info@idealtermpapers.com
Economic Principles Assignment
(1) assignment.
Background
For most of the goods and services that we have considered, markets operate with few restrictions – we have studied the consequences of price controls and taxes and tariffs, but those restrictions affect the prices that consumers pay and the prices that firms receive, not who can or cannot be a consumer or producer.
Consider the markets for drugs:
(i) Some drugs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and antacids, are over-thecounter – anybody can purchase them and the only restriction on their production is much the same as that on most other products, namely that its contents be listed and the product not be defective.
(ii) Other drugs, such as codeine and penicillin, require a prescription. Anybody can purchase them provided that they have a note, signed by a professional, who has passed a series of tests to demonstrate competency and ethical behavior as an authority. Moreover, the quantities purchased are limited by the note. As with the first category,
any firm can produce these pharmaceuticals, subject to the similar regulations – there may be tougher standards in first obtaining approval, such as demonstrating that the drug be both safe and effective, and documenting potential side effects, in order to warn.
(iii) The last category of drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, are illegal. No consumer can legally purchase the drugs, no firm can legally produce them, and no professional is authorized to issue a note that allows the
purchase or production of the drug.
In this version, you will study why these three categories of drugs exist and how making a drug illegal does not eliminate the market; rather, it becomes part of the so called “black market.” You will also learn about some of the ramifications of different policies, such as the restrictions that create the second and third categories.
Useful references:
• the article for discussion in seminar week 6 (It’s Time to End the War on Drugs);
• the Aplia problem set that was due 16 August, News Analysis — Optimal Decision Making: A Parking Dilemma;
• the following 50-minute podcast for which there is also a transcript available at the link:
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2015-07-28/efforts-to-curb-thenations-deadly-heroin-epidemic
Task 1: Voluntary Exchange and the Risk of Addiction
(a) Consider the first two markets described in the Background. Suppose that the production in both markets is perfectly competitive. For each, derive the equilibrium price, quantity, and consumers’ surplus.
(i) In the over-the-counter market, assume for simplicity that the market supply is Qs = 40 + P and the demand is given by Qd = 184 – 8P.
(ii) In the prescription drug market, assume for simplicity that the market supply is Qs = 10 + P/2 and demand is given by Qd = 100 – 2P. (6 Points)
Unlike with the over-the-counter drugs, both prescription drugs and illicit drugs can become addictive. A consumer does not know the probability that he will become addicted until after he has consumed the drug.
Now, consider the third market, that for illicit drugs. We can think then of the individual having an initial willingness to pay for an illicit drug (WTPo) and subsequently, either an experienced willingness to pay (WTPe) or an addicted willingness to pay (WTPa). Let the probability of becoming addicted be denoted by padd — and thus, the probability of not becoming addicted and being able to continue using the drug with experience is 1 – padd.
(b) Assume for simplicity that the current market price is $25. For a particular consumer, let WTPo = 40, WTPe = 60, and WTPa = -$140 < 0.
(i) Interpret each WTP.
(ii) Show that if the probability of becoming addicted is 0.1 (padd = 0.1), then the individual will choose to consume the drug.
(iii) Show that if the probability of becoming addicted is 0.4 (padd = 0.4), then the individual will choose to not consume the drug.
(7 Points)
(c) One of the core principles of economics is that voluntary transactions make those economic agents that transact better off. Discuss this in light of what you have just shown above.
(3 Points)
(d) Some goods in each category have similar characteristics to goods in other categories. In the U.S., the government has cracked down on prescription painkillers, tightening the supply. Refer to the podcast. Show the effects of a government crackdown on the market for heroin in a demand-and-supply graph.
(3 Points)
Task 2: Risk of Incarceration, Taxes, Production Costs, and Entry
(a) For those drugs in the third category, any consumer and any producer risks being caught and incarcerated.
(i) Consider a consumer who is experienced but not addicted to such a drug. Let his WTPe = 60. If the consumer is caught and incarcerated, then he gets 0. Let his willingness to pay for alcohol, which is licit, be 54. Show that if the probability of being caught and incarcerated is 0.1, then the consumer is indifferent between consuming the illicit drug which entails the risk of being caught and incarcerated, or consuming alcohol.
