2. Suppose the Harrisonburg city council is concerned about the increase in crime in the city. Crimes in H'burg are inefficient in the sense that it costs society $20,000 more than the benefits to the criminal. If an offender is caught, tried and convicted they are sent to jail. Assume that the total social cost of trial, conviction, and punishment is $150,000 per criminal caught. The council is considering hiring additional police officers dedicated to detecting crime. This change would increase the fraction of offenders who are caught from 20% to 30%. The city estimates that this will decrease the number of crimes from 2,000 a year to either 1,200 or 1,600 per year. For each case: 1,200 or 1,600: For each question, make sure you justify your work and provide a clear explanation. a. What happens to the social cost of crimes committed? b. What happens to the cost of trying, convicting, and punishing offenders? c. What is the most that the city should be willing to pay for the new police officers?

Essentials of Economics (MindTap Course List)
8th Edition
ISBN:9781337091992
Author:N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:N. Gregory Mankiw
Chapter10: Externalities
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 3PA: Greater consumption of alcohol leads to more motor vehicle accidents and, thus, imposes costs on...
icon
Related questions
Question
2. Suppose the Harrisonburg city council is concerned about the increase in crime in the city. Crimes in H'burg are
inefficient in the sense that it costs society $20,000 more than the benefits to the criminal. If an offender is caught, tried
and convicted they are sent to jail. Assume that the total social cost of trial, conviction, and punishment is $150,000 per
criminal caught. The council is considering hiring additional police officers dedicated to detecting crime. This change
would increase the fraction of offenders who are caught from 20% to 30%. The city estimates that this will decrease the
number of crimes from 2,000 a year to either 1,200 or 1,600 per year.
For each case: 1,200 or 1,600: For each question, make sure you justify your work and provide a clear explanation.
a. What happens to the social cost of crimes committed?
b. What happens to the cost of trying, convicting, and punishing offenders?
c. What is the most that the city should be willing to pay for the new police officers?
Transcribed Image Text:2. Suppose the Harrisonburg city council is concerned about the increase in crime in the city. Crimes in H'burg are inefficient in the sense that it costs society $20,000 more than the benefits to the criminal. If an offender is caught, tried and convicted they are sent to jail. Assume that the total social cost of trial, conviction, and punishment is $150,000 per criminal caught. The council is considering hiring additional police officers dedicated to detecting crime. This change would increase the fraction of offenders who are caught from 20% to 30%. The city estimates that this will decrease the number of crimes from 2,000 a year to either 1,200 or 1,600 per year. For each case: 1,200 or 1,600: For each question, make sure you justify your work and provide a clear explanation. a. What happens to the social cost of crimes committed? b. What happens to the cost of trying, convicting, and punishing offenders? c. What is the most that the city should be willing to pay for the new police officers?
Expert Solution
steps

Step by step

Solved in 4 steps

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Methods For Reducing Risk And Uncertainty
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
Essentials of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Essentials of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:
9781337091992
Author:
N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
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 Economics (MindTap Course List)
Principles of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:
9781305585126
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