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Difficult Cases for the Market and the Role of Government

GWARTNEY – STROUP – SOBEL – MACPHERSON

To Accompany: “Economics: Private and Public Choice, 15th ed.”

James Gwartney, Richard Stroup, Russell Sobel, & David Macpherson

Slides authored and animated by: James Gwartney & Charles Skipton

Full Length Text —

Micro Only Text —

Part: 2

Chapter: 5

Macro Only Text —

Part: 2

Chapter: 5

First page

A Closer Look at Economic Efficiency

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What is Economic Efficiency?

Economists use the concept of efficiency to judge actions because efficient use of resources implies the maximum value of output from the resource base.

2 conditions necessary for ideal efficiency:

All activities that provide individuals with more benefits than costs must be undertaken.

No activities that provide benefits less than costs should be undertaken.

In order for economic efficiency to be achieved, both conditions must be present.

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Economic Efficiency

As more resources are used to expand the level of an activity, the marginal benefits (MB) of the activity generally decline and marginal costs (MC) rise.

From the viewpoint of efficiency, the activity should be expanded as long as the MB > MC.

Q1 is inefficient as there are some units for which the MB exceeds the MC which are not undertaken.

Q3 is inefficient as there are units produced where the MC exceeds the MB.

Q2 is the economically efficient level of output. At Q2 the MB stemming from the consumption of that unit just equals the MC of producing it.

Marginal Cost & Marginal Benefit

Quantity

All quantities other than Q2 are inefficient

Marginal

Benefit

Marginal

Cost

Inefficient

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If It’s Worth Doing, It’s Worth Doing Imperfectly

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There is an old saying, “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing to the best of your ability.” – Is this really true?

Economics indicates that at some point the gains from doing something better will not be worth the cost.

It makes sense to stop short of perfection.

Economics is about trade-offs: Even worthy activities can be pursued beyond the level consistent with economic efficiency.

If It’s Worth Doing, It’s Worth Doing Imperfectly

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If It’s Worth Doing, It’s Worth Doing Imperfectly

When making personal decisions, people seem to be more aware that perfection is almost never worth the cost.

The principle also applies to government.

Regardless of the sector, achievement of perfection is generally not worth the cost.

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Thinking About the Economic Role of Government

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Two Major Functions of Government

There is substantial agreement among scholars that at least two functions of government are legitimate:

Protective function: protection of individuals and their property against invasions by others.

Productive function: the production of goods and services that cannot easily be provided through private markets.

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Protective Function of Government

The most fundamental function of government is the protection of individuals and their property against acts of aggression.

Involves the maintenance of a legal structure (rules) for the enforcement of contracts and a mechanism for the settlement of disputes.

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Productive Function of Government

Involves the provision of a limited set of goods difficult to supply through the market.

A stable monetary and financial environment is vital.

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Questions for Thought:

Which of the following make sense:

Make the highest possible grade in your economics class.

Eliminate all air and water pollution.

Make airplanes fully secure against terrorist attacks.

Make cars so safe there will never be another traffic fatality.

2. What is the distinction between the “protective” and “productive” functions of government?

3. “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing to the best of your ability.” What is the economic explanation for why this statement is often said but rarely done?

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Potential Shortcomings of the Market

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Four Reasons the Invisible Hand May Fail

Lack of Competition

Externalities

Public Goods

Poor Information

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Why the Invisible Hand May Fail: (1) Lack of Competition

Sellers may gain by restricting output and raising price.

Too few units will be produced.

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Lack of Competition Sellers may gain by restricting output and raising price.

In this market, under competitive conditions, supply and demand result in an output of Q1 & price P1.

But, if producers in the market are able to restrict supply and/or limit entry into the market …

then the restricted supply S2 will result, with an output of Q2 < Q1 and price of P2 > P1.

Lack of competition results in too few units produced and a price above the competitive market level.

Price

Quantity/time

S1 (competitive supply)

S2 (restricted supply)

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Why the Invisible Hand May Fail: (2) Externalities

Externalities exist when the market fails to register fully costs and benefits.

External costs:

Present when the actions of an individual or group harm the property of others without their consent.

The problem arises because property rights are imperfectly defined and/or enforced.

External benefits:

Present when the actions of an individual or group generate benefits for nonparticipating parties.

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Problems that Arise when External Costs are Present

Because some of the costs of production are not fully registered when external costs are present, the supply curve understates the true cost of production.

Units may be produced that are valued less than their true cost.

From the viewpoint of efficiency, too many units are produced.

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External Costs Failure to fully register external costs

In this market, under initial supply and demand conditions, output Q1 and price P1 exist.

If all economic costs were measured and included …

the supply curve S2 would result in output Q2 < Q1 and price P2 > P1.

With external costs (a negative externality) too many units are produced and price is below that which would prevail if all costs were identified and factored into the market process.

Price

Quantity/time

S2 (including external costs)

Ideal price and output

Actual price and output

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Problems that Arise when External Benefits are Present

When external benefits are present, the demand curve understates the total value of the output.

Units that are more highly valued than their costs may not be produced.

From the viewpoint of efficiency, too few units may be produced.

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External Benefits Failure to fully register external benefits

In this market, under present supply and demand conditions, output Q1 and price P1 exist.

If all benefits were measured and included …

the new demand curve D2 would result in output Q2 > Q1 and price P2 > P1.

With external benefits (a positive externality) too few units are produced and price is below that which would prevail if all the benefits were identified and reflected in the market process.

Price

Quantity/time

Ideal price and output

(including

external benefits)

Actual price and output

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Why the Invisible Hand May Fail: (3) Public Goods

Public goods are:

jointly consumed – Individuals can simultaneously enjoy consumption of the same product or service.

non-excludable – it is not possible to restrict consumption of the good to those who pay for it.

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Problems that Arise With a Public Good

If a public good is made available to one, it is simultaneously made available to others.

Because those who do not pay can not be excluded, no one has much of an incentive to pay for such goods; each has an incentive to become a free rider.

Free rider: – a person who receives the benefits of the good without helping to pay for its cost.

When a lot of people become free riders, too little of the good is produced.

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Characteristics of a Public Good

It is the good’s characteristics, not the sector in which it is produced, that distinguishes it as a public good.

Examples of public goods:

national defense

broadcast radio and television signals

clean air

Markets often develop ways of providing public goods.

like the use of advertising to support the provision of broadcast radio and television.

Nonetheless, public goods often cause a breakdown in the harmony between self-interest and the public interest.

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Why the Invisible Hand May Fail: (4) Poor Information

The consumer’s information problem is minimal if the item is purchased regularly.

Problems of conflicting interests and unhappy customers can arise if goods are:

difficult to evaluate on inspection and seldom repeatedly purchased from the same producer, or,

potentially capable of serious and lasting harmful side effects that cannot be predicted by a lay-person.

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Why the Invisible Hand May Fail: (4) Poor Information

Market responses to poor information include:

Consumer information publications

Provide expert evaluation and unbiased information

Brand names and franchises

Provide standardized quality and dependability

Warranties

Supplier promises to repair possible problems

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Market and Government Failure

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Market Failure

Market failure is the term used to describe the failure of markets to achieve the ideal conditions of economic efficiency.

When markets allocate goods inefficiently, the problem can generally be traced back to absence of competition, externalities, public goods, or poor information.

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Government Failure

Government failure is the term used to describe the situation when there is reason to anticipate that political decision-making will fail to achieve the ideal conditions of economic efficiency.

Government action directed by political decision-making is merely an alternative form of economic organization. It is not a corrective device that can be counted on to provide a remedy for the shortcomings of markets.

Merely because market failure is present, it does not follow that political action will necessarily lead to a more efficient allocation of resources.

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Markets Versus Government

Economic analysis is comparative. It involves comparison of expected outcomes under market and political organization.

The following chapter will analyze the operation of the democratic political process so it can be more reasonably compared with the market process.

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Questions for Thought:

When external costs are present, how will the equilibrium price and output in a competitive market compare with the price and output consistent with ideal economic efficiency? Is the level of output too large or too small? Explain.

When the production and sale of a product generates external benefits will competitive markets sometimes produce too little of the product? Why or why not?

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Questions for Thought:

3. (a) Explain why the following are public goods:

an anti-missle system around Chicago,

a radio broadcast signal, and,

the stability of the currency provided by a central bank such as the Federal Reserve System.

(b) Explain why the following are not public goods:

a college education at a state university,

Yellowstone National Park, and,

the services of your local fire department

4. Why are public goods sometimes difficult for markets to allocate efficiently?

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Questions for Thought:

5. Which of the following is true of public goods?

Public goods can only be supplied by the government.

From the standpoint of economic efficiency, markets will tend to supply too large a quantity of a public good.

6. Why do golf course developers generally purchase a large tract of land, much larger than will be used for the course, prior to its construction?

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End of

Chapter 5

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Assignment

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