Theme 3 - Business Behaviour And The Labour Market Flashcards
The demand for labour … when demand increases
Increases
What is derived demand?
Demand that comes as a result from demand for something else
What is marginal revenue product of labour?
The extra revenue generated when an additional worker is employed
Firms only employ up to where …
Revenue generated = Wage costs
Formula for MRPL (Marginal Revenue Product of Labour)?
MRPL = Marginal product of labour x Marginal Revenue
Firms are assumed to be … and they will choose a level of employment that maximises profit
Profit maximisers
Describe the Marginal Revenue Product Curve
Y-axis - wage rate
X-axis - quantity of labour
Line increases steeply at first, peaks, then decreases at a less steep gradient (lablled MRP)
Describe the Demand Curve for Labour
Y-axis - wage rate
X-axis - quantity of labour
Straight line, negative gradient (labelled D)
MRPL is taken as the basis for the … curve
Labour Demand
Problems with the MRPL (5)
- measuring labour efficiency/productivity can be difficult
- hard to measure in consultancy and education sectors
- hard to measure individual productivity in terms of collaborative work
- many products are the result of inputs drawn from different countries - each contributing to value added
- many people have the ability to set their own pay
In the competitive labour market, it is assumed there is … and … …
Occupational and geographical mobility
Factors influencing the demand for labour (6)
- the wage rate (move along curve)
- demand for products (shift along curve)
- productivity of labour
- profitability of firms
- substitutes
- the number of ‘buyers’ of labour
Elasticity of supple for changes in wage rates for low skilled jobs is quite …
Elastic (and wage rate is lower)
High paid jobs are relatively …
Inelastic (and wage rate is higher)
What is the supply of labour?
The number of workers willing and able to work, multiplied by the hours they are willing and able to work
Factors effecting the supply of labour (10)
- wage rate
- the size of the working population
- migration
- people’s preferences for work
- tax and benefit incentives and disincentives
- net advantages of work
- work and leisure
- length of training
- barriers to entry (qualifications)
- labour subsidies
Where is the profit maximisation point on the MPRL curve?
Where MC = MR
Describe the backwards bending supply of labour
Y-axis - wage rate
X-axis - quantity of labour
Gradual increase then sharp increase before it bends back on itself (like a candy cane)
As real wages … , beyond a certain level, people will substitute leisure for paid work and so higher wages lead to a decrease in the labour supply and so less labour because the time being offered for sale, income and there will be … demand
Increae / Lower
What is the substitution effect?
When wages increase, workers will give up leisure to do more hours of work because work now has higher rewards.
What is the income effect?
When wages increase, workers reduce the amount of hours they work because they can maintain a target level of income through fewer hours.
What is the Equilibrium Wage Rate?
The wage that brings the demand and supply of labour into equilibrium
Where is unemployment on the Minimum Wage diagram?
Q2 to Q3 - total unemployment
Q1 to Q2 - the unemployment as a result of the minimum wage
Q1 to Q3 - those who are unemployed and looking for work
At low wage rates, demand tends to be more …
Elastic
When demand is very … , the greater the unemployment is
Elastic
Benefits of the Minimum Wage (5)
- reduces poverty
- increases productivity
- increases the incentives to accept a job
- increase investment
- counterbalance the effect of monopsony employers
Drawbacks of the Minimum Wage (9)
- increases unemployment
- higher costs
- some industries become vulnerable - not able to afford
- cost-push inflation
- regional variations in wages
- workers get stuck on the lowest pay band
- black market
- poorest don’t benefit
- limited impact on relative poverty
What is monopsony in the labour market?
Occurs when a firm has market power in employing factors of production
One buyer and many sellers
Describe the monopsony diagram
Y-axis - wages
X-axis - quantity of labour
Negative gradient for D=MRP
Positive gradient for MC L
Positive gradient for S=AC
MC L is steeper than S=AC
A monopsony can pay … wages and employ …
Lower / Fewer workers
What happens in the market when wage rates increase?
More people enter the market
In a competitive labour market, the firm would be a wage … and can’t dictate the …
Taker / Wage rate
In a monopsony, a minimum wage can therefore increase wages without …
Causing unemployment
Reasons why some businesses may choose to remain small (6)
- don’t want to increase costs (marketing + recruitment)
- if they grow they might have less control
- profits spread out over more staff
- need less space if they remain small
- less work
- possibly limited demand for their good/service
What is organic/internal growth?
The firm grows from “within”
What is external growth?
The firm grows via a merger/takeover
Reasons why some firms may want to grow (6)
- more profits to reinvest and upgrade
- can recruit better quality staff
- more customers
- lower costs (economies of scale)
- reduce the threat of competition
- meet customer demand
- attract investors (dividends)
Where on the monopsony diagram is there a transfer of income from workers to owners
Between W and W1 and up to L
Trade Unions can cause … wages and … productivity
Higher/increased
Trade Unions can lead to … and …
Unemployment/strikes
Define geographical mobility
How easy it is for workers to move between different regions and countries to seek new work.
Define occupational mobility
How easy it is for workers to move from one occupation to another.
Government measures to help improve the mobility of labour (9)
- improving education and training programs
- reducing visa restrictions
- promoting language training
- improving the recognition of qualifications
- support transportation options
- help raise the standard of living
- make information more available to workers
- recruit skilled workers from overseas
- work from home/online schemes
Demand may … if there is an increase in inward migration
Increase
Definition of “merger”
When 2 firms agree to join together
Definition of “takeover”
When 1 firm buys another firm on the stock exchange
Definition of “horizontal merger”
Merging with a firm at the same stage of production
Definition of “vertical merger/integration”
Merging with a firm backwards or forwards in the stages of production
Definition of “demerger”
The separation of a large company into 2 or more smaller firms (it’s often as of a result of an earlier merger)
Reasons why a company may choose to demerge (5)
- focusing on core businesses
- reduce the risk of diseconomies of scale
- raise money from asset sales
- a defensive tactic (CMA)
- disappointed at the success of the original merger
What is the concentration ratio?
The % of market share taken up by the largest firms (used to determine the market structure and competitiveness)
What is an oligopoly?
When there is a 5 firm concentration ratio of 50% or more
What is profit?
Measures the return to risk when committing scarce resources to a market
What is “normal-profit”?
The minimum profit required to keep factors of production in their current use in the long run
What is “supernormal/abnormal profit”?
Profit that exceeds the profit-normal
What is “sub-normal profit”?
Profit which is less than the profit-normal
MC = ?
MC = MR