[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.00,0:00:02.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,♪ [music] ♪
Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.17,0:00:10.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- [Prof. Alex Tabarrok]\NSo far in our videos,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.44,0:00:13.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we've looked at the effect\Nof taxes on market prices,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.71,0:00:15.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but we haven't said much
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.13,0:00:18.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about why government levies taxes\Nin the first place,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.10,0:00:19.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,namely to get revenues.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.96,0:00:24.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So let's look at that and also\Nat the cost of raising revenues,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.00,0:00:26.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is deadweight loss.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.45,0:00:32.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We can show pretty much\Neverything we need to show
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.62,0:00:34.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with a single diagram.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.26,0:00:36.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So here is our initial equilibrium.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.52,0:00:38.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The price with no tax is $2
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.96,0:00:43.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the quantity exchanged\Nwith no tax is 700 units.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.99,0:00:47.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, let's recall\Nthat consumer surplus
Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.05,0:00:49.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is the consumer's\Ngain from exchange,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.55,0:00:51.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it's this green area here,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.68,0:00:54.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the area underneath the demand curve
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.07,0:00:55.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and above the price,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.88,0:00:58.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,up to the quantity exchanged.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.50,0:01:01.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it's the area\Nabove the price of $2
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.10,0:01:05.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and up to the quantity exchanged\Nof 700 below the demand curve --
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.37,0:01:07.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this area right here.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:07.25,0:01:10.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Producer surplus\Nis the producer's gain from exchange,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.87,0:01:13.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it’s the area\Nabove the supply curve,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.05,0:01:16.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,up to the quantity exchanged\Nand below the price,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.02,0:01:17.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,below the producer's price.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.21,0:01:20.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, you may also recall
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.19,0:01:25.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that a free market maximizes\Nconsumer plus producer surplus.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.05,0:01:27.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What we're going to show\Nis that when we have a tax,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.71,0:01:28.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this is no longer true.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.86,0:01:30.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The intervention\Ninto the free market
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.63,0:01:32.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,means that consumer\Nand producer surplus
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.94,0:01:34.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are not maximized.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.92,0:01:36.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let's take a look.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.70,0:01:39.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So suppose we have tax of $1,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.53,0:01:42.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and using our wedge method,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.04,0:01:45.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we can find what the new price\Nis going to be for the buyers.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.87,0:01:47.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's going to be here.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.18,0:01:49.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the new price\Nfor the buyers is say, $2.50.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.56,0:01:55.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Notice now, the consumer surplus\Nis not this large green area
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.12,0:02:00.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,since the price is now higher\Nand the quantity exchanged
Dialogue: 0,0:02:00.05,0:02:01.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has fallen.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.11,0:02:05.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The quantity exchanged\Nfalls from 700 units to 500 units.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.99,0:02:08.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, the consumer surplus\Nwith the tax
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.96,0:02:13.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is this smaller green area here.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.03,0:02:17.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Again, it's the area\Nabove the buyer's price,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.03,0:02:20.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,up to the quantity exchanged,\Nand below the demand.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.28,0:02:23.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So exactly the definition\Nhasn't changed,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.42,0:02:26.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but because of the tax\Nthe price to the buyer changes,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.83,0:02:29.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the quantity demanded exchanges,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.35,0:02:31.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so the consumer surplus\Nchanges as well.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.59,0:02:33.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In this case, it gets a lot smaller.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.71,0:02:35.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What about producer surplus?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.61,0:02:40.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, again, the price\Nwhich the sellers receive falls.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.84,0:02:44.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So producer surplus is no longer\Nthis large blue area,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.65,0:02:48.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but is now just\Nthis much smaller blue area.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:48.76,0:02:54.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the tax reduces consumer surplus\Nand it reduces producer surplus.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.14,0:02:56.