In a graph representing negative externalities, what happens to the social cost curve compared to the private cost curve?

In a graph showing negative externalities, the social cost curve is higher than the private cost curve. This is because negative externalities, like pollution, impose additional costs on society that the producer does not account for in their private costs. For example, if a factory pollutes a river, the private cost only includes the factory's expenses, but the social cost also includes the impact on people’s health and the environment. As a result, the social cost curve shifts upward, reflecting these extra costs. This difference highlights the need for policies to address these external costs and encourage more socially responsible production.