Step ➊ : Define ‘social costs’ in the introduction

There are several social costs arising from car production and car use. Social costs are private costs plus external costs of a particular action. Private costs are those costs that are borne by an individual who produces a good or service. External costs are those costs incurred and paid for by third parties not involved in the action.


Step ➋ : Analyse the social costs created by car production

The social costs of car production consist of both the private costs and external costs incurred during production.

There are several social costs associated with car production. The production of cars can cause negative externalities, also known as external costs. Negative production externalities are spill over effects that occur as a result of production activity. The production of cars can cause environmental pollution. Suppose a car firm disposes of chemical paint waste into a river. A production externality occurs because there are additional costs imposed on the community and authorities who have to clean up the mess, due to the negative consequences of the firm’s action.

The car manufacturers may also incur several private costs. The main private cost of the car manufacturer is the actual cost incurred in performing the day to day operations of the business. For a car firm, all the actual costs incurred, both implicit (depreciation, interest, insurance, etc.) and explicit (raw materials, wage, rent, salaries, etc.) are private costs. In the case of a car company, the private cost will include the cost incurred in transporting finished cars from the factory to the forums, the cost of labour engaged in direct production and advertising cost to promote the car.


Step ➌ : Analyse the social costs created by car use

The social costs of car use consist of both private costs and external costs incurred by car users.
There are several social costs associated with car use. Negative consumption externalities are created by consumers as a consequence of their use of products that result in harm to others who are not involved in consumption. A very relevant example is that of car smoke emissions. This causes costs to non-drivers in the form of discomfort and respiratory problems when they walk on the street during traffic jams. The large CO2 emissions that are generated by cars are also a cause of global warming. The private costs of the car driver will be the cost of buying the car. Other private costs may include health problems from the lack of exercise for those who use cars.