Consider a lake found in the town of Center Barnstead, and then answer the questions that follow. The town has a water park whose visitors use the lake for recreation. The town also has a ketchup factory that dumps industrial waste into the lake. This pollutes the lake and makes it a less desirable vacation destination. That is, the ketchup factory's waste decreases the water park's economic profit. Suppose that the ketchup factory could use a different production method that involves recycling water. This would reduce the pollution in the lake to levels safe for recreation, and the water park would no longer be affected. If the ketchup factory uses the recycling method, then the ketchup factory's economic profit is $900 per week, and the water park's economic profit is $2,600 per week. If the ketchup factory does not use the recycling method, then the ketchup factory's economic profit is $1,600 per week, and the water park's economic profit is $1,500 per week. These figures are summarized in the following table.

Essentials of Economics (MindTap Course List)
8th Edition
ISBN:9781337091992
Author:N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:N. Gregory Mankiw
Chapter10: Externalities
Section10.1: Externalities And Market Inefficiency
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Consider a lake found in the town of Center Barnstead, and then answer the questions that follow.
The town has a water park whose visitors use the lake for
recreation. The town also has a ketchup factory that dumps
industrial waste into the lake. This pollutes the lake and
makes it a less desirable vacation destination. That is, the
ketchup factory's waste decreases the water park's economic
profit.
Suppose that the ketchup factory could use a different production method that involves recycling water. This would reduce the pollution in the lake to
levels safe for recreation, and the water park would no longer be affected. If the ketchup factory uses the recycling method, then the ketchup factory's
economic profit is $900 per week, and the water park's economic profit is $2,600 per week. If the ketchup factory does not use the recycling method,
then the ketchup factory's economic profit is $1,600 per week, and the water park's economic profit is $1,500 per week. These figures are
summarized in the following table.
Transcribed Image Text:Consider a lake found in the town of Center Barnstead, and then answer the questions that follow. The town has a water park whose visitors use the lake for recreation. The town also has a ketchup factory that dumps industrial waste into the lake. This pollutes the lake and makes it a less desirable vacation destination. That is, the ketchup factory's waste decreases the water park's economic profit. Suppose that the ketchup factory could use a different production method that involves recycling water. This would reduce the pollution in the lake to levels safe for recreation, and the water park would no longer be affected. If the ketchup factory uses the recycling method, then the ketchup factory's economic profit is $900 per week, and the water park's economic profit is $2,600 per week. If the ketchup factory does not use the recycling method, then the ketchup factory's economic profit is $1,600 per week, and the water park's economic profit is $1,500 per week. These figures are summarized in the following table.
When the ketchup factory uses the recycling method, the water park earns $2,600 - $1,500 = $1,100 more per week than it does with no recycling.
Therefore, the water park should be willing to pay up to $1,100 per week for the ketchup factory to recycle water. However, the recycling method
decreases the ketchup factory's economic profit by $1,600 - $900 = $700 per week. Therefore, the ketchup factory should be willing to use the
recycling method if it is compensated with at least $700 per week.
Suppose the water park has the property rights to the lake. That is, the water park has the right to a clean (unpolluted) lake. In this case, assuming
the two firms can bargain at no cost, the ketchup factory will
the recycling method and will pay the water park
per week.
Now, suppose the ketchup factory has the property rights to the lake, including the right to pollute it. In this case, assuming the two firms can bargain
at no cost, the ketchup factory will
the recycling method, and the water park will pay the ketchup factory
The ketchup factory will make the most economic profit when
per week.
True or False: The ketchup factory will use the recycling method only if the water park has the property rights.
True
False
Transcribed Image Text:When the ketchup factory uses the recycling method, the water park earns $2,600 - $1,500 = $1,100 more per week than it does with no recycling. Therefore, the water park should be willing to pay up to $1,100 per week for the ketchup factory to recycle water. However, the recycling method decreases the ketchup factory's economic profit by $1,600 - $900 = $700 per week. Therefore, the ketchup factory should be willing to use the recycling method if it is compensated with at least $700 per week. Suppose the water park has the property rights to the lake. That is, the water park has the right to a clean (unpolluted) lake. In this case, assuming the two firms can bargain at no cost, the ketchup factory will the recycling method and will pay the water park per week. Now, suppose the ketchup factory has the property rights to the lake, including the right to pollute it. In this case, assuming the two firms can bargain at no cost, the ketchup factory will the recycling method, and the water park will pay the ketchup factory The ketchup factory will make the most economic profit when per week. True or False: The ketchup factory will use the recycling method only if the water park has the property rights. True False
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