Assume that emissions from electric utilities contribute to pollution in the form of acid rain.Which of the following describes how this affects the market for electricity?
A)The equilibrium in the market is not efficient; the marginal benefit from electricity is greater than the marginal social cost.
B)A deadweight loss occurs; at equilibrium the additional social cost of production is greater than the additional benefit to consumers.
C)The equilibrium in the market is not efficient; because of the cost of the acid rain, economic efficiency would be greater if more electricity were produced.
D)The equilibrium in the market is not efficient; consumer surplus is equal to producer surplus.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of acid rain caused by emissions from electric utilities increases the social cost of producing electricity. Therefore, at the equilibrium quantity, the marginal social cost exceeds the marginal benefit to consumers, leading to a deadweight loss, as described in option B. Options A, C, and D are incorrect as they do not accurately describe the impact of acid rain on the electricity market.

Assume That Emissions from Electric Utilities Contribute to Pollution in the Form