According to neoclassical economic theory,competition creates economic efficiency, which in turn result in the optimal prices and allocation of resoaurces across the economic. In practice, though, competitive  markets do not work perfectly, or may be altogether impractical (i.e. in the case of "natural monopolies " such as network infrastucture like roads and transmission lines). Moreover. certain economic activities are accompanied by externalities, which are impacts of the activity that are not included in the market price. Pollution is a commonly cited externality.
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