What is the deadweight loss (harberger-driehoek / welvaartsverlies) caused by an indirect per-unit excise tax (accijns)?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. The net loss of total societal surplus that is captured neither by consumers
- Step 1: An excise tax drives a wedge between the price paid by consumers and the price received by producers, reducing output below the socially optimal quantity. Step 2. The lost consumer and producer surplus on the foregone transactions is not recovered as tax revenue, forming the deadweight loss triangle. Answer: The net loss of total societal surplus that is captured neither by consumers. Why not the others: Government tax revenue is a transfer, not a loss; deadweight loss is pure destruction of welfare.
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