The "Tragedy of the Commons."

Meyer describes the "Tragedy of the Commons." The IMF article explains how this type of problem is an example of an "externality." What is an externality? What might be a good government policy to solve the problem of the environmental externality that leads to high greenhouse gas emissions?

Full Answer Section

The government could also provide subsidies for activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For example, the government could subsidize the development of renewable energy sources. This would make it cheaper for businesses and individuals to switch to renewable energy, and it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The best government policy to solve the problem of environmental externalities will vary depending on the specific externality. However, the policies mentioned above are all good options that have been used successfully in other countries.

Here are some additional details about each policy:

  • Taxing the externality: This policy is often the most efficient way to solve an externality problem. It creates a price for the externality, which encourages businesses and individuals to reduce their emissions. However, it can be difficult to design a tax that is fair and effective.
  • Regulating the externality: This policy is less efficient than taxing the externality, but it can be more effective in some cases. It is easier to design a regulation that is fair and effective than it is to design a tax. However, regulation can be more costly and less flexible than taxation.
  • Providing subsidies: This policy is the least efficient way to solve an externality problem, but it can be effective in some cases. Subsidies can be used to encourage businesses and individuals to reduce their emissions, but they can also be expensive.

It is important to note that no single policy will be perfect. The best approach will likely involve a combination of policies. For example, the government could tax greenhouse gas emissions, regulate the emissions, and provide subsidies for renewable energy. This would create a comprehensive approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Sample Answer

An externality is a cost or benefit that is not paid for by the person or entity that causes it. In the case of the Tragedy of the Commons, the externality is the cost of overgrazing the common land. The individual herders do not have to pay for the cost of overgrazing, because they do not own the land. This leads to overgrazing, which eventually destroys the common land.

There are a number of government policies that can be used to solve the problem of environmental externalities. One policy is to tax the externality. In the case of greenhouse gas emissions, the government could tax the emissions. This would make it more expensive for businesses and individuals to emit greenhouse gases, and it would discourage them from doing so.

Another policy is to regulate the externality. The government could set limits on the amount of greenhouse gases that businesses and individuals are allowed to emit. This would also discourage emissions, but it would be more direct than a tax.