--%>

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 : Statement of Law of Demand The law of

    The law of demand defines that when a good’s price increases, its quantity demanded will drop: (1) No matter what occurs to other variables. (2) When all as well is supposed constant. (3) Since its demand curve shrinks. (4) If substitutes become

  • Q : Labor markets gain maximization When,

    When, after hiring the very last worker, the organization’s profit is similar as it was before the last worker was hired, then the firm must: (p) Hire more workers to raise the profit. (q) Layoff some workers to raise the profit. (r) Not appoint any more workers

  • Q : Where is demand perfectly price

    For Pixie's cheesy fried grits demand is perfectly price inelastic at a price of: (w) P4. (x) P2. (y) 0. (z) None of the above.

    Q : Classification of Surveys as

    Surveys can be classified as probabilistic sampling: • Simple random sampling: If you have a relatively small, self-contained, or clearly stated population, suc

  • Q : Good taxed revenue of price inelastic

    Government tax revenue would raise most from a specified tax when the good taxed contain a relatively: (w) price elastic demand. (x) price inelastic demand. (y) unitary price elastic demand. (z) flatter demand curve.

    Q : Horizontally summing the short-run

    For a competitive industry the short-run supply curve is derived through summing the short-run supply curves of all firms within the industry: (w) vertically. (x) horizontally. (y) diagonally. (z) and computing their arithmetic average.

  • Q : Characterized monopolistic competition

    Monopolistic competition is NOT described by: (1) P = MSC. (2) large numbers of sellers. (3) P = LRATC. (4) MR = MC. (5) differentiated products. Hey friends please give your opinion for the problem of Econ

  • Q : Discourage the formation of oligopolies

    A factor tending to discourage the formation of huge oligopolies in the past two or three decades would be: (w) vigorous enforcement of anti merger laws. (x) technological advances which tended to favor smaller companies. (y) computerized internal inf

  • Q : Reinforces the substitution effect For

    For normal goods which experience price changes, then the income effect: (i) Recognizes how higher money income influences demands for goods. (ii) Invalidates the diminishing marginal utility law. (iii) Offsets the substitution effect. (iv) Reinforces the substitution

  • Q : Types of Surveys Types of Surveys :

    Types of Surveys: Surveys can be classified by their method of data collection. Mail, telephone, and in-person interview surveys are the most common. Extracting data from samples of records is also frequently done.