Suppose that government officials have set an emissions tax to reduce pollution. Assume that the optimal tax would be $1,500, but government officials have set the tax at $500. At the equilibrium with the $500 tax: a. there will be too much pollution. b. the marginal social cost of pollution will be less than $500. c. the marginal social benefit of pollution will be less than $500. d. the marginal social benefit of pollution will be more than $500.

there will be too much pollution

Explanation:

From the question, we are informed that government officials have set an emissions tax to reduce pollution and that the optimal tax should have been $1,500 but government officials have set the tax equal to $500.

It should be noted that due to the fact that the optimal tax has been set below the equilibrium, this will lead to a rise in pollution as the people will be aware that they're paying less than the optimal level which will lead to more pollution. An increase in the optimal tax will have help in reducing the pollution.