Identify the social costs of increased automobile ownership. Describe two options for restoring the balance between private and public goods. Give specific examples

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Business has been accused of overselling private goods at the expense of public goods. As private goods increase, they require more public services that are usually not forthcoming. For example, an increase in automobile ownership (private good) requires more highways, traffic control, parking spaces, and police services (public goods). The overselling of private goods results in social costs. For cars, some of the social costs include traffic congestion, gasoline shortages, and air pollution. One option for restoring the balance between private and public goods is to make producers bear the full social costs of their operations. The government could require automobile manufacturers to build cars with more efficient engines and better pollution-control systems. Automakers would then raise their prices to cover extra costs. A second option is to make consumers pay the social costs. For example, many cities around the world are starting to charge congestion tolls in an effort to reduce traffic congestion. To decrease rush hour traffic on the Bay Bridge between Oakland and San Francisco, California, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission charges a $6 toll during peak commute hours versus $4 at other times. The charge reduced the flow of drivers during peak hours, cutting the average 32-minute wait time some bridges approach in half.