1. Market Failures

2. freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that
"Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand
freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that
without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control . 
President Obama
January 2009

3. Market Failures
Market failure: when the market fails to allocate resources efficiently
Externalities occur
Laws broken (price fixing, price collusion, etc…)
Government should intervene to promote efficiency 17

4. Efficiency requires:
All costs of production must be counted by producers
If pollution is “not counted” => society bears the costs of production
This is not efficient

5. EXTERNALITIES Pollution
An externality is the uncompensated impact of one person’s actions on another person
Both positive & negative externalities exist
Example: Negative Externality
Pollution

6. Governments Can Sometimes Improve Market Outcomes
Government can intervene to promote efficiency by taxing or subsidizing externalties
By passing and enforcing laws which encourage honest competition 17