Question

In: Economics

Define the Elasticity of Demand for Labor. List the five benchmarks analysts use in its discussion...

Define the Elasticity of Demand for Labor. List the five benchmarks analysts use in its discussion and detail whether increased wages for each results in an increase in the total of wages received by workers in that labor market or not.

Solutions

Expert Solution

The ease and cost of factor substitution: Labour demand will be more elastic when a firm can substitute quickly and easily between labour and capital inputs. When specialised labour or capital is needed, then the demand for labour will be more inelastic with respect to the wage rate.

The demand curve for labor shows the quantity of labor employers wish to hire at any given salary or wage rate, under the ceteris paribus assumption. A change in the wage or salary will result in a change in the quantity demanded of labor. If the wage rate increases, employers will want to hire fewer employees. The quantity of labor demanded will decrease, and there will be a movement upward along the demand curve. If the wages and salaries decrease, employers are more likely to hire a greater number of workers. The quantity of labor demanded will increase, resulting in a downward movement along the demand curve.

Shifts in the demand curve for labor occur for many reasons. One key reason is that the demand for labor is based on the demand for the good or service that is being produced. For example, the more new automobiles consumers demand, the greater the number of workers automakers will need to hire. Therefore the demand for labor is called a “derived demand.” Here are some examples of derived demand for labor:

  • The demand for chefs is dependent on the demand for restaurant meals.
  • The demand for pharmacists is dependent on the demand for prescription drugs.
  • The demand for attorneys is dependent on the demand for legal services.

As the demand for the goods and services increases, the demand for labor will increase, or shift to the right, to meet employers’ production requirements. As the demand for the goods and services decreases, the demand for labor will decrease, or shift to the left. Table 2 shows that in addition to the derived demand for labor, demand can also increase or decrease (shift) in response to several factors.

Factors Results
Demand for Output When the demand for the good produced (output) increases, both the output price and profitability increase. As a result, producers demand more labor to ramp up production.
Education and Training A well-trained and educated workforce causes an increase in the demand for that labor by employers. Increased levels of productivity within the workforce will cause the demand for labor to shift to the right. If the workforce is not well-trained or educated, employers will not hire from within that labor pool, since they will need to spend a significant amount of time and money training that workforce. Demand for such will shift to the left.
Technology Technology changes can act as either substitutes for or complements to labor. When technology acts as a substitute, it replaces the need for the number of workers an employer needs to hire. For example, word processing decreased the number of typists needed in the workplace. This shifted the demand curve for typists left. An increase in the availability of certain technologies may increase the demand for labor. Technology that acts as a complement to labor will increase the demand for certain types of labor, resulting in a rightward shift of the demand curve. For example, the increased use of word processing and other software has increased the demand for information technology professionals who can resolve software and hardware issues related to a firm’s network. More and better technology will increase demand for skilled workers who know how to use technology to enhance workplace productivity. Those workers who do not adapt to changes in technology will experience a decrease in demand.
Number of Companies An increase in the number of companies producing a given product will increase the demand for labor resulting in a shift to the right. A decrease in the number of companies producing a given product will decrease the demand for labor resulting in a shift to the left.
Government Regulations Complying with government regulations can increase or decrease the demand for labor at any given wage. In the healthcare industry, government rules may require that nurses be hired to carry out certain medical procedures. This will increase the demand for nurses. Less-trained healthcare workers would be prohibited from carrying out these procedures, and the demand for these workers will shift to the left.
Price and Availability of Other Inputs Labor is not the only input into the production process. For example, a salesperson at a call center needs a telephone and a computer terminal to enter data and record sales. The demand for salespersons at the call center will increase if the number of telephones and computer terminals available increases. This will cause a rightward shift of the demand curve. As the amount of inputs increases, the demand for labor will increase. If the terminal or the telephones malfunction, then the demand for that labor force will decrease. As the quantity of other inputs decreases, the demand for labor will decrease. Similarly, if prices of other inputs fall, production will become more profitable and suppliers will demand more labor to increase production. The opposite is also true. Higher input prices lower demand for labor

Related Solutions

Assume that labor demand elasticity < 0 and labor supply elasticity > 0 but small. Explain...
Assume that labor demand elasticity < 0 and labor supply elasticity > 0 but small. Explain in words and use a labor market diagram to show the effects of immigration on the receiving country’s GDP Number of native workers Labor income of native workers Number of immigrants Labor income of immigrants Total number of workers Wage rates before and after immigration Income of capitalists/consumers
The firm's elasticity of demand for labor is -0.5. The firm sells its output at $20...
The firm's elasticity of demand for labor is -0.5. The firm sells its output at $20 per unit, and the wage rate is $15 per hour. Suppose the firm experiences an increase in productivity such that at every level of employment its output is 200 unitslhour greater than before. What will happen to the number of workers hired by the firm?
Please define and explain “income elasticity of demand” and “price elasticity”:
Please define and explain “income elasticity of demand” and “price elasticity”:
Use the substitution effect, scale effect, and labor demand elasticity to explain why an increase in...
Use the substitution effect, scale effect, and labor demand elasticity to explain why an increase in the wage rate for coal miners will likely create more unemployment in the long run than in the short run.
a. Define the demand function of a good, and then discuss the price elasticity of demand...
a. Define the demand function of a good, and then discuss the price elasticity of demand for agricultural product such as rice. b. Use a demand/supply diagram to discuss why rice farmers may not benefit from a technological improvement in producing rice.
a. Define the demand function of a good, and then discuss the price elasticity of demand...
a. Define the demand function of a good, and then discuss the price elasticity of demand for agricultural product such as rice. b. Use a demand/supply diagram to discuss why rice farmers may not benefit from a technological improvement in producing rice.
Topic: Product Elasticity of Demand List FIVE products or services: One should be highly elastic One...
Topic: Product Elasticity of Demand List FIVE products or services: One should be highly elastic One somewhat elastic One unit elastic (approximately) One somewhat inelastic One highly inelastic In each case, Describe why the elastic responsiveness is what it is. What would be the substitutes and/or complements of these products? Why is the cross elasticity of demand positive for substitutes and negative for complements?
Compare and contrast the price elasticity of supply and price elasticity of demand, and define income...
Compare and contrast the price elasticity of supply and price elasticity of demand, and define income elasticity and how it distinguishes normal and inferior goods.
Compare and contrast the price elasticity of supply and price elasticity of demand, and define income...
Compare and contrast the price elasticity of supply and price elasticity of demand, and define income elasticity and how it distinguishes normal and inferior goods.
Compare and contrast the price elasticity of supply and price elasticity of demand, and define income...
Compare and contrast the price elasticity of supply and price elasticity of demand, and define income elasticity and how it distinguishes normal and inferior goods.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT