Market Failure
Overview
Markets are powerful, but they are not perfect. Left to themselves they will pump out cigarettes nobody should want so much of, starve schools and vaccinations of funding, refuse to build a lighthouse at all, and let a single giant firm overcharge everyone. Each of these is a case of market failure, and spotting it is the first step to fixing it.
In this lesson you will master the key vocabulary, public, merit and demerit goods, private, external and social costs and benefits, and monopoly, see why markets fail in each case, and analyse the harm done when resources are misallocated. This is the bridge between how markets work and why governments intervene.
Objectives
- public goods, merit goods, demerit goods, private benefits, external benefits, social benefits, private costs, external costs, social costs, monopoly
- causes relating to public goods, merit goods, demerit goods, external costs and external benefits, abuse of monopoly power
- implications of misallocation of resources in relation to: - the over-consumption of demerit goods and goods with external costs - the under-consumption of merit goods and goods with external benefits - the non-provision of public goods - restricted supply causing higher prices under a monopoly
Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Market Failure. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- A public good is best described as one that is: A. provided only by private firms B. non-excludable and non-rivalrous C. harmful when consumed D. always free to produce Answer: B
- Which is an example of a demerit good? A. education B. vaccination C. cigarettes D. street lighting Answer: C
- If the private cost of an activity is $50 and the external cost is $20, the social cost is: A. $20 B. $30 C. $50 D. $70 Answer: D
- Goods with external benefits tend to be: A. over-consumed by the market B. under-consumed by the market C. never produced D. priced above their social cost Answer: B
- An abuse of monopoly power typically leads to: A. lower prices and higher output B. higher prices and restricted output C. lower prices and restricted output D. higher output and external benefits Answer: B
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Recommended Books
Practice Mock Questions
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