(ii) Consider producers. Previously, when the drugs were illicit, each producer had certain explicit and implicit costs of production; suppose that these are constant and equal to 20. A producer would sell six units at a price of 28 each. Suppose that the probability that a producer is caught and incarcerated is 0.25. Determine the amount of loss that a producer would regard incarceration to be equivalent to, that would make this producer indifferent between becoming a producer and not.
(iii) Each producer attempted to maintain a monopoly over its territory, often by threatening potential entrants with physical harm — after all, since the drug is illicit, the producer cannot avail itself of the judicial
system to enforce their monopoly or contracts/agreements. Suppose that a local monopolist faces a demand given by Qd = 20 – P and has a constant marginal cost equal to 4. Graph this local monopolist’s demand, marginal revenue, and marginal cost. On your graph, identify the monopolist’s profit-maximizing quantity and price, then shade the
areas that represent consumers’ surplus, deadweight loss, and profit. (6 Points)
Return to Task 1 (b) and suppose that the government decides to legalize the illicit drugs and impose a tax of $10. Let Qd = 100 – 2P and Qs = 10 + P/2.
(b) Derive the new equilibrium — the price that consumers pay, the price that firms receive, and the quantity. What is the share of tax burden that consumers bear and how is that share related to the elasticity of demand versus the
elasticity of supply?(4 Points)
(c) Because the drug is now licit, explain why demand would change and write a demand that is consistent with your explanation — for example, if you think that demand would increase and become more elastic, then modify Qd = 100 –
2P to an equation that shows greater demand and is more elastic (at least at the equilibrium).
Repeat for supply — explain why supply would change and write a supply that is consistent with your explanation.
(4 Points)
Task 3: Government’s Choices
(a) Listen to the podcast, particularly the question and response by Marc Fisher from 1:44 – 3:40 (starting at 10:07:50 in the transcript). Consider his statement that the Mexican cartels switched from marijuana to poppy/heroin production after marijuana became legalized in some states in the U.S.
(i) Use a supply-and-demand graph to show the effects of this crackdown for Mexican drug cartels.
(ii) Do you agree with the statement that the legalization of marijuana in some states impelled the Mexican drug cartels to switch to poppy/heroin production, or do you think that they would have started producing anyway because the demand for heroin increased? Explain.(4 Points)
In articles for discussion in the seminars, you have discussed policies to reduce children’s tobacco consumption and the various benefits and costs of ending the war on drugs. Many politicians and social scientists compare illicit drugs to alcohol and tobacco, two products that are licit and taxed despite each being addictive and
physically harmful. Certainly, there is uncertainty about the benefits and costs that would result if currently illicit drugs such as heroin were made licit and taxed.
(b) Suppose that as a government leader, you believe that making heroin licit would result in either per annum net benefits of $1 million or a net loss of $3 million, with probabilities 0.9 and 0.1, respectively.
If after one year, you learn that:
• the result is good (net benefits of $1 million), then you maintain the licit status into the future, yielding net benefits each year into the future— suppose that this stream has a current value of $5 million; or
• the result is adverse (net loss of $3 million), then you would like to reverse the policy and make heroin illicit again. However, reversing this policy has become difficult and would entail a cost that has a current value of $10 million; thereafter, heroin would be illicit, yielding no net benefits or costs compared to the current situation.
(i) Would it be prudent to legalize heroin or maintain its illicit status?
(ii) Relate this to alcohol and tobacco.4 Points)
Are you looking for a similar paper or any other quality academic essay? Then look no further. Our research paper writing service is what you require. Our team of experienced writers is on standby to deliver to you an original paper as per your specified instructions with zero plagiarism guaranteed. This is the perfect way you can prepare your own unique academic paper and score the grades you deserve.
[meteor_slideshow slideshow="slide2"]Use the order calculator below and get ordering with idealtermpapers.com now! Contact our live support team for any assistance or inquiry.
[order_calculator]
