The Following Table Shows Four Firms, the Amount Each Pollutes

question 28

Multiple Choice

The following table shows four firms, the amount each pollutes, the marginal cost for each firm to clean up pollution, and the total cost to each firm of eliminating all pollution. $\begin{array}{|c|c|c|c|}\hline \text { Firm } & \begin{array}{c}\text { Total Discharge (in } \\\text { tons) }\end{array} & \begin{array}{c}\text { Marginal Cost of } \\\text { Cleanup } \\\text { (per ton) }\end{array} & \begin{array}{c}\text { Total Cost of } \\\text { Cleanup }\end{array} \\\hline \text { A } & 60 & \$ 5.00 & \$ 300 \\\hline \text { B } & 70 & \$ 8.00 & \$ 560 \\\hline \text { C } & 80 & \$ 7.50 & \$ 600 \\\hline \text { D } & 90 & \$ 4.00 & \$ 360 \\\hline\end{array}$
The total discharge of these four companies is 300 tons. Assume there is no one else who pollutes. Suppose that the government gives each company a pollution permit equal to 50 percent of its present discharge. However, companies are allowed to reduce pollution more than 50 percent and sell their permit or reduce less than 50 percent and buy a permit from another company. If firms maximize profits, what would happen?

• A) Each firm would reduce pollution by 50 percent.
• B) Firms A and D would eliminate pollution and sell their permits with a reasonable price to B and C, which would continue to pollute as before.
• C) Firms B and C would eliminate pollution and sell their permits with a reasonable price to A and D, which would continue to pollute as before.
• D) There is not enough information to answer this question.