In: Economics
Given below are the demand schedule and supply schedule for the labour market for supervisors. Remember that demand for labour represents the employers’ demand for workers, while supply represents the workers’ willingness to work. Graph the demand and supply curve on one graph and determine equilibrium in this market. State the equilibrium. Label the graph properly.
a) State the wage and quantity that establishes equilibrium.
b) Calculate the coefficient of price elasticity of demand if the daily wage goes from $230 to $270. Is elasticity at this level inelastic or elastic
Daily Wage for Supervisors | Quantity Demanded (000s) | Quantity Supplied (000s) |
$200 | 560,000 | 40,000 |
$225 | 475,000 | 65,000 |
$230 | 375,000 | 100,000 |
$270 | 300,000 | 125,000 |
$300 | 295,000 | 295,000 |
$325 | 200,000 | 350,000 |
$340 | 100,000 | 465,000 |
$365 | 61,000 | 575,000 |
A. The equilibrium is at that point where quantity demanded is equal to quantity supplied. From the schedule we can see at a wage rate of $ 300 quantity demanded and supplied is equal to 295,000.
Equilibrium wage rate = $ 300
B. Price elasticity can be calculated using the following formula
Applying mid point method
P1 = $ 230, Q 1 = 375,000
P2 = $ 270, Q2 = 300,000
Plug in these values
Elasticity = - 1.39 (Elastic)