📚 Learning Guide
Negative Externalities in Consumption
easy

Which of the following is an example of a negative externality in consumption that leads to market failure?

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Learning Path
Learning Path

Question & Answer
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2
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Choose the Best Answer

A

A person smoking in public, affecting the health of others

B

A person buying a new car, creating jobs

C

A farmer planting more crops, increasing food supply

D

A company reducing prices, benefiting consumers

Understanding the Answer

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Answer

A negative externality in consumption happens when the actions of one person affect others in a harmful way, and this can lead to market failure. For example, when someone decides to smoke in a public place, they enjoy the pleasure of smoking, but others around them may suffer from secondhand smoke. This situation is a negative externality because the smoker does not have to pay for the health problems they cause to others, like increased risk of lung disease. As a result, the market fails to account for these extra costs, leading to more smoking than would be socially acceptable. This imbalance shows how individual choices can have wider impacts on society, which is why understanding negative externalities is important for creating effective policies.

Detailed Explanation

When someone smokes in public, it can harm the health of others nearby. Other options are incorrect because Buying a new car is usually seen as a good thing; Planting more crops increases food supply, which is generally positive.

Key Concepts

market failure
Topic

Negative Externalities in Consumption

Difficulty

easy level question

Cognitive Level

understand

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