For each of the examples below, please answer the following:
a. Does an externality exist? If so, classify the externality as positive/negative (or both).
b. If an externality exists, determine whether the Coase Theorem applies (i.e. is it possible to assign property rights and solve the problem?
c. If it is possible for the Coase Theorem to solve this problem explain how.
Example 1 – ABC Company builds a garbage recycling plant in a low-income area of the city.
Example 2 – Your neighbors (whose apartment is right next door and has thin walls) are big fans of football and they blast their television at all hours watching games.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Example 1: a. Yes, an externality exists. The externality in this case is negative, as the garbage recycling plant may produce unpleasant odors, noise pollution, or other negative effects that impact the quality of life for the residents in the low-income area. b. The Coase Theorem may not apply in this case. It may be difficult to assign property rights or negotiate a solution, as the residents of the low-income area may not have the resources or bargaining power to effectively address the issue with the ABC Company. c. If the Coase Theorem were to apply, it would require the ABC Company and the affected residents to negotiate a mutually beneficial agreement. The company could compensate the residents for the negative externalities they experience by providing financial compensation, implementing measures to minimize the negative effects (such as installing air filters or noise insulation), or finding an alternative location for the garbage recycling plant. However, it is important to note that in practice, implementing the Coase Theorem may be challenging in this scenario due to the power imbalances and limited resources of the low-income residents.
Example 2: a. Yes, an externality exists. The externality in this case is negative, as the loud noise from the neighbors’ television impacts your peace and quiet, causing discomfort and potential disturbance. b. The Coase Theorem may apply in this case. It is possible to assign property rights and potentially solve the problem through negotiation between you and your neighbors. c. If the Coase Theorem were to apply, you and your neighbors could establish property rights and negotiate a solution. For example, you could discuss quiet hours during football games or they could invest in soundproofing their apartment to minimize the noise impact on you. By assigning property rights and allowing negotiations, both parties have the opportunity to reach a mutually agreeable solution.
