Market Equilibrium and Efficient Output in the Paper Industry

QUESTION

The supply of paper is described by the following equation:
Q s = 5,000P
where Qs is tons supplied per year and P is the price per ton. The demand is described by
Q D = 300,000 – 1,000P
where Q D is tons demanded per year. Because of the pollution associated with paper
production, marginal external costs of $30 are associated with each ton of paper. a. Assuming
that paper is sold in a competitive market, what is the market price? b.How many tons of paper will be produced per year at that price? c.What is the efficient annual output of paper?

ANSWER

Market Equilibrium and Efficient Output in the Paper Industry

Introduction

The paper industry plays a crucial role in our economy and daily lives, but it is also associated with environmental concerns due to pollution. To understand the dynamics of the paper market and its efficient output, we will explore the supply and demand equations, external costs, and the concept of market equilibrium.

Market Equilibrium and Price Determination

In a competitive market, the equilibrium price is where the quantity supplied (Qs) equals the quantity demanded (QD). The supply equation, Qs = 5,000P, and the demand equation, QD = 300,000 – 1,000P, help us find this equilibrium price.

Setting Qs equal to QD: 5,000P = 300,000 – 1,000P Solving for P: 6,000P = 300,000 P = $50

Market Price Determination: The equilibrium price of paper in the competitive market is $50 per ton. At this price, the quantity supplied matches the quantity demanded, leading to an efficient allocation of resources.

Quantity Supplied at Equilibrium Price: Substituting the equilibrium price into the supply equation: Qs = 5,000 * $50 = 250,000 tons. Therefore, 250,000 tons of paper will be produced annually at the equilibrium price.

Efficient Output and External Costs

External costs, also known as negative externalities, are the costs imposed on third parties not involved in the transaction. In the case of paper production, pollution is a significant negative externality, and each ton of paper carries a marginal external cost of $30.

Efficient Annual Output Calculation: To find the efficient annual output of paper, we must consider the social cost, which includes both the private cost (supply cost) and the external cost. The efficient output is where the marginal social cost (MSC) equals the marginal private benefit (MPB).

MSC = Marginal Private Cost + Marginal External Cost MSC = 5,000P + $30

MPB is represented by the demand equation: QD = 300,000 – 1,000P

Setting MSC equal to MPB and solving for P: 5,000P + $30 = 300,000 – 1,000P 6,000P = 299,970 P ≈ $49.995

Substituting P back into the demand equation to find the efficient quantity: QD = 300,000 – 1,000 * $49.995 ≈ 250.005 tons

Conclusion

In the competitive paper market, the equilibrium price is $50 per ton, leading to an annual production of 250,000 tons. However, when considering the negative externality of pollution, the efficient annual output is approximately 250.005 tons at an optimal price of around $49.995 per ton. This analysis highlights the importance of internalizing external costs to achieve a more sustainable and socially optimal outcome in the paper industry.

 

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