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3.1 Origins
3.2 Competition Policy
3.3 Equity
3.3 Equity
From time to time the State chooses not to accept the outcome of
even a perfectly competitive
marketplace. Generally this reflects questions of equity - the 3rd 'e'
of economics: efficiency, effectiveness and equity. The outcome is
judged 'unfair' to some group or sector of society. In such cases
Government can intervene in a number of ways.
The effects of such intervention is to alter the balance of
producer and/or consumer surplus reallocating one or the other to the other
party. (Producer Surplus -M&Y 10th
Fig. 10.1; M&Y 11th Fig. 9.1; B&B not displayed; B&Z not displayed:
Total Surplus M&Y 10th
Fig. 10.2; M&Y 11th Fig. 9.2; B&B Fig. 10.1)
One technique is a price ceiling (M&Y 10th
Fig. 10.3; M&Y 11th Fig. 9.3; B&B Fig. 10.10; B&Z not displayed).
The effects of a price ceiling depend, however, on the elasticity of demand.
If, for example, demand is inelastic the effect of the price ceiling may be
to cost consumers - overall - more than they gain (M&Y 10th
Fig. 10.4; M&Y 11th Fig. 9.4;
not displayed B&B, B&Z).
Fig. 10.5 - Rent Control, p. 309
Fig. 10.6 - Price Floor
Fig. 10.7 - Price Support
Fig. 10.8 - Imports, p. 313
Fig. 10.9 - Tariff or Quota, p. 314
Fig. 10.10 - Excise Tax, p. 318
Fig. 10.12 - Excise Tax & Surplus, p. 321
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