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Define externalities.

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Externalities are non-market impacts of economic activities on society, often requiring government intervention.
Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

Externalities represent unforeseen consequences of economic actions affecting uninvolved third parties. These effects can be beneficial (positive externalities) or detrimental (negative externalities) and are not reflected in market prices. For instance, planting trees enhances air quality (positive), while factory emissions degrade the environment for local populations (negative).
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