Marginikohustused

Marginikohustused, also known as marginal duties or externalities, refer to the costs or benefits that are imposed on or enjoyed by third parties who are not directly involved in a transaction. These can be either positive or negative and are not reflected in the price of the goods or services exchanged. For example, a factory emitting pollutants into the air imposes a negative externality on nearby residents, as they are forced to bear the health costs of the pollution without receiving any compensation. Conversely, a community garden that provides fresh produce to neighbors represents a positive externality, as it benefits those who are not directly involved in its creation.

Marginikohustused can arise from various sources, including production activities, consumption habits, and the use of natural resources. They can have significant economic and environmental impacts, as they often lead to inefficient resource allocation and can contribute to the degradation of the environment. To address these issues, policymakers may implement regulations, taxes, or other measures to internalize the externalities, ensuring that all costs and benefits are reflected in the market price. This process, known as the Coase theorem, suggests that if transaction costs are low, parties involved in a transaction will negotiate and reach an efficient outcome, even if they initially disagree on the distribution of costs and benefits.