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, what about\Nthis area in the middle?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:56.06,0:02:58.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, fortunately,\Nthat's not wasted.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.09,0:03:00.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That, in fact, is tax revenues.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.69,0:03:05.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So notice that the tax -- \Nthe height of the tax here -- is $1,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.44,0:03:08.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and there are 500 units exchanged,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.46,0:03:13.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so the government gets $1\Nfor each of those 500 units.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.14,0:03:16.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this revenue,\Ntax revenue, is the area.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.38,0:03:20.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's the height\Nof this box times the width,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.36,0:03:24.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the height is the tax,\Nthe width is the quantity exchanged.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.43,0:03:26.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this is tax revenue.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.74,0:03:29.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, what about\Nthis final bit over here?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.77,0:03:32.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That used to be consumer\Nand producer surplus,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.26,0:03:35.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but now it's deadweight loss.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.90,0:03:40.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Nobody gets that.\NThat is lost gains from trade.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.48,0:03:43.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So remember,\Npeople used to trade 700 units.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.100,0:03:46.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now they're only trading 500 units.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.49,0:03:49.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Those units\Nwere benefitting people,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.74,0:03:51.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they're not anymore
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.37,0:03:54.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because these trades\Nare not occurring.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.11,0:03:56.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm going to explain that\Nin a little bit more detail
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.35,0:03:58.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the next slide.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.44,0:04:01.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For now, just be sure\Nthat you understand
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.21,0:04:03.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how to label these areas.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.58,0:04:06.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this is the new consumer surplus,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.16,0:04:09.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,tax revenues,\Nthe new producer surplus,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.22,0:04:12.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this area is deadweight loss.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.53,0:04:16.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay, let's explain deadweight loss\Nin a little bit more detail.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.30,0:04:18.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here's the way\Nto think about deadweight loss.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.97,0:04:21.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Suppose that you're planning\Na trip to New York
Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.08,0:04:22.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you're going to take the bus.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:22.77,0:04:24.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The benefit of the trip to you,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:24.29,0:04:27.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the value of seeing\Nthe sights in New York is $50.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.14,0:04:30.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The cost of the bus ticket is $40.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.06,0:04:32.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So do you take the trip?\NIs it a value?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:32.81,0:04:34.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yes, you take the trip.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:34.16,0:04:37.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The total value of the trip is $10,\Nit's a positive,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:37.37,0:04:39.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so you decide to take the trip.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.28,0:04:41.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Trips is equal to one.\NYou make the trip.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.24,0:04:42.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay, no problem.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.77,0:04:47.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, suppose there's a tax\Nof $20 on bus fares
Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.33,0:04:50.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and let's suppose\Nthat raises the cost of the trip
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.20,0:04:54.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from $40 to $60.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.08,0:04:56.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It doesn't have to raise it\Nby exactly that amount,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.39,0:04:58.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by exactly the $20,\Nbut let's suppose it does.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:58.82,0:05:02.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay, so the cost\Nof the trip is now $60.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.86,0:05:04.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The benefit is still $50.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.66,0:05:07.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So do you take the trip? No.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:07.45,0:05:10.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The benefit is less than the cost.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.85,0:05:14.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So now, no trip.\NTrips are equal to zero.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:14.75,0:05:17.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Does the government\Nraise any revenue from you?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.66,0:05:19.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.56,0:05:23.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Since you don't take the trip,\Nthe government makes no revenue.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:23.92,0:05:27.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Is there a deadweight loss?\NYes.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.44,0:05:30.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You have lost\Nthe value of the trip.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.36,0:05:34.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You used to, when there was no tax,\Nyou took the trip, it was worth $10,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:34.50,0:05:38.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so the world was better off\Nby that $10 of value.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.16,0:05:41.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now with the tax,\Nyou don't take the trip,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.29,0:05:44.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so that $10 is a deadweight loss.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:44.23,0:05:45.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's gone.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:45.21,0:05:49.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And notice that it's\Nnot made up for by revenue.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.66,0:05:51.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's no revenue.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.34,0:05:58.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So deadweight loss\Nis the value of the trips not made
Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.05,0:05:59.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because of the tax,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:59.65,0:06:03.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and there's no revenue\Non trips which aren't made.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:03.02,0:06:04.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Government only makes revenue
Dialogue: 0,0:06:04.64,0:06:06.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on the trips\Nwhich continue to occur.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:06.94,0:06:08.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So deadweight loss
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.33,0:06:11.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is the value of the trips\Nnot made because of the tax.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:12.42,0:06:15.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, to return this\Nto a more general case,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:15.54,0:06:18.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,instead of trips,\Nlet's just replace that with trades.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:18.94,0:06:20.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Deadweight loss
Dialogue: 0,0:06:20.73,0:06:25.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is the value of the trades not made\Nbecause of the tax.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:25.77,0:06:28.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Very quickly,\Nhere's our diagram again.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:28.23,0:06:31.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Before the tax,\Nthere were 700 trades.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:31.55,0:06:34.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,After the tax,\Nthere were 500 trades.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.83,0:06:39.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So these are the 200 trades\Nwhich are not made
Dialogue: 0,0:06:39.51,0:06:41.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because of the tax.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:41.33,0:06:44.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the value\Nof those 200 trades occurs
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.71,0:06:46.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because for these trades,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:46.69,0:06:49.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the demanders value them
Dialogue: 0,0:06:49.39,0:06:54.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,more than it costs the suppliers\Nto provide those trades.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:54.27,0:06:58.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the demanders value the trades\Nas given by the demand curve,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.19,0:06:59.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the height of the demand curve.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:59.98,0:07:03.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The suppliers are willing\Nto supply those trades --
Dialogue: 0,0:07:03.08,0:07:06.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the cost to them is given\Nby the height of the supply curve.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:06.90,0:07:12.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the value, the value\Nminus the costs, if you like,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:12.88,0:07:15.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is given by this triangle.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:15.16,0:07:18.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because those trades\Nno longer occur,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:18.26,0:07:22.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that value is no longer produced --\Nthat's deadweight loss,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:22.63,0:07:26.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the value of the trades\Nwhich don't occur because of the tax.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:26.90,0:07:29.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here's one more important point\Nabout deadweight loss.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:29.65,0:07:32.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Deadweight losses are larger
Dialogue: 0,0:07:32.24,0:07:36.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the more elastic the demand curve\Nholding revenues constant.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:36.06,0:07:40.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So for example, which of these\Ngoods would we more like to tax --
Dialogue: 0,0:07:40.69,0:07:44.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the one on the left\Nwhere the demand curve is elastic
Dialogue: 0,0:07:44.77,0:07:46.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or the one on the right
Dialogue: 0,0:07:46.20,0:07:49.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where the demand curve\Nis more inelastic?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:49.13,0:07:51.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Notice that tax revenues\Nare the same.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:51.46,0:07:54.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So if we have a choice,\Nwhich good do we want to tax?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:54.71,0:07:59.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, pretty clearly, we want to tax\Nthe good with the inelastic demand
Dialogue: 0,0:07:59.06,0:08:02.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because the deadweight losses,\Nthe lost gains from trade,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:02.96,0:08:06.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are much smaller over here\Nthan they are over here.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.80,0:08:09.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the tax on the good\Nwith the elastic demand --
Dialogue: 0,0:08:09.93,0:08:13.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's creating a lot of waste\Nin order to get this revenue.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:13.21,0:08:16.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Over here, the tax on the good\Nwith the inelastic demand --
Dialogue: 0,0:08:16.34,0:08:20.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there's only a little bit of waste\Nfor the same amount of revenue.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:20.75,0:08:23.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The intuition here is pretty simple.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:23.23,0:08:29.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If the demand curve is inelastic,\Nthen a tax won't deter many trades.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:29.82,0:08:30.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that's what we don't want.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:30.95,0:08:33.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We don't want\Nto deter a lot of trades,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:33.02,0:08:36.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it's the lost gains\Nfrom trade
Dialogue: 0,0:08:36.63,0:08:39.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which create the problem.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.25,0:08:44.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We don't get any tax revenue\Nwhen we deter a trade.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:44.35,0:08:47.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's no tax revenue\Nwhen you deter an exchange.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:47.63,0:08:49.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we want to make sure
Dialogue: 0,0:08:49.06,0:08:51.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we deter\Nas few exchanges as possible
