Discuss the Effectiveness of Indirect Taxation on Fuel as a Method of Solving Market Failure in Transport.

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Q. Discuss the effectiveness of indirect taxation on fuel as a method of solving market failure in transport. (20 marks) A. Market failure is a situation where there is an inefficient allocation of resources by failing to deliver allocative or productive efficiency in a free market. To solve the problem of a market failure several actions can take place such as; regulations, subsidies or in the transport market and the issue of fuel, indirect taxation, which is a payment passed on to the consumer on a good or service, through the producer. This should decrease the consumption on a demerit good which produces negative externalities. Due to the overconsumption of fuel, government should place an indirect tax because it creates extra revenue for the government which then can be turned into hypothecation – this means that it can be reinvested in the transport industry, for example; in the improvement in the motorways or mostly congested roads to improve the service. Or this source of revenue could be used to fund other projects which allow the government to correct other market failures. For example, investing in improving the public transport, as this is a substitute for cars. If the revenue was spent this way then all users of public transport would benefit, so those who currently use the bus and train would gain from the tax remaining high if that meant that their fares were cheaper or service quality was better. This represents a long term solution to congested roads and pollution. However, there might be some consumer welfare effects. Firstly, the tax will reduce output and raise prices which may have an adverse effect on customer welfare. Producers will pass on the tax onto their customers, but if the demand for the fuel is inelastic, it will only have a small effect on consumers and therefore there will be only a small effect on the demand. This is shows on the

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