Question

Suppose a tax of $4 per unit is imposed on a good, and the tax causes the equilibrium quantity of the good to decrease from 2,000 units to 1,700 units. The tax decreases consumer surplus by $3,000 and decreases producer surplus by $4,400. The deadweight loss of the tax is
a. $200.
b. $400.
c. $600.
d. $1,200.

Answer 1

Answer:

option (c) $600

Explanation:

Given:

Tax = $4 per unit

Initial equilibrium quantity = 2,000 units

Final equilibrium quantity = 1,700 units

Decrease in consumer surplus = $3,000

Decrease in consumer surplus = $4,400

Now,

Deadweight Loss is calculated using the formula:

Deadweight loss

= $\frac{1}{2}$ × Tax × (Original equilibrium quantity - New equilibrium quantity)

on substituting the respective values, we get

Deadweight loss = $\frac{1}{2}$ × 4 × (2,000 - 1,700)

or

Deadweight loss =  2 × (3)  = $600

Hence,

the correct answer is option (c) $600