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Economics glossary · When markets fail

External cost

What external cost means in economics, as one of private, external and social cost, with an example and a question to test yourself.

Definition
External cost
External costs are the costs of production that fall on third parties, unpaid by the firm; per unit, they are the gap between MSC and MPC.
Example

Can you think of an example of external cost?

Test yourself

Can you name the three kinds of cost on an externality diagram?

Learn it properly: the module

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