Assume that a competitive economy can be described by a constant returns to scale, Cobb–Douglas, pro- duction function. Suppose that in this economy all factors of production are fully employed. Holding other factors constant, including the quantity of capital and technology, carefully explain how a one-time, 10-percent decrease in the quantity of labor will change labor’s share of total income?

Assume that a competitive economy can be described by a constant returns to scale, Cobb–Douglas, pro- duction function. Suppose that in this economy all factors of production are fully employed. Holding other factors constant, including the quantity of capital and technology, carefully explain how a one-time, 10-percent decrease in the quantity of labor will change labor’s share of total income?

Exploring Economics

8th Edition

ISBN:9781544336329

Author:Robert L. Sexton

Publisher:Robert L. Sexton

Chapter16: The Markets For Labor, Capital, And Land

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 13P

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Assume that a competitive economy can be described by a constant returns to scale, Cobb–Douglas, pro- duction function. Suppose that in this economy all factors of production are fully employed. Holding other factors constant, including the quantity of capital and technology, carefully explain how a one-time, 10-percent decrease in the quantity of labor will change each of the following: the level of output produced (That is, will output increase or decrease (by more or less than the change in labor) or remain the same? Explain); the real wage of labor; the real rental price of capital; labor’s share of total income.
Consider a production function for an economy with 2 factors of production L, K: Y=10(KL)1/2 where Y is real output, L is labour, K is capital. In this economy the factors of production are in fixed supply with L = 10, K = 10. What type of returns to scale does this production function exhibit. Demonstrate by example. If the economy is competitive what is the total income that will go to the owners of capital?
Assume that you are studying an economy which produces two goods, x and y, using two factors of production, capital K and labour L. The economy’s overall quantities of the two factors are given, and the capital intensity (the capital-to-labour ratio) in the production of y is always higher than the capital intensity in the production of x. At present there is an excess supply of y. Explain and illustrate graphically what will happen in the long run to:1) Prices of goods and production.2) factor prices and factor use intensities in each sector.
Consider a competitive labor market. Using the model of how income is determined in a labor market, describe the effects on wages and number of individuals employed of an increase in the productivity of labor in that market. What will happen and why? In your answer, be sure that you describe why the supply and demand curves are shaped as they are.
157.In an economy with flexible prices, competitive factor markets, and fixed supplies of the factors of production, graphically illustrate the impact of a deadly virus that kills a large part of the labor force, but leaves the other factors of production untouched, ceteris paribus. Be sure to label: i. the axes; ii. the curves; iii. the initial equilibrium values; iv. the direction the curves shift; and v. the terminal equilibrium values. Explain in words how the equilibrium values change. 158.Assume that the production function is given by Y = AK0.5L0.5, where Y is GDP, K is capital stock, and L is labor. The parameter A is equal to 10. Assume also that capital is 100, labor is 400, and both capital and labor are paid for their marginal products. a.What is Y? b.What is the real wage of labor? c.What is the real rental price of capital (the amount of output paid per unit of capital)? 159.Assume that GDP (Y) is 6,000. Consumption (C). is given by the equation C = 600 + 0.6(Y…
Explain with the help of Graphs of Total Product (TP) and Marginal product (MP) the three laws of variable proportions and their significance in Industry and agriculture. Give the relationship between TP and MP at different stages of variable proportions. What is the relationship between Average Product curve (AP) and marginal product curve (MP) and explain at what point a progressive firm should change its labor or capital inputs with more skilled labor or with new technological machine in order to remain comparative in the market. What would happen to its product in the market if it does not change its machines or if it changes all its machines at the same time
Suppose that a certain factory output is given by the Cobb-Douglas production function ?(?, ?) = 60?^1/3?^2/3 units, where K is the level of capital and L the size of the labor force need to maximize the factory’s output. (a) Determine whether the Cobb-Douglas production function is concave, convex, strictly concave, strictly convex or neither.
Consider a firm for which production depends on two normal inputs, labor and capital, with prices w and r, respectively. Initially the firm faces market prices of w = 6 and r = 4. These prices then shift to w = 4 and r = 2.a. In which direction will the substitution effect change the firm’s employment and capital s tock?b. In which direction will the scale effect change the firm’s employment and capital stock?c. Can we say conclusively whether the firm will use more or less labor? More or less c apital?
Ab 11 Economics A production function is given by the equation Q = 48L^0.5*K^0.5. Where L is the number of labor units and K is the capital units. Find the marginal product of labor (QL) and the marginal product of capital (Qk) at L=9 and K=16.
Define the statement. Whether correct or incorrect. The production of a firm is diminishing due to the poor technology. This is macroeconomic issue.
David Ricardo ([1817] 1965) modified Smith’s model by introducing diminishing returns to land cultivation. Diminishing returns implies that as you apply more of a variable input (labor) to a fixed input (land), the productivity of each additional worker will eventually decline as long as technology isfixed. He claimed that land was of variable quality and finite. Thus, as an economy grows, population grows relative to land, and the productivity of the labor on the land will decline. According to Ricardo, the only way stagnation could be averted, at least temporarily, would be through the trade and imports of cheap food or wage goods. The essential doctrines of John Stuart Mill (1848) differed little, if at all, from those of Ricardo. He, like Smith, believed in the doctrine of laissez-faire , but he also recognized the possibility of modifying the system. He displayed a leaning to the socialist ideal, growing closer as his life advanced. He believed that we should sacrifice economic…
Consider two competitive economies that have the same quantities of labor and capital (K=L), and the same technology. The economies of the countries are described by the following Cobb–Douglas production func- tions: North Economy: Y = AK^0.7 L^0.3 South Economy: Y = AK^0.3 L^0.7 Compare the total production in these two countries and explain your answer. In which economy is the marginal product of labor larger? Explain your answer. In which economy is the labor’s share of income higher? Explain your answer. If half of workers (L) in North immigrated to South, explain how would total output, marginal produc- tivity of labor, and labor’s share of income in the two economies change?