Suppose the government wants to reduce the total pollution emitted by three local firms. Currently, each firm is creating 4 units of pollution in the area, for a total of 12 pollution units. If the government wants to reduce total pollution in the area to 6 units, it can choose between the following two methods:

178 and 186

Regulation= 1,645

Tradable permits= 745

Elimination of pollution will be LESS costly

Explanation:

Calculation to Determine the total cost of eliminating six units of pollution using both methods

Computation for Method 1

REGULATION

Firm X = 95+120 = 215

Firm Y= 450+800 = 1,250

Firm Z= 80+100 = 180

Computation for Method 2

TRADABLE PERMITS

The prices at which firm Z willing to sell one of its permits to firm Y, but firm X is not will be :

178 and 186

Firm Initial permit Action Final Amount Cost of reduction

X 2 Sell 1 permit 3 95+120+200 = 415

Y 2 Buy 2 permit 0 0

Z 2 Sell 1 permit 3 80+100+150 = 330

REGULATION vs TRADABLE PERMITS

Regulation= 215+1250+180

Regulation= 1,645

Tradable permits = 415+330

Tradable permits= 745

Based on the above calculation for both regulation and tradable permits we can come to conclusion that elimination of pollution will be LESS costly to the society in a situation where the government distributes tradable permits because tradable permits is cheaper than regulation.

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