
Figure 17.5 A Pigouvian Subsidy Corrects for a Positive Externality
In an unregulated market, colleges underproduce the quantity of college degrees (
QMKT) at price
PMKT (point
B). A Pigouvian subsidy (
Sub) equal to external marginal benefit (
EMB) shifts demand (
D) out to social demand (
SD). Now, the college market produces where supply (
S) intersects
SD, and supplies the socially efficient quantity of college degrees (
Q*) at price
P* (point
A).