Question

In: Economics

A firm can use either high skilled or low skilled workers in production. One high skilled worker can produce as much as 2 low skilled workers.

A firm can use either high skilled or low skilled workers in production. One high skilled worker can produce as much as 2 low skilled workers.

a.Draw isoquants for a production process, the inputs of which are high cost and low cost workers. (Hint: Marginal rate of technical substitution is constant)

Unions represent high skilled workers. They are only concerned about the level of employment and wages for high skilled workers. The wage for high skilled workers is $10. Low skilled workers are not represented by the union, and their wage is $4. The government is considering introducing a minimum wage of $5.01.

b.What will be the union’s position on the minimum wage increase and why?

Solutions

Expert Solution

a) One high skiled worker can produce as much as 2 lw skilled worker.

the marginal product of high skilled worker= 2* Marginal product pf low skilled workers.

Thus,

MRTS= MPhs/ MPls =2/1 = 2

Thus, the slope of the isoquanti is constant and is equal to 2.

This imples that high skilled and low skilled workrs are perfect substitues.

Diagramatically it can be shown as:

b) The wage of the high skilled workers is $10, the wages of the low skilled workers is now increased to $5.01

The ratio of the wages is now, 10/5.01 =1.99

As the ratio of the wages is lower tha 2, which is less than MRTS, the budget line would become less steeper than the isoquant, and as high skilled and low skilled workers are perfect substitues, the producers would substitute the low skilled labours completely with the high skilled labours.


Related Solutions

Suppose there exist two labour markets — one for low-skilled, and one for high-skilled workers. Any...
Suppose there exist two labour markets — one for low-skilled, and one for high-skilled workers. Any low-skilled worker can become a high-skilled worker by investing in education, the cost of which is c. (a) What, if any, wage gap would exist between low- and high-skilled workers in equilibrium? Explain. (b) Now suppose that an improvement in technology raises the productivity of low-skilled workers. Explain the process by which the markets would adjust to a new equilibrium.
1. Consider the following market in which workers can either be of high (H) or low...
1. Consider the following market in which workers can either be of high (H) or low (L) productivity. The outside option for both workers is 2. The productivity of L workers in the market is 2 and the productivity of H workers is 6. There are many firms in this market and they behave competitively. Potential employers cannot observe the productivity of a worker ex ante, but they can verify the level of education a worker has received. The L...
1. In Canada, one worker can produce either one bushel of wheat or one beer mug....
1. In Canada, one worker can produce either one bushel of wheat or one beer mug. In China, one worker can produce either two bushels of wheat or three beer mugs. Who has the comparative advantage in each good? A. China in both goods. B. China in wheat and Canada in mugs. C. Canada in wheat and China in mugs. D. Canada in both goods. 2. In the real world, specialization is rarely complete because A. production possibilities curves are...
Suppose that a worker in radio land can produce either for radios or one television per...
Suppose that a worker in radio land can produce either for radios or one television per year and a worker in TV Land can produce either two radios or five televisions per year each nation has a hundred workers in each country specializes according to the principle of comparative advantage of Radiolab trades a hundred television to TV land in exchange for a hundred radios year then each country's Max and consumption of new radios and televisions televisions per year...
An economy has 80 workers producing two goods: bananas and tractors. Each worker can produce either...
An economy has 80 workers producing two goods: bananas and tractors. Each worker can produce either 5 tons of bananas or 2 tractors in a year. Currently, 60 workers produce bananas, and the rest produce tractors. The price of a ton of bananas is $200, and that of a tractor is $500. Each worker earns $600 in wages a year. The government sector buys 15 tractors a year. There is no depreciation or ROW in this economy. Assume that firms...
An economy has 80 workers producing two goods: bananas and tractors. Each worker can produce either...
An economy has 80 workers producing two goods: bananas and tractors. Each worker can produce either 5 tons of bananas or 2 tractors in a year. Currently, 60 workers produce bananas, and the rest produce tractors. The price of a ton of bananas is $200, and that of a tractor is $500. Each worker earns $600 in wages a year. The government sector buys 15 tractors a year. There is no depreciation or ROW in this economy. Assume that firms...
An economy has 100 workers producing two goods: coffee and grinders. Each worker can produce either...
An economy has 100 workers producing two goods: coffee and grinders. Each worker can produce either two tons of coffee, or one grinder a year. Currently, 60 workers produce coffee, and the rest produce grinders. The price of a ton of coffee is $150, and that of a grinder is $300. Each worker earns $250 in wages a year. The government sector buys 40 tons of coffee a year. There is no depreciation or ROW in this economy. Assume that...
Suppose that low-skilled workers employed in clearing woodland can each clear one acre per month if...
Suppose that low-skilled workers employed in clearing woodland can each clear one acre per month if each is equipped with a shovel, a machete, and a chainsaw. Clearing one acre brings in $1300 in revenue. Each worker’s equipment costs the worker’s employer $235 per month to rent and each worker toils 40 hours per week for 4 weeks each month. a. What is the marginal revenue product of hiring one low-skilled worker to clear woodland for one month? $. b....
Suppose that low-skilled workers employed in clearing woodland can each clear one acre per month if...
Suppose that low-skilled workers employed in clearing woodland can each clear one acre per month if each is equipped with a shovel, a machete, and a chainsaw. Clearing one acre brings in $1,300 in revenue. Each worker’s equipment costs the worker’s employer $235 per month to rent and each worker toils 40 hours per week for 4 weeks each month. Instructions: In part a, enter your answer as a whole number. In parts b-e, round your answers to 2 decimal...
Suppose that low-skilled workers employed in clearing woodland can each clear one acre per month if...
Suppose that low-skilled workers employed in clearing woodland can each clear one acre per month if each is equipped with a shovel, a machete, and a chainsaw. Clearing one acre brings in $1,200 in revenue. Each worker’s equipment costs the worker’s employer $215 per month to rent and each worker toils 40 hours per week for 4 weeks each month. Instructions: In part a, enter your answer as a whole number. In parts b-e, round your answers to 2 decimal...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT