Question

Which of the following is INCORRECT about a corrective tax? Select one: a. The tax is equal to the marginal damage from pollution at the equilibrium quantity. b. The goal of a corrective tax is to restore efficiency. c. Producer surplus and consumer surplus will increase because the market becomes more efficient. d. One of its drawbacks is that it is hard to measure the extra social cost.

Answer 1

Answer:

The answer is  letter "C": Producer surplus and consumer surplus will increase because the market becomes more efficient.

Explanation:

Named after English economist Arthur C. Pigou (1877-1959), the Pigovian Tax or corrective tax is a fine imposed against taxpayers for being part of activities that generate negative side effects. According to Pigou, these externalities play a negative role in the market to reach equilibrium.

It is true that the corrective tax encourages market efficiency but it doesn't imply the tax will lead to producer or consumer surplus, since those are actually influenced by basic supply and demand laws, making option "C" a false statement.