Dialogue: 0,0:08:51.97,0:08:55.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that will maximize our revenue\Ncompared to our loss.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:56.27,0:08:59.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, sometimes economists\Nare laughed at or derided
Dialogue: 0,0:08:59.42,0:09:03.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because this implies, for example,\Nthat you ought to tax insulin,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:03.12,0:09:08.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a good with a very inelastic demand.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:08.77,0:09:10.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, there are many reasons
Dialogue: 0,0:09:10.07,0:09:11.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for taxing some goods\Nand not other goods,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:11.07,0:09:13.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,depending upon\Nwho uses the insulin,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:13.07,0:09:16.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whether it's poor people\Nor rich people
Dialogue: 0,0:09:16.85,0:09:19.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or how important\Nhealth is and so forth.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:19.85,0:09:22.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Nevertheless, as a general rule,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:22.65,0:09:25.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it is better to tax goods\Nwith an inelastic demand
Dialogue: 0,0:09:25.65,0:09:28.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than goods with an elastic demand.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:28.21,0:09:29.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's important,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:29.21,0:09:31.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and let me give you\Nan illustration of that.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:31.21,0:09:32.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here's something
Dialogue: 0,0:09:32.21,0:09:34.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which you might think\Nwould be a good idea to tax ---
Dialogue: 0,0:09:34.41,0:09:35.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,luxury yachts.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:35.46,0:09:36.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're only bought by the rich,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:36.46,0:09:38.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so you're not really\Nharming people very much, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:38.46,0:09:41.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, maybe so.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:41.62,0:09:42.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,However, in 1990,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:42.62,0:09:44.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the federal government\Nactually applied a 10% luxury tax
Dialogue: 0,0:09:44.62,0:09:49.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to many luxury goods,\Nincluding pleasure boats or yachts
Dialogue: 0,0:09:50.04,0:09:53.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with a sales price above $100,000.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:53.74,0:09:56.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They expected tax revenue\Nof $31 million.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:56.74,0:09:59.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The reality, however,\Nwas quite different.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:59.18,0:10:02.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The tax revenues\Nwere only $16.6 million.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:02.18,0:10:05.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That was because sales of yachts\Nfell tremendously.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:05.40,0:10:08.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Perhaps the yacht buyers decided,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:08.40,0:10:11.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,well, they could wait a year or two\Nbefore buying their yacht,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:11.84,0:10:13.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,see what happens.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:13.21,0:10:14.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or maybe they decided
Dialogue: 0,0:10:14.21,0:10:16.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they could buy their yachts\Nin other countries.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:16.21,0:10:17.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yachts are pretty easy\Nto move around the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:17.62,0:10:20.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,After all, that's what they're for.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:20.62,0:10:24.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The net result, in fact,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:24.65,0:10:27.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was a loss of 7,000 jobs\Nin the yacht industry.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:27.65,0:10:29.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Indeed, the federal government\Nended up paying out more
Dialogue: 0,0:10:29.50,0:10:32.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in unemployment benefits\Nto unemployed yacht workers
Dialogue: 0,0:10:32.50,0:10:39.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than it collected\Nin tax revenues from yachts.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:39.97,0:10:45.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because of this, the federal tax\Nwas repealed in 1993.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:46.04,0:10:47.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The lesson here --
Dialogue: 0,0:10:47.27,0:10:48.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,don't tax goods\Nwhich have really elastic demands.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:48.27,0:10:50.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You're not going to get\Na lot of revenue,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.27,0:10:51.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you're going to deter\Na lot of trades,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:51.62,0:10:54.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that will create\Na lot of deadweight loss,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:54.62,0:10:56.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and perhaps,\Nsecondary losses for other people,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:56.41,0:10:59.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,such as the workers.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:59.41,0:11:01.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's it actually for taxes.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:01.61,0:11:04.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The only thing\Nwe have left to do is subsidies.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:04.61,0:11:06.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We can actually do that\Nin the next lecture pretty quickly
Dialogue: 0,0:11:06.37,0:11:09.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because subsidies\Nare just negative taxes.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:09.37,0:11:11.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So everything\Nwe've said about taxes,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:11.40,0:11:14.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with just a few changes\Nto our language,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:14.40,0:11:15.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,will go through\Nwith subsidies as well.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:15.40,0:11:16.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thanks.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:16.83,0:11:20.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- [Narrator]\NIf you want to test yourself,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:20.07,0:11:23.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,click “Practice Questions.”
Dialogue: 0,0:11:23.07,0:11:25.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or, if you're ready to move on,\Njust click “Next Video.”
Dialogue: 0,0:11:26.30,0:11:28.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,♪ [music] ♪