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Two firms, A and B, each currently emit 100 tons of chemicals into the air. The government has decided to reduce the pollution and from now on will require a pollution permit for each ton of pollution emitted into the air. The government gives each firm 40 pollution permits, which it can either use or sell to the other firm. It costs Firm A $200 for each ton of pollution that it eliminates before it is emitted into the air, and it costs Firm B $100 for each ton of pollution that it eliminates before it is emitted into the air. After the two firms buy or sell pollution permits from each other, we would expect that Firm A will emitGroup of answer choices20 fewer tons of pollution into the air, and Firm B will emit 100 fewer tons of pollution into the air.100 fewer tons of pollution into the air, and Firm B will emit 20 fewer tons of pollution into the air.20 more tons of pollution into the air, and Firm B will emit 100 fewer tons of pollution into the air.50 fewer tons of pollution into the air, and Firm B will emit 50 fewer tons of pollution into the air.

Question

Two firms, A and B, each currently emit 100 tons of chemicals into the air. The government has decided to reduce the pollution and from now on will require a pollution permit for each ton of pollution emitted into the air. The government gives each firm 40 pollution permits, which it can either use or sell to the other firm. It costs Firm A 200foreachtonofpollutionthatiteliminatesbeforeitisemittedintotheair,anditcostsFirmB200 for each ton of pollution that it eliminates before it is emitted into the air, and it costs Firm B 100 for each ton of pollution that it eliminates before it is emitted into the air. After the two firms buy or sell pollution permits from each other, we would expect that Firm A will emitGroup of answer choices20 fewer tons of pollution into the air, and Firm B will emit 100 fewer tons of pollution into the air.100 fewer tons of pollution into the air, and Firm B will emit 20 fewer tons of pollution into the air.20 more tons of pollution into the air, and Firm B will emit 100 fewer tons of pollution into the air.50 fewer tons of pollution into the air, and Firm B will emit 50 fewer tons of pollution into the air.

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Solution

Given the costs of eliminating pollution for each firm and the number of permits each firm has, it would be more cost-effective for Firm A to buy permits from Firm B. This is because it costs Firm A more to eliminate each ton of pollution than it does for Firm B.

Initially, both firms emit 100 tons of pollution. The government gives each firm 40 permits, so without any trading, each firm would have to reduce their pollution by 60 tons. For Firm A, this would cost 20060=200 * 60 = 12,000. For Firm B, this would cost 10060=100 * 60 = 6,000.

However, if Firm A buys permits from Firm B, Firm A can reduce its pollution less and Firm B can reduce its pollution more, which is more cost-effective given the costs of pollution reduction for each firm.

Let's say Firm A buys 20 permits from Firm B. Then Firm A has 60 permits and only needs to reduce its pollution by 40 tons, which costs 20040=200 * 40 = 8,000. Firm B then has 20 permits and needs to reduce its pollution by 80 tons, which costs 10080=100 * 80 = 8,000.

So, after the two firms buy or sell pollution permits from each other, we would expect that Firm A will emit 40 fewer tons of pollution into the air, and Firm B will emit 80 fewer tons of pollution into the air. However, this option is not given in the answer choices.

The closest answer choice to this would be "50 fewer tons of pollution into the air, and Firm B will emit 50 fewer tons of pollution into the air." But this is not the most cost-effective solution given the costs of pollution reduction for each firm.

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Similar Questions

Q9 There are three industrial firms in Happy Valley.The government wants to reduce pollution to 60 units, so it gives each firm 20 tradable pollution permits. Firm: A, B, C Initial pollution level: 30,40,20 Cost of reducing pollution by one unit: 20, 30, 10 Q10 a) Who sells permits and how many do they sell? Who buys permits and how many do they buy? Briefly explain why the sellers and buyers are each willing to do so. What is the total cost of pollution reduction in this situation? b) How much higher would the costs of pollution reduction be if the permits could not be traded?

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