Final answer:
The question relates to marginal productivity in production technology regarding worker-machine allocation and the effects of fixed capital on productivity. It requires understanding the diminishing returns when the number of workers exceeds the optimal level. Additionally, economic changes may warrant a complex