Knowee
Questions
Features
Study Tools

Public goods are typically provided by the government, because private markets tend to aproduce less than the socially optimum quantity bproduce them at higher cost ccharge a monopoly price that is greater than the marginal social cost dproduce more than the socially optimum quantity

Question

Public goods are typically provided by the government, because private markets tend to aproduce less than the socially optimum quantity bproduce them at higher cost ccharge a monopoly price that is greater than the marginal social cost dproduce more than the socially optimum quantity

🧐 Not the exact question you are looking for?Go ask a question

Solution

Public goods are typically provided by the government for several reasons:

a) Produce less than the socially optimum quantity: Public goods are non-excludable and non-rivalrous, meaning they are available to all and one person's use does not diminish another's. Private markets may not produce enough of these goods because they cannot exclude those who do not pay, leading to a free-rider problem.

b) Produce them at higher cost: The government can often provide public goods more efficiently due to economies of scale. For example, it would be inefficient and costly for multiple private companies to build separate road networks.

c) Charge a monopoly price that is greater than the marginal social cost: If a private company were to provide a public good, they could potentially become a monopoly and charge prices that are higher than the social cost of producing the good. This could lead to under-consumption of the good.

d) Produce more than the socially optimum quantity: This is less likely with public goods, as they are typically under-produced in a free market. However, it is possible that a private company could over-produce a public good if they are able to charge a high price for it, leading to inefficiencies.

This problem has been solved

Similar Questions

Private producers have no incentive to provide public goods becauseGroup of answer choicesthe government subsidy granted is usually insufficient to enable private producers to make a profit.production of huge quantities of public goods entails huge fixed costs.they cannot avoid the tragedy of the commons.once produced, it will not be possible to exclude those who do not pay for the good.

Without government intervention, public goods will be __________ provided by markets alone. Group of answer choicesequitablyunderefficientlyoverly

Monopolies are socially inefficient because the price they charge isGroup of answer choicesabove marginal cost.above demand.equal to demand.equal to marginal revenue.

What are the two characteristics that differentiate private goods from public goods?Multiple Choicerivalry and excludabilitynegative externality and positive externalitymarginal cost and marginal benefitownership and usage

Externalities are minimized ifGroup of answer choicesthe government owns all of the productive resources.there are no private goods.private property rights are well established.there are no public goods.there are no free-riders.

1/3

Upgrade your grade with Knowee

Get personalized homework help. Review tough concepts in more detail, or go deeper into your topic by exploring other relevant questions.