The Gizmo Company is planning to develop new household gadgets. Table 13.4 shows the company’s demand for financial capital for research and development of these gadgets, based on expected rates of return from sales. Now, say that every investment would have an additional 5% social benefit—that is, an investment that pays at least a 6% return to the Gizmo Company will pay at least an 11% return for society as a whole; an investment that pays at least 7% for the Gizmo Company will pay at least 12% for society as a whole, and so on. Answer the questions that follow based on this information.

Table 13.4

a. If the going interest rate is 9%, how much will Gizmo invest in R&D if it receives only the private benefits of  this investment?

b. Assume that the interest rate is still 9%. How much will the firm invest if it also receives the social benefits of  its investment?

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Estimated Rate of Return 10% 9% 8% 7% 6% 5% 4% 3% Private profits of the firm from an R&D project (in $ millions) $100 $102 $108 $118 $133 $153 $183 $223