Regulate Natural Monopolies

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Governments regulate businesses when market failure seems to arise and occur and to control natural monopolies, control negative externalities, and to achieve social goals among other reasons. Setting government regulations on natural monopolies is important because if not regulated, then these natural monopolies could restrict output and raise prices for consumers. It is important to regulate natural monopolies because they don’t have any competition to drive down the price of the product they are selling. Therefore, with no competition, they can control the output and the price of the product at whatever they deem necessary. With regulations the government keeps it fair both for the consumer and producer. It’s also important for government …show more content…

Government regulations on businesses doesn’t only address negative externalities and control over natural monopolies, but it also helps achieve social goals that it deems to be in the public’s interest. One social goal of the government is to make sure that the people are kept informed of harmful products through labeling. Other government regulations for social goals require truth in advertising, products safety standards, weight and size information, grading standard, etc. Other examples of social goals include preservation of national security, allocation of scarce resources, and protection of those who provide essential services. Throughout the history of the United States government many people have believed and still believe that the government should take a minor role in business, while others believe that the government should take a more major role in business. In 1791, Alexander Hamilton was serving as the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury, and pushed for tariffs to protect domestic manufacturers. This was supposed to protect new and emerging industries. Nearly 70 years later Abraham Lincoln expanded among these powers by opening the American West up for settlement. Men like John D. Rockefeller dominated …show more content…

They enforce the proper disposal of waste material, the restrictions on greenhouse emissions, pollutants, and other substances harmful to land, water, and our atmosphere. I do support the EPA because it is protecting the very environment that we need to live in. The EPA was created to protect human health and the environment by writing and enforcing regulations based on the laws passed by the Congress. I believe that the EPA is necessary, but it does come at a cost. With the EPA, businesses are forced to follow strict guidelines. This comes at a monetary cost that can sometimes cost a great deal of money. This in turn makes the products they produce more expensive for consumer. Overall, I do believe that the EPA and all the rules and regulations they enforce are worth the price at which they are given. Another modern example of government regulations on businesses is sticker shock. Sticker shock is a about fuel economy standards. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the EPA finalized new fuel efficiency standards for cars and light truck for the year 2017-2025. They are requiring the average fuel economy be 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. Although this would be great, I don’t think that it is realistic. The sticker price for cars will dramatically increase, and ultimately have a negative effect on the overall economy. I don’t support this regulation as it is unfair and unjust to set

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