1. Consider the market for fire extinguishers.

a. Why might fire extinguishers exhibit positive externalities?

b. Draw a graph of the market for fire extinguishers, labeling the demand curve, the social-value curve,the supply curve, and the social-cost curve.

c. Indicate the market equilibrium level of output and the efficient level of output. Give an intuitive explanation for why these quantities differ.

d. If the external benefit is $10 per extinguisher, describe a government policy that would yield the efficient outcome.

2. Figure 4 shows that for any given demand curve for the right to pollute, the government can achieve the same outcome either by setting a price with a corrective tax or by setting a quantity with pollution permits. Suppose there is a sharp improvement in the technology for controlling pollution.

a. Using graphs similar to those in Figure 4, illustrate the effect of this development on the demand for pollution rights.

b. What is the effect on the price and quantity of pollution under each regulatory system? Explain.