Question 1 Report
The diagram shows demand and supply in a market for winter influenza vaccinations. MPB is marginal private benefit and MSB is marginal social benefit.
(a) Which output, Q1 or Q2, would occur in an unregulated market? [1]
(b) Explain why vaccinations create an external benefit. [2]
(c) State one government policy that could move output towards Q2. [1]
(a) The unregulated market output is Q1. Individuals base their vaccination decisions on marginal private benefit, represented by MPB, rather than the full marginal social benefit. [1]
(b) A vaccinated person is less likely to pass influenza to other people. [1] Those other people gain protection without paying for that individual's vaccination, so this is an external benefit. [1]
(c) A subsidy for vaccination could move output towards Q2. [1] Free vaccination, government provision, or an information campaign would also be acceptable.
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