An externality arises when a firm or person engages in an activity that affects the wellbeing of a third party, yet neither pays nor receives any compensation for that effect. If the impact on the third party is beneficial, it is called a.

Juanita and sam attend a beach party and notice that the local beach appears to have a great deal more trash washed up on shore than it did when they were young. the water doesn't appear nearly as clear, and there seems to be less evidence of small water creatures living in the shallows. an afternoon at the local library convinces them that one major cause is the new factory nearby. after some discussion, they decide their next step should be identifying the cause of the changes identifying the problem picketing the guilty factory lobbying their elected representatives to complain about the problem talking to a local environmental group about solutions