Chapter 5: Q. 5.1 (page 100)
Explain how market failures such as externalities might justify economic functions of the government.
Yes.
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The French government recently allocated the equivalent of more than $120 million in public funds to Quaero (Latin for “I search”), an Internet search engine analogous to Google or Yahoo. Does an Internet search engine satisfy the key characteristics of public good? Why or why not? Based on your answer, is a publicly funded Internet search engine a public good or a government-sponsored good?
Suppose the panel (a) of the figure applies to Pennsylvania's steel market. Suppose that steel manufacturer in this state adopts a new technique for producing steel that entails a smaller external cost. In the absence of any government action to correct the negative externality from steel production, would the overallocation of resources to steel production in Pennslyvania be larger or smaller following the adoption of the next steel-manufacturing technique?
A nation’s government has determined that mass transit, such as bus lines, helps alleviate traffic congestion, thereby benefiting both individual auto commuters and companies that desire to move products and factors of production speedily along streets and highways. Nevertheless, even though several private bus lines are in service, the country’s commuters are failing to take the social benefits of the use of mass transit into account.
(a) Discuss, in the context of demand-supply analysis, the essential implications of commuters’ failure to take into account the social benefits associated with bus ridership.
(b) Explain a government policy that might be effective in achieving the socially efficient use of bus services.
A government agency is contemplating launching an effort to expand the scope of its activities. One rationale for doing so is that another government agency might make the same effort and, if successful, receive larger budget allocations in future years. Another rationale for expanding the agency’s activities is that this will make the jobs of its workers more interesting, which may help the government agency attract better-qualified employees. Nevertheless, to broaden its legal mandate, the agency will have to convince more than half of the House of Representatives and the Senate to approve a formal proposal to expand its activities. In addition, to expand its activities, the agency must have the authority to force private companies it does not currently regulate to be officially licensed by agency personnel. Identify which aspects of this problem are similar to those faced by firms that operate in private markets and which aspects are specific to the public sector.
After a government implements a voucher program, granting funds that families can spend at schools of their choice, numerous students in public schools switch to private schools. Parents’ and students’ valuations of the services provided at both private and public schools adjust to equality with
the true market price of educational services. Is anyone likely to lose out nonetheless? If so, who?
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