6. Correcting for negative externalities - Taxes versus tradablepermits Paper factories emit chemicals as a waste product. This generates a cost to society that is not paid for by the firm; therefore, pollution is a negative externality of paper production. Suppose the U.S. government wants to correct this market failure by getting firms to internalize the cost of pollution. To do this, the government can charge firms for pollution rights (the right to emit a given quantity of chemicals). The following graph shows the daily demand for pollution rights. Use the graph input tool to help you answer the following questions. You will not be graded on any changes you make to this graph. Note: Once you enter a value in a white field, the graph and any corresponding amounts in each grey field will change accordingly. Graph Input Tool (? Daily Demand for Pollution Rights I Price (Dollars per ton) 9 Quantity 180 Demanded (Millions of tons) PRICE (Dollars per ton) Demand 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 QUANTITY (Millions of tons) Suppose the government has determined that the socially optimal quantity of chemical pollution is 140 million tons per day. One way governments can charge firms for pollution rights is by imposing a per-unit tax on emissions. A tax (or price in this case) of $ per ton of chemicals emitted will achieve the desired level of pollution. Now suppose the U.S. government does not know the demand curve for pollution and, therefore, cannot determine the optimal tax to achieve the desired level of pollution. Instead, it auctions off tradable pollution permits. Each permit entitles its owner to emit one ton of chemicals per day. To achieve the socially optimal quantity of pollution, the government auctions off 140 million pollution permits. Given this quantity of permits, the price for each permit in the market for pollution rights will be |$ The previous analysis hinges on the government having good information regarding either the demand for pollution permits or the optimal level of pollution (or both). Given that the appropriate policy (tradable permits or corrective taxes) can depend on the available information and the policy goal, consider the following scenario. An environmental study conducted in a particular city suggests that if a chemical plant emits more than 70 million tons of chemicals each year, the water supply will become contaminated beyond the point where filtration techniques can make it safe for drinking. If this is all the information the government has, which solution to reduce pollution is appropriate? Check all that apply. O Tradable permits Corrective taxes