Why do economists plot a curve of pollution cleanup costs against a curve of estimated social costs of pollution?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Economists plot a curve of pollution cleanup costs against a curve of estimated social costs of pollution to find the optimal level of pollution. This is the level at which the marginal cost of pollution cleanup equals the marginal social cost of pollution. At this level, society minimizes the overall costs associated with pollution.

Why Do Economists Plot a Curve of Pollution Cleanup Costs