimum price
 Resources  Negative externalities
 Equilibrium  External cost
 Producer surplus  Marginal private cost
 Free market  Marginal external cost
 Surplus  Marginal social costs
 Shortage  Social optimum level of output
 Benefit  Welfare loss
 Marginal benefit  Private benefit
 Law of diminishing marginal utility  Demerit goods
 Utility  Market failure
 Demand curve  Real income
 Marginal private benefit  Consumer welfare
 Spillover effect  Opportunity cost
 External benefit  Tradable permits
 Positive externalities  Merit good
 Externalities  Misallocation of resources
 Marginal external benefit  Positive externalities of consumption
 Marginal social benefit  Negative externalities of consumption
 Private costs  Positive externalities of production
 Quantity supplied  Negative externalities of production
 Industry  Excise tax
 Total cost  Subsidy
 Diminishing marginal returns to a variable
factor
IB Economics – Market Failure
1.12 Externalities

2. SHORT- ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. Explain allocative efficiency using the concepts of producer and consumer surpluses, marginal
costs and benefits. Use a diagram. [6 marks]

2. Explain market failure. [6 marks]

3. Outline what an externality is. [2 marks]

4. Outline how allocative efficiency helps to explain the relationship between externalities and
market failure by using the concept. [6 marks]

5. Distinguish between marginal private and marginal social benefit. [4 marks]

6. Distinguish between marginal private and marginal social cost. [4 marks]

7. Use examples to distinguish between: [8 marks]

i. Negative externalities of production


ii. Positive externalities of production
iii. Negative externalities of consumption
iv. Positive externalities of consumption

8. Use diagrams to distinguish between: [12 marks]

i. Negative externalities of production


ii. Positive externalities of production
iii. Negative externalities of consumption
iv. Positive externalities of consumption

9. Using diagrams, show and/or explain:


[12 marks]
i. That marginal private costs and marginal social costs differ if there is a negative
externality of production.
ii. How the equilibrium market quantity differs from the optimal quantity that maximises
social welfare.
iii. The allocation of resources achieved in a competitive free market when there is a
negative externality of production.
iv. The welfare loss associated with a negative externality of production.

10. Identify two different examples of a negative externality of production and outline the different
methods that could be used to correct it. [6 marks]
IB Economics – Market Failure
1.12 Externalities

11. In the case of polluting emissions, use diagrams to show and/or explain how a negative externality
of production can be corrected by a government using each of the following methods to correct
for market failure:
[15 marks]
i. Indirect taxes
ii. Tradeable permits
iii. Regulation/legislation

12. Outline the advantages and disadvantages of the above three methods (Question 11) used by
governments to intervene in the market and correct for market failure. [6 marks]

13. Explain the meaning of ‘internalising an externality’? [4 marks]

14. Explain why economists prefer market-based solutions to correct for negative externalities of
production. [8 marks]

15. Evaluate, using diagrams, the use of policy responses, including market-based policies (taxation
and tradeable permits) and government regulations, to the problem of negative externalities of
production. [20 marks]

16. Using diagrams, show and/or explain:


[12 marks]
i. That marginal private costs and marginal social costs differ if there is a negative
externality of consumption.
ii. How the equilibrium market quantity differs from the optimal quantity that maximises
social welfare.
iii. The allocation of resources achieved in a competitive free market when there is a
negative externality of consumption.
iv. The welfare loss associated with a negative externality of consumption.

17. Identify two different examples of a negative externality of consumption and outline the different
methods that could be used to correct it. [6 marks]

18. In the case of polluting emissions, use diagrams to show and/or explain how a negative externality
of consumption can be corrected by a government using each of the following methods to
correct for market failure:
[15 marks]
i. Indirect taxes
ii. Advertising
iii. Regulation/legislation

19. Outline the advantages and disadvantages of the above three methods (Question 18) used by
governments to intervene in the market and correct for a market failure caused by negative
externalities of consumption. [6 marks]

20. Use examples to distinguish between merit and demerit goods. [4 marks]
IB Economics – Market Failure
1.12 Externalities

21. Evaluate the use of market-based policies to correct for a negative externality of consumption.
[20 marks]

22. Using diagrams, show and/or explain:


[12 marks]
i. That marginal private costs and marginal social costs differ if there is a positive
externality of production.
ii. How the equilibrium market quantity differs from the optimal quantity that maximises
social welfare.
iii. The allocation of resources achieved in a competitive free market when there is a
positive externality of production.
iv. The welfare loss associated with a positive externality of production.

23. Identify two different examples of a positive externality of production and outline the different
methods that could be used to correct it. [6 marks]

24. Using diagrams, show and/or explain:


[12 marks]
i. That marginal private costs and marginal social costs differ if there is a positive
externality of consumption.
ii. How the equilibrium market quantity differs from the optimal quantity that maximises
social welfare.
iii. The allocation of resources achieved in a competitive free market when there is a
positive externality of consumption.
iv. The welfare loss associated with a positive externality of consumption.

25. Identify two different examples of a positive externality of consumption and outline the different
methods that could be used to correct it. [6 marks]

26. Using diagrams, explain how the under provision of a merit good can be corrected.
[6 marks]

27. Evaluate, using diagrams, the use of policy responses, including market-based policies (taxation
and tradeable permits) and government regulations, to the problem of positive externalities of
production. [20 marks]
IB Economics – Market Failure
1.12 Externalities

3. MULTICHOICE QUESTI ONS

Complete each multiple choice quiz. [50 marks]

Source: www.IBDeconomics.com

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