suppose demand is given by q=50-p and marginal cost for generating electricity is 10 dollar per megawatt hour. Health damage for the smoke is 15 dollar per megawatt hour. Here, smoke generation is proportion to the electricity generation. Now, what price will be charged and how much electricity will be produced?
you are probaly expected to assume selling price = marginal cost
I assume p= price in the q=50-p formula
You must have some examples of these in your text books /lecture notes-
When competitive producers choose their profit-maximizing output level, they consider only their private marginal cost and do not take account of the negative externality associated with health damages. In a competitive market.
Yes, the health damage aspect does seem to be a red herring unless the OP has incorrectly paraphrased the question and should have mentioned that there is an environmental smoke tax/levy of $15 per megawatt hour