What is social cost of production

Question

What is social cost of production?

Answer 1

Social Cost:

Under the production of goods, costs will be incurred not only through the owners business but also through the society. Cost incurred through a society in terms of resources used within the production of a commodity is termed as social cost of production. This is the opportunity cost borne by an entire society or community. Social costs have not only the cost borne through the owners of a business or producers but also it is the cost passed on to the society. For illustration, production of exact commodities (rubber, chemical, petroleum and steel) causes environment pollution.

Pollution caused whereas producing a commodity inflicts a social cost on those residents who undergo ill health. Several industries leave wastes that the adjoining areas have to bear. A cost which is not borne by the firm except is incurred by others in the society is termed as external cost. Social cost contains external costs and privet cost (since firms are also apart of society). Therefore, social cost is the total cost of the society on account of production of a commodity. For illustration, the social cost of liquor sold through a firm includes the cost incurred through the firm as private cost and the cost as expenditure of additional police force to deal along with the drunken people and those other incidental expenses for the society.