Refer to the information in Figure 16.5 below to answer the question(s) that follow. Figure 16.5
Figure 16.5 shows the marginal benefits of emitting pollution for the only two chemical companies in an industry, Alpha Chemicals and Beta Chemicals. Before any tax on pollution emissions is imposed, each company views pollution as being free.
-Refer to Figure 16.5. The government decides to impose a tax on pollution emissions to cut total emissions in this industry in half, and based on this decision it has set the tax at $100 per ton of emissions. Following the implementation of this tax, Alpha will reduce its emissions to ________ tons.
A) 25
B) 50
C) 75
D) 100

Question

Refer to the information in Figure 16.5 below to answer the question(s) that follow.  Figure 16.5
Figure 16.5 shows the marginal benefits of emitting pollution for the only two chemical companies in an industry, Alpha Chemicals and Beta Chemicals. Before any tax on pollution emissions is imposed, each company views pollution as being free.
-Refer to Figure 16.5. The government decides to impose a tax on pollution emissions to cut total emissions in this industry in half, and based on this decision it has set the tax at $100 per ton of emissions. Following the implementation of this tax, Alpha will reduce its emissions to ________ tons.
A) 25 
B) 50 
C) 75 
D) 100

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Alpha will reduce its emissions to the point where the marginal cost of reducing emissions equals the tax rate of $100 per ton. This occurs at 25 tons of emissions, as shown in the figure where the marginal cost curve intersects the $100 tax line.

Refer to the Information in Figure 16