13 Secondhand smoke I. Assume that the daily demand for packs of cigarettes in the tobacco-addicted nation of Pcoria is Q=100 – P Further assume that the marginal cost of producing a pack of cigarettes is $6, and that the market for cigarettes is perfectly competitive. Assume that each pack of cigarettes smoked does $6 worth of health damage to the smoker in the form of increased cancer risk and a total of $5 worth of health damage to the smoker's neighbors via secondhand smoke. Finally, assume that all Pcorian cigarette consumers are aware of these costs. a Assume that a Pcorian smoker named Jay states that he is willing to buy a pack of cigarettes for $8, but not a penny more. In this market, where the price is $6 per pack, what are the private benefits and private costs incurred whenever he buys a pack of cigarettes? Is it privately efficient for him to buy a pack of cigarettes at this price? b What about the public benefits and public costs? Is it socially efficient for him to buy a pack of cigarettes at this price? c Suppose that, due to the introduction of a hyper-effective tobacco fertilizer, the cost of producing a pack of cigarettes plummets to $1. Now is it socially efficient for Jay to purchase a pack of cigarettes? 14 Secondhand smoke II. Review the assumptions from the previous problem, and assume that it still costs $6 to produce a pack of cigarettes. a Draw the private supply curve and the private demand curve in this market. What is the privately efficient quantity of packs purchased per day? b Draw the public supply curve in this market. Explain why it differs from the private supply curve, and how this represents the externality from secondhand smoke. Highlight the area(s) of your diagram that represents social loss, and interpret this loss in terms of cigarette smoking. c What is the socially efficient quantity of packs purchased per day? d Suppose that, due to the introduction of a hyper-effective tobacco fertilizer, the cost of producing a pack of cigarettes plummets to $1. How does this affect the level of smoking and the level of social loss? Explain.

Principles of Economics 2e
2nd Edition
ISBN:9781947172364
Author:Steven A. Greenlaw; David Shapiro
Publisher:Steven A. Greenlaw; David Shapiro
Chapter16: Information, Risk, And Insurance
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 20CTQ: A website offers a place for people to buy and sell emeralds, but information about emeralds can be...
icon
Related questions
Question

Question 14 parts a-d

13 Secondhand smoke I. Assume that the daily demand for packs of cigarettes in the
tobacco-addicted nation of Pcoria is
Q=100 – P
Further assume that the marginal cost of producing a pack of cigarettes is $6, and that
the market for cigarettes is perfectly competitive. Assume that each pack of cigarettes
smoked does $6 worth of health damage to the smoker in the form of increased cancer
risk and a total of $5 worth of health damage to the smoker's neighbors via secondhand
smoke. Finally, assume that all Pcorian cigarette consumers are aware of these costs.
a Assume that a Pcorian smoker named Jay states that he is willing to buy a pack of
cigarettes for $8, but not a penny more. In this market, where the price is $6 per
pack, what are the private benefits and private costs incurred whenever he buys a
pack of cigarettes? Is it privately efficient for him to buy a pack of cigarettes at this
price?
b What about the public benefits and public costs? Is it socially efficient for him to
buy a pack of cigarettes at this price?
c Suppose that, due to the introduction of a hyper-effective tobacco fertilizer, the
cost of producing a pack of cigarettes plummets to $1. Now is it socially efficient
for Jay to purchase a pack of cigarettes?
14 Secondhand smoke II. Review the assumptions from the previous problem, and
assume that it still costs $6 to produce a pack of cigarettes.
a Draw the private supply curve and the private demand curve in this market. What
is the privately efficient quantity of packs purchased per day?
b Draw the public supply curve in this market. Explain why it differs from the private
supply curve, and how this represents the externality from secondhand smoke.
Highlight the area(s) of your diagram that represents social loss, and interpret this
loss in terms of cigarette smoking.
c What is the socially efficient quantity of packs purchased per day?
d Suppose that, due to the introduction of a hyper-effective tobacco fertilizer, the
cost of producing a pack of cigarettes plummets to $1. How does this affect the
level of smoking and the level of social loss? Explain.
Transcribed Image Text:13 Secondhand smoke I. Assume that the daily demand for packs of cigarettes in the tobacco-addicted nation of Pcoria is Q=100 – P Further assume that the marginal cost of producing a pack of cigarettes is $6, and that the market for cigarettes is perfectly competitive. Assume that each pack of cigarettes smoked does $6 worth of health damage to the smoker in the form of increased cancer risk and a total of $5 worth of health damage to the smoker's neighbors via secondhand smoke. Finally, assume that all Pcorian cigarette consumers are aware of these costs. a Assume that a Pcorian smoker named Jay states that he is willing to buy a pack of cigarettes for $8, but not a penny more. In this market, where the price is $6 per pack, what are the private benefits and private costs incurred whenever he buys a pack of cigarettes? Is it privately efficient for him to buy a pack of cigarettes at this price? b What about the public benefits and public costs? Is it socially efficient for him to buy a pack of cigarettes at this price? c Suppose that, due to the introduction of a hyper-effective tobacco fertilizer, the cost of producing a pack of cigarettes plummets to $1. Now is it socially efficient for Jay to purchase a pack of cigarettes? 14 Secondhand smoke II. Review the assumptions from the previous problem, and assume that it still costs $6 to produce a pack of cigarettes. a Draw the private supply curve and the private demand curve in this market. What is the privately efficient quantity of packs purchased per day? b Draw the public supply curve in this market. Explain why it differs from the private supply curve, and how this represents the externality from secondhand smoke. Highlight the area(s) of your diagram that represents social loss, and interpret this loss in terms of cigarette smoking. c What is the socially efficient quantity of packs purchased per day? d Suppose that, due to the introduction of a hyper-effective tobacco fertilizer, the cost of producing a pack of cigarettes plummets to $1. How does this affect the level of smoking and the level of social loss? Explain.
Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 3 steps with 2 images

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Arrow's Impossibility Theorem
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, economics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
  • SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Principles of Economics 2e
Principles of Economics 2e
Economics
ISBN:
9781947172364
Author:
Steven A. Greenlaw; David Shapiro
Publisher:
OpenStax
EBK HEALTH ECONOMICS AND POLICY
EBK HEALTH ECONOMICS AND POLICY
Economics
ISBN:
9781337668279
Author:
Henderson
Publisher:
YUZU
Exploring Economics
Exploring Economics
Economics
ISBN:
9781544336329
Author:
Robert L. Sexton
Publisher:
SAGE Publications, Inc
Principles of Economics, 7th Edition (MindTap Cou…
Principles of Economics, 7th Edition (MindTap Cou…
Economics
ISBN:
9781285165875
Author:
N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Principles of Microeconomics (MindTap Course List)
Principles of Microeconomics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:
9781305971493
Author:
N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Principles of Microeconomics
Principles of Microeconomics
Economics
ISBN:
9781305156050
Author:
N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:
Cengage Learning