The diagram below shows the marginal costs of pollution abatement for two firms, Firm 1 and Firm 2.
FIGURE 17-5
Refer to Figure 17-5. Suppose Firm 1 and Firm 2 are each abating Q3 units of pollution. If the government imposed an emissions tax of $40 per unit of emissions, and this tax rate was known to equal the social marginal cost of pollution, then we can predict with confidence that
◦ the resulting level of pollution would be socially optimal.
◦ Firm 2 would increase its emissions and this would not be socially optimal.
◦ Firm 2 would increase abatement beyond Q
3 and Firm 1 would abate less than Q
3.
◦ each firm would abate to the same level.
◦ each firm would abate to Q
3.