In 2008, a man was charged with one count of illegally stocking wild animals, a civil offense. State investigators had accused him of bringing 31 wild hogs from Texas to Wisconsin to hunt on his private land, spawning a feral hog population that has caused thousands of dollars in crop damage to hundreds of farms in the region. What is the externality in this example?
A) bringing 31 wild hogs from Texas to Wisconsin to hunt on his private land
B) spawning a feral hog population
C) illegally stocking wild animals
D) crop damage

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Crop damage is the externality because it is an unintended negative consequence that affects third parties (farmers) who were not involved in the initial action of bringing the hogs.

In 2008, a Man Was Charged with One Count of Illegally