📚 Learning Guide
Microeconomics of Daily Decisions
medium

How do externalities affect an individual's utility maximization when making daily decisions?

Master this concept with our detailed explanation and step-by-step learning approach

Learning Path
Learning Path

Question & Answer
1
Understand Question
2
Review Options
3
Learn Explanation
4
Explore Topic

Choose the Best Answer

A

Individuals ignore externalities and only focus on personal utility.

B

Externalities can lead to a misallocation of resources, impacting overall utility.

C

All externalities are positive, thus always increasing utility.

D

Individuals are completely unaffected by the choices of others.

Understanding the Answer

Let's break down why this is correct

Answer

Externalities are effects of a person's actions that impact others, either positively or negatively, without the person considering these effects. For example, if someone decides to drive a car, they might enjoy the convenience, but they also contribute to air pollution, affecting the health of people nearby. This pollution is a negative externality that the driver might not think about, and it can lead to less overall happiness for the community. When making daily decisions, individuals often focus on their own satisfaction, but externalities can change the overall utility for everyone involved. Understanding these effects can help people make better choices that consider not only their own happiness but also the well-being of others around them.

Detailed Explanation

Externalities can change how resources are used. Other options are incorrect because Some think people only care about their own happiness; Not all externalities are good.

Key Concepts

utility maximization
externalities
Topic

Microeconomics of Daily Decisions

Difficulty

medium level question

Cognitive Level

understand

Ready to Master More Topics?

Join thousands of students using Seekh's interactive learning platform to excel in their studies with personalized practice and detailed explanations.