--%>

Problem on Minimum Wage

Sec. A:The Bureau of Labor Statistics of a small state has asked you to analyze a minimum wage policy to support unskilled workers in the State’s local economy, which is still suffering from the effects of the recession.  Based on information that you’ve gathered, where “P” represents the hourly wage of unskilled workers, you’ve estimated that the demand for unskilled labor (QD) across the State is as follows:

QD = 1,000,000 – 40,000 P
Unskilled labor (QS) = -200,000 + 200,000 P

Answer the following questions about this competitive market for unskilled labor. In both cases, show your work.

1. A local legislator is concerned about the relatively low earnings of unskilled workers, and proposes a minimum hourly wage of $6.00.  Showing your work, explain how this would effect:

a. The number of unskilled workers employed
b. The number of unskilled workers who would be unemployed

2. Explain both the efficiency and equity consequences of the $6.00 minimum wage policy for unskilled workers.  Include charts supporting your answer.

Sec. B: Answer each of the questions below and illustrate your answers using supply and demand diagrams.In answering, assume that the market is initially in equilibrium, and that there is no minimum wage. Do not use the supply and demand equations in Section A Remember that in a labor market, demand depends on the behavior if potential employers, and supply depends on the decisions of potential workers.

1. The State experiences a significant immigration of unskilled workers.

2. Technological change makes it possible for computers to do at a relatively low cost a significant amount of work previously done by unskilled workers.

3. The system of adult education in the State provides previously unskilled workers with skills enabling them to compete for relatively high paying, skilled jobs.

   Related Questions in Microeconomics

  • Q : Needs a goal of maximizing by

    The long run survival of a purely-competitive firm needs a goal of maximizing: (i) managerial salaries. (ii) total costs. (iii) economic profits. (iv) total revenue. (v) fixed costs to minimize variable costs. How

  • Q : Purely-competitive and constant-cost

    When this firm is typical into this purely-competitive of constant-cost industry, as in demonstrated figure in long-run equilibrium for cranberries will be attained at a market price of: (i) P1. (ii) P2. (iii) P<

  • Q : Determinant of consumer spending Give

    Give me the answer of this question. The most important determinant of consumer spending is: A) the level of household debt. B) consumer expectations. C) the stock of wealth. D) the level of income.

  • Q : When is short run profit maximized

    Short-run profit is maximized only while: (w) economic profit > accounting profit. (x) total cost = total revenue. (y) MC = MR (greater than minimum AVC). (z) costs are minimum or revenue is maximum. How can I s

  • Q : Market Demand versus Individual Demand

    What is the difference between Market Demand and Individual Demand?

  • Q : Sustained rates of economic development

    Sustained rates of economic development which exceeded population growth rates would: (w) raise the incomes of the poor without reducing anybody else’s income. (x) raise the incomes of everyone in society. (y) boost the incomes of the poor only

  • Q : Potential advantage offer by Oligopolies

    Oligopolies offer a potential advantage to society since them: (w) may be capable to amass the huge resources required for modern research and growth. (x) tend to be more socially responsible than small firms. (y) typically maximize long run quite tha

  • Q : Difficulty of competitive firms to

    Competitive firms determine this difficult to exploit consumers as: (w) consumer boycotts generate bad publicity. (x) market distributions of products are uniformly fair. (y) government price ceilings equivalent opportunity costs. (z) prices that exceed costs attract

  • Q : Functional Distribution of Income

    Computing the relative shares of national income accounted for by wages, interest, rent, and profit, yields, respectively measures called the: (1) market distribution of income. (2) functional distribution of income. (3) objective distribution of inco

  • Q : Monopoly Profits by Capitalization

    People who seek monopoly profits by buying the assets of successful monopolists will probably: (w) receive only normal returns onto the investment. (x) realize capitalized profits (y) attain monopoly economic profits. (z) thwart competition by innovating procedures of