How it can be possible for increases in the minimum wage, Microeconomics

Assignment Help:

The minimum wage was increased in 1996 amid cries by various economists that it would cause unemployment. Critics shown that the last time the minimum wage went up the similar dire predictions from economists were made, but more people were employed after the minimum wage increase. The similar, they argued, would occur again. Using isoquant-isocost analysis, analyze this situation and illustrate how it can be possible for increases in the minimum wage to have little impact on employment levels.

ANSWER:  The confusion arises over what the minimum wage increase could do in the short run versus  the long run. In the short run, capital is assumed to be fixed. As a result, the firm probably could continue to employ the same number of individuals as before the wage increase until the relatively cheaper capital would be obtained to substitute for the relatively more expensive labor. In the interim, if the demand for the  roduct increased, the firm might find it profitable to expand output and therefore hire more capital and more labor. In the isoquant-isocost graph below, the firm is initially at point A. If the price of labor increases, the budget line pivots in to line BB´. To maintain production at the similar level as before, the firm must increase its budget allocation to allow it to return to point A. This is the optimum position in the results and short run in no decrease in the employment level. Thus, in the long run the firm will move toward point C as capital becomes available. If demand increases warrant a move to isoquant II, then it is seems that more labor  and more capital will be employed even though the price of labor increases.

2392_How it can be possible for increases in the minimum wage.png


Related Discussions:- How it can be possible for increases in the minimum wage

Elastics and inelastics, You just opened a flower shop and are trying to un...

You just opened a flower shop and are trying to understand pricing issues. You were told that elasticities are very important in determining prices and what products to supply, so

Pricing ATM Machines, A bank in a medium-sized midwestern city, Firm X, cur...

A bank in a medium-sized midwestern city, Firm X, currently charges $1 per transaction at its ATMs. To determine whether to raise price, the bank managers experimented with a numbe

Facilitating restructurings, Facilitating Restructurings- rationale in era ...

Facilitating Restructurings- rationale in era of globalisation: There has been some progress in the last few years in efforts to improve the framework for sovereign restructur

Long run equilibrium, 1. Suppose that a monopolistically competitive firm m...

1. Suppose that a monopolistically competitive firm must build a production facility in order to produce a product.  The fixed cost of this facility is FC = $24.  Also, the firm ha

Indifference curve, Demonstrate mathematically that the equilibrium condit...

Demonstrate mathematically that the equilibrium condition MRS  PB PA is the equivalent of the utility-maximizing rule MU AP A  MU B PB .

Natural factors and availability of credit, Natural Factors: Seasonal va...

Natural Factors: Seasonal variations may affect the demand for a commodity at certain times of the year. For example, during the raining season, demand for commodities such as j

Short run equilibrium - perfect competition, Short run equilibrium - Perfec...

Short run equilibrium - Perfect competition: In the short-run, the perfectly competitive firm maximizes its profit by producing output where MC=MR=P. This is shown in the diag

Competitive short run supply curve of firm and industry, A Competitive Shor...

A Competitive Short Run Supply Curve of Firm * Observations: - P = MR - MR = MC - P = MC * Supply is amount of output for every possible price.  Thus: -  If

Emulating the private sector, Emulating the Private Sector: The princi...

Emulating the Private Sector: The principle of corporate governance need be applied to the BW institutions. IMF The most important issue to how to reform the countries

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd