Adgh

The amount of surplus achieved when government, industry, and households pay only the high-level competence premium at the current level of market demand.

Ahlm

The amount of social loss incurred when government, industry, and households pay only the high-level competence premium at the current level of market demand.

Adgh

The amount of social surplus achieved when government, industry, and households pay only the high-level competence premium at a reduced level of demand.

Ahlm

The amount of social loss incurred when government, industry, and households pay only the high-level competence premium at a reduced level of demand.

With market distortion there will always be social loss. Whether that loss is greater or less than the correponding social benefit depends upon the position of the demand curve relative to supply. A decrease in demand will always lead to greater social loss and reduced social benefit. Thus, a fall in demand necessarily leads to reduced net social benefit.

Those who believe that the demand for high-level English language competence is increasing, but fail to take into account what would happen, if the needs myth about low-level language competence were dispelled, are likely to bring about even greater net social loss.