Suppose a Negative Externality Exists in a Market

question 16

Multiple Choice

Suppose a negative externality exists in a market. If transactions costs are low and parties are willing to bargain, then, according to the Coase theorem,

• A) an equitable solution can be reached only if property rights are assigned to the victims of pollution and not the polluters.
• B) an equitable solution can be reached only if property rights are assigned to polluters and not to the victims of pollution.
• C) an efficient solution can be reached regardless of the initial assignment of property rights.
• D) government intervention is necessary to reach an efficient and equitable solution.

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Definitions:

Modernization

A process of social and cultural change that is initiated by industrialization and followed by increased social differentiation and division of labor.

Culture Lag

The phenomenon wherein certain parts of a culture may evolve more rapidly than others, leading to social conflicts and mismatches between technology and societal norms.

Functionalists

Sociologists who focus on the ways in which societal structures and institutions function to maintain society's stability and coherence.

Division of Labor

This term refers to the assignment of different parts of a manufacturing process or task to different people in order to improve efficiency.