Question

A deadweight loss is a consequence of a tax on a good because the tax a. induces the government to increase its expenditures. b. induces buyers to consume less, and sellers to produce less. c. increases the equilibrium price in the market. d. imposes a loss on buyers that is greater than the loss to sellers.

Answer 1

B) induces buyers to consume less, and sellers to produce less.

Step-by-step explanation:

Taxes are a necessary evil since they always increase the price of the goods and services that consumers buy and decrease the amount of money that producers receive from selling their goods and services. But taxes are necessary and unavoidable.

But once a market assumes all the effects of existing taxes it reaches an equilibrium price that both consumers and producers are satisfied with. If a new tax is levied than the deadweight losses are greater since consumer surplus and producer surplus are both reduced. This will lead to a reduction in the incentive that both consumers and producers have to engage in transactions. Many times consumers will substitute heavily taxed goods for other goods since they feel they are getting more from consuming those goods (consumer surplus). The same happens to producers, many producers will change their heavily taxed goods for other goods.

If the price elasticity of demand or supply of a certain good is large (elastic demand and supply), the deadweight loss will be greater.