![](http://headlineslist.com/images/banner.gif)
Can someone clearly explain to me what merit and demerit goods are?
|
11-18-2012, 01:07 PM
Post: #2
|
|||
|
|||
There is overlap between externalities and merit/demerit goods, but they are not quite the same.
"merit good can be defined as a good which would be under-consumed (and under-produced) in the free market economy" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merit_good) Thus, goods with positive externalities are generally merit goods, and those with negative externalities are generally demerit goods. BUT, there are other types of merit goods. Take exercise equipment: it doesn't have much of an externality, but on average people would be happier if they exercised more. They don't because they are myopic. Ads |
|||
« Next Oldest | Next Newest »
|
Messages In This Thread |
Can someone clearly explain to me what merit and demerit goods are? - cafff - 11-18-2012, 12:59 PM
[] - npm - 11-18-2012 01:07 PM
|
User(s) browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)