What's it: Social cost is private cost plus external cost. Private cost is borne by individuals directly involved in economic transactions or activities. Meanwhile, the external cost is borne by third parties not directly involved in the
Market Failure
Free Rider: Meaning, Examples, Impacts and Possible Solutions
What's it: Free rider is someone who gets benefit from a product at no cost. It appears in the public good because people are free to benefit from the goods without paying. When you consume it, it does not reduce the benefits received by others.
Government Intervention: Examples, Reasons, and Impacts
What's it: Government intervention refers to the government's deliberate actions to influence resource allocation and market mechanisms. It can take many forms, from regulations, taxes, subsidies, to monetary and fiscal policy. In some cases, the
Monopoly Power: Meaning, Sources, and Effects
What's it: Monopoly power refers to a firm's ability to influence market prices. It is weak when the market is made up of many players, and products are relatively homogeneous. Market power is higher when firms operate under an oligopoly, where the
Market Failure: Types, Effects, and Solutions
What's it: Market failure refers to a condition in which the market mechanism doesn't work, thus creating inefficiency in the market. Demand, supply, and price aren't in equilibrium. As a result, markets fail to allocate economic resources most
Externalities: Meaning, Types, and Solutions
What's it: Externalities are costs or benefits of economic activities borne by third parties who are not involved in it. They are not reflected in the final cost or benefit of the goods or services produced. Economists view externalities as