Answer:
a. Does the purchase of palm trees create a negative externality, a positive externality, or no externality? Explain.
A positive externality is created since individuals that have nothing to do with the original transaction still benefit from it.
b. Draw a graph that depicts the marginal social cost and the marginal social benefit of palm trees.
Q of palm trees Marginal private cost Marginal private benefit
0 $0 $0
1 $200 $800
2 $200 $400
3 $200 $200
4 $200 $100
See attached graph
c. What quantity of palm trees would be purchased if they were sold in a private market? Explain.
3 palm trees, since marginal cost = marginal benefit
d. What is the socially optimal quantity of palm trees? Explain.
3 palm trees, since marginal cost = marginal benefit
e. In this situation are palm trees a private good, a public good, or a common resource?
a public good because every citizen can benefit from them, and they are not rival in consumption
f. What could be an appropriate governmental policy response to this situation?
The government could subsidize palm trees in order to lower the private cost, so more trees are purchased, increasing total social benefit.
