Social efficiency

Efficiency

Assessing the efficiency of firms is a powerful means of evaluating performance of firms, and the performance of markets and whole economies. There are several types of efficiency, including allocative and productive efficiency, technical efficiency, 'X' efficiency, dynamic efficiency and social efficiency.

Social efficiency

Tejvan Pettinger September 17, 2017 economics

Definition of Social efficiency. This is the optimal distribution of resources in society, taking into account all external costs and benefits as well as the internal costs and benefits. Social Efficiency occurs at an output where Marginal Social Benefit (MSB) = Marginal Social Cost (MSC).

Social efficiency is closely related to the concept of Pareto efficiency – A point where it is impossible to make anyone better off without making someone worse off

Note:

Social benefit = private benefit + external benefit

Social cost = private cost + external cost

Social efficiency and negative externality

We say social efficiency occurs at an output where Marginal Social Benefit (MSB) = Marginal Social Cost (MSC)

If a good has a negative externality – ignored by individuals, then in a free market, we tend to get over-consumption and social inefficiency.

negative-externality-id

In a free market, consumers ignore the external costs of consumption (e.g. you drive a car but don’t factor in the congestion you cause to other people). Therefore, the free market equilibrium is at Q1 (where S=D).

However, at Q1 the Marginal Social Cost is greater than the Marginal Social Benefit. Therefore by consuming at this point, the cost to society is greater than benefit (e.g. think of traffic jams and pollution because too many people drive at once). We say there is a deadweight welfare loss – indicated by the red triangle.

If the output is reduced from Q1 to Q2, society is in a better position. At Q2, the marginal social cost = the marginal social benefit. This is said to be socially efficient

Social efficiency and positive externality

With a positive externality, we ignore the benefits to third parties.

The free market equilibrium (Q1) is less than the socially efficient level (Q2) where SMC = SMB.

positive-externality-consumption-id

At Q1, the Marginal Social Benefit (MSB) is greater than the Marginal Social Cost (MSC). Therefore, in this situation, if we increase output from Q1 to Q2, the addition to social welfare (MSB) is greater than the marginal social cost, therefore net social welfare increases until we get to point Q1 where SMB = SMC.

Implications of Social efficiency

It is important to take into account externalities. (both positive and negative) It can be difficult to measure externalities, but we need to make an effort. Government intervention – taxes and subsidies can attempt to influence production and consumption to achieve social efficiency.