The desirable level of output in a perfectly competitive market, in the presence of a detrimental externality, is lower than the equilibrium level. This is because the negative impact of the externality on society is not taken into account by individual firms.
In a perfectly competitive market, the desirable level of output refers to the quantity of goods or services that should be produced to maximize overall societal welfare. However, when there is a detrimental externality present, the optimal level of output differs from the equilibrium output determined by the market forces alone.
A detrimental externality occurs when the production or consumption of a good or service imposes costs on individuals or society that are not reflected in the market price. For example, pollution from a factory's production process imposes health and environmental costs on the surrounding community.
In the presence of a detrimental externality, the market equilibrium fails to account for these external costs, leading to an inefficient allocation of resources. The market will produce and consume more of the good than is socially optimal because the negative effects are not factored into the price.
To address this issue, the desirable level of output in the presence of a detrimental externality is typically lower than the market equilibrium output. This reduction aims to internalize the external costs and align production and consumption decisions with the broader welfare of society.
Various policy instruments can be employed to achieve this desirable level of output. One common approach is the implementation of corrective measures such as taxes or regulations, which increase the production costs for firms to reflect the external costs they impose. By internalizing the negative externality, these measures reduce the quantity produced and consumed, bringing it closer to the socially optimal level.
Overall, the desirable level of output in a perfectly competitive market with a detrimental externality requires adjustments to account for the external costs and promote a more efficient allocation of resources that considers the well-being of society as a whole.
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