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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).