Question

Suppose that the pre-tax price of gasoline is $1 per gallon. A tax of $0.50 is imposed and is paid by consumers to the government. What must the gross price of gasoline be after the tax so that the consumer tax burden is equal to the producer tax burden?

Answer 1

Answer:

$1.25

Explanation:

Data provided in the question:

The pre-tax price of gasoline = $1 per gallon

Imposed tax per gallon = $0.50

Now,

The total tax burden on the consumer is $0.50

considering the condition that the consumer tax burden is equal to the producer tax burden

The total tax burden will be divided in equal parts to the consumer and the producer

Thus,

The equal tax burden will be = [ Total tax burden ] ÷ 2

= $0.50 ÷ 2

= $0.25

Hence,

The gross price of gasoline after the tax will be = $1 + $0.25

= $1.25