--%>

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 : Perfect Equality of Income Distribution

    A Lorenz curve which is identical to a 45 degree line by the origin indicates as: (w) perfect equality of income distribution. (x) complete inequality of income distribution. (y) unitarily elastic supplies of labor. (z) which poverty is prevalent.

  • Q : Transformation of Predictable Income

    The transformation of predictable income streams within wealth is: (1) asset liquidation. (2) financial optimization. (3) rent-seeking. (4) monopolization. (5) capitalization. I need a good answer on the topic of <

  • Q : Purchasing ratio maximizing the total

    The consumer who spends income and hence the ratio of MUs of all goods purchased equivalents the ratio of their prices is: (i) Maximizing net utility. (ii) Spending too much. (iii) Beyond the point of diminishing negative utility. (iv) Behaving incompatibly through pu

  • Q : Discrimination and Efficiency When

    When firms possess market power, national output and employment are least likely to be reduced as a result of: (1) occupational discrimination. (2) human capital discrimination. (3) wage and price discrimination. (4) personal discrimi

  • Q : Simultaneously and automatically

    When fear that giant firms will default onto their debts drives down the prices of corporate bonds, in that case: (w) established corporations will rely more heavily onto sales of stock to secure funds. (x) interest rates onto these bonds increase sim

  • Q : Effect of average expected lifespan on

    When new medical technology raised the average expected lifespan through 10 years and people responded along with increases in their desires to have hefty “nest eggs” while they retire, it would be least probable to result into: (1) an inc

  • Q : Saving in Negatively Investment Saving

    Saving is positively related to and investment is negatively related to: (1) marginal benefits and marginal costs. (2) real interest rates.  (3) returns onto alternatives. (4) expectations. (5) government surpluses and deficits.

    Q : Problem regarding Subjective Prices

    Mike trades 6 vintage baseball cards for the Jake’s original Ty Cobb card. When Mike’s six cards had equivalent total market value with Jake’s Ty Cobb card, then this trade would show: (i) Unfair incentive. (ii) Demand price. (iii) Opportunity cost.

  • Q : Sum of Monopolistic Exploitation Sum of

    Sum of the monopolistic exploitation across all workers tends to rise however a firm as well functions at a more socially and economically proficient level of output and employment whenever the firm is capable to engage in: (1) Blacklisting in its dea

  • Q : Problem on monoplists Suppose that the

    Suppose that the total cost curve for a monopolist is provided by TC = 3y2 + 800 and its marginal cost curve is given as MC = 6y.  Also assume it faces a market demand curve of py = 280 - 4y and marginal revenue curve of MR = 280 – 8y.