--%>

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 : Problem related to Sellers markets

    Seller’s markets frequently exist when: (i) There are extensive surpluses. (ii) Prices are increasing. (iii) The government enforces price floors. (iv) Inventories are much high. Can someone please help me in finding out the

  • Q : Pure competition or monopoly with

    Compared along with pure competition or monopoly, not perfect competition is: (w) far more common in Europe than in the United States. (x) much more common in markets during the world. (y) much less common in advanced nations than in underdeveloped na

  • Q : System of Note-issue Name the System of

    Name the System of Note-issue in India. Answer: In India, the system of note-issue is the Minimum Reserve System. The RBI is needed to keep minimum reserves of Rs 2

  • Q : Define aggregate supply Define

    Define aggregate supply: Aggregate supply is the money value of net or total supply of services and goods available for purchase by an economy throughout a given period.

  • Q : Short run market supply curve for a good

    A short run market supply curve for a good manufactured within a purely competitive industry is derived through: (w) vertically summing the marginal cost curves above the AVC curves for all firms which may potentially enter the industry. (x) adding to

  • Q : Characteristics of Entrepreneurship The

    The Characteristics common to most of the successful entrepreneurs do not comprise: (1) Vision and timing. (2) Conviction and action. (iii) Luck and the bureaucratic one-upmanship. (iv) Determination and workaholics. Can someone pl

  • Q : Price discrimination by monopoly power

    A firm can practice price discrimination when this: (i) confronts a perfectly elastic demand curve. (ii) is a pure quantity adjuster. (iii) has several monopoly power and is capable to separate its customers in various groups with different elasticiti

  • Q : Upwardly sloping supplies of resources

    When supplies of some resources are upwardly sloping to an industry, in that case increasing the industry’s output results within: (w) higher output due to increased profits from falling input prices. (x) reductions of output because of increase

  • Q : Problem on Supply Prices Can someone

    Can someone please help me in finding out the accurate answer from the following question. The relative monetary values organizations put on selling a bit more or less of a good are termed as: (i) Supply curves. (ii) Gain-maximizing prices. (3) Supply prices. (4) Pric

  • 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.