Get premium membership and access questions with answers, video lessons as well as revision papers.
1. Elasticity of demand for the final product::
If labor is producing a commodity with a very inelastic demand, an increase in wages will have a relatively small effect on the demand for labor. If the increase in wages is passed on in the form of higher prices, the fall in quantity demanded of the product will be relatively small. There will be a corresponding small reduction in the demand for labor. However, if the demand for the product is elastic, a small increase in price will lead to a relatively larger reduction in the quantity demanded; if an
increase in wages is passed on in the form of higher prices, there will be a large reduction in the demand for labor.
2. The proportion of total costs accounted for by labor costs:
If wages account for only a small proportion of total cost, the demand for labor will be inelastic. Some industries are labor-intensive e.g house building in the construction industry and therefore labor cost make up a large proportion of the total cost of production; other industries are capital intensive e.g oil refinery. If wages increase while productivity remains unchanged, the labor cost accounts for a greater percentage of the average cost in a labor-intensive industry. The effect of the increase in wages will be to raise the unit cost. In contrast, in a capital-intensive industry where labor cost form a lesser percentage of the average cost, an increase in wages will raise the unit cost at a lower percentage than in the earlier case. If the increased cost are passed on in the form of higher prices, the effects for demand of labor are likely to be much greater in the case of labor intensive industry.
3. Period of Time:
Demand for labor will be more elastic in the long run because it will take time for firms to change their production methods and replace workers with machines. Labor may also have fixed contracts and a period of notice has to be given.
Wilfykil answered the question on February 7, 2019 at 07:03
- By use of diagrams, illustrate and explain the resultant changes on the equilibrium price and quantity from a simultaneous fall in price of a substitute...(Solved)
By use of diagrams, illustrate and explain the resultant changes on the equilibrium price and quantity from a simultaneous fall in price of a substitute and an increase in the cost of raw materials for a specific commodity.
Date posted: February 7, 2019. Answers (1)
- Bring out the salient features of a monopoly market model.(Solved)
Bring out the salient features of a monopoly market model.
Date posted: February 7, 2019. Answers (1)
- A monopolistic firm with a linear demand curve finds that it can sell two units at Sh.12 or twelve units at Sh.2. Its fixed cost...(Solved)
A monopolistic firm with a linear demand curve finds that it can sell two units at Sh.12 or twelve units at Sh.2. Its fixed cost is Sh. 20 and its marginal cost is constant at Sh. 3 per unit. Derive and plot the following:
Marginal cost, average total cost, marginal revenue and demand curves for this firm.
Date posted: February 7, 2019. Answers (1)
- The table below represents a production function for a commodity X where capital is fixed and labor is variable.
(Solved)
The table below represents a production function for a commodity X where capital is fixed and labor is variable.
Using the data in the table, plot the marginal product for labor.
Date posted: February 7, 2019. Answers (1)
- Illustrate and explain the three stages associated with the law of variable proportions(Solved)
Illustrate and explain the three stages associated with the law of variable proportions
Date posted: February 7, 2019. Answers (1)
- Argue for and against international trade restrictions.(Solved)
Argue for and against international trade restrictions.
Date posted: February 7, 2019. Answers (1)
- Distinguish between a tariff and a quota as applied in International Trade.(Solved)
Distinguish between a tariff and a quota as applied in International Trade.
Date posted: February 7, 2019. Answers (1)
- Under what conditions is price discrimination possible?(Solved)
Under what conditions is price discrimination possible?
Date posted: February 7, 2019. Answers (1)
- You have been hired as a consultant by a firm producing bread to advise on a pricing strategy that would
enable the firm to maximize profits....(Solved)
You have been hired as a consultant by a firm producing bread to advise on a pricing strategy that would
enable the firm to maximize profits. This firm is a monopolist which sells in two distinct markets, one of
which is completely sealed off from the other.
As part of the analysis, you establish that the total demand for the firm‟s output is given by the
following equation:
Q = 50 – 0.5P
and the demand for the firm‟s output in the two markets is given by the following equations:
Q1 = 32 – 0.4P1 and
Q2 = 18 – 0.1 P2
Where: Q = total output
P = Price
Q1 = Output sold in Market 1
Q2 = Output sold in Market 2
P1 = Price charged in Market 1
P2 = Price charged in Market 2
The cost of production is given by C = 50 + 40Q
Where C = total cost of producing bread.
How much profit would the firm earn if it sold the output at a single price, and if it discriminates?
Date posted: February 7, 2019. Answers (1)
- You have been hired as a consultant by a firm producing bread to advise on a pricing strategy that would
enable the firm to maximize profits....(Solved)
You have been hired as a consultant by a firm producing bread to advise on a pricing strategy that would
enable the firm to maximize profits. This firm is a monopolist which sells in two distinct markets, one of
which is completely sealed off from the other.
As part of the analysis, you establish that the total demand for the firm‟s output is given by the
following equation:
Q = 50 – 0.5P
and the demand for the firm‟s output in the two markets is given by the following equations:
Q1 = 32 – 0.4P1 and
Q2 = 18 – 0.1 P2
Where: Q = total output
P = Price
Q1 = Output sold in Market 1
Q2 = Output sold in Market 2
P1 = Price charged in Market 1
P2 = Price charged in Market 2
The cost of production is given by C = 50 + 40Q
Where C = total cost of producing bread.
What price must be charged in each market in order to maximize profits?
Date posted: February 7, 2019. Answers (1)
- You have been hired as a consultant by a firm producing bread to advise on a pricing strategy that would
enable the firm to maximize profits....(Solved)
You have been hired as a consultant by a firm producing bread to advise on a pricing strategy that would
enable the firm to maximize profits. This firm is a monopolist which sells in two distinct markets, one of
which is completely sealed off from the other.
As part of the analysis, you establish that the total demand for the firm‟s output is given by the
following equation:
Q = 50 – 0.5P
and the demand for the firm‟s output in the two markets is given by the following equations:
Q1 = 32 – 0.4P1 and
Q2 = 18 – 0.1 P2
Where: Q = total output
P = Price
Q1 = Output sold in Market 1
Q2 = Output sold in Market 2
P1 = Price charged in Market 1
P2 = Price charged in Market 2
The cost of production is given by C = 50 + 40Q
Where C = total cost of producing bread.
Determine the total output that the firm must produce in order to maximize profits.
Date posted: February 7, 2019. Answers (1)
- Given a hypothetical consumption function of the form:
C = a + bYd
Where Yd = Y – T
And Y = Income
...(Solved)
Given a hypothetical consumption function of the form:
C = a + bYd
Where Yd = Y – T
And Y = Income
T = Taxes and that:
Government spending and investment are exogenously determined at G and I respectively: Determine Government Spending
Multiplier.
Date posted: February 7, 2019. Answers (1)
- What is the relationship between the simple multiplier and marginal propensity to consume?(Solved)
What is the relationship between the simple multiplier and marginal propensity to consume?
Date posted: February 7, 2019. Answers (1)
- Based on the circular flow of income analysis, explain why marginal propensity to consumer
plus marginal propensity to save equals one.(Solved)
Based on the circular flow of income analysis, explain why marginal propensity to consumer
plus marginal propensity to save equals one.
Date posted: February 7, 2019. Answers (1)
- Explain how the concept of elasticity guides decisions in price discrimination by a monopolist(Solved)
Explain how the concept of elasticity guides decisions in price discrimination by a monopolist
Date posted: February 6, 2019. Answers (1)
- Explain how the concept of elasticity guides decisions in devaluation policy to encourage exports and discourage imports(Solved)
Explain how the concept of elasticity guides decisions in devaluation policy to encourage exports and discourage imports
Date posted: February 6, 2019. Answers (1)
- Explain how the concept of elasticity guides decisions in government?s tax policy on household consumption(Solved)
Explain how the concept of elasticity guides decisions in government‟s tax policy on household consumption
Date posted: February 6, 2019. Answers (1)
- The demand and supply schedules for carrots in a certain market are given below:
Determine the equilibrium quantity and price by graphical method(Solved)
The demand and supply schedules for carrots in a certain market are given below:
Determine the equilibrium quantity and price by graphical method
Date posted: February 6, 2019. Answers (1)
- In a certain economy the marginal propensity to save is 0.2 and the autonomous consumption equals
400. If the Government?s expenditures were to increase by 50%...(Solved)
In a certain economy the marginal propensity to save is 0.2 and the autonomous consumption equals
400. If the Government‟s expenditures were to increase by 50% what would be the resultant change in National income.
Date posted: February 6, 2019. Answers (1)
- In a certain economy the marginal propensity to save is 0.2 and the autonomous consumption equals
400. Formulate the consumption function.(Solved)
In a certain economy the marginal propensity to save is 0.2 and the autonomous consumption equals
400. Formulate the consumption function.
Date posted: February 6, 2019. Answers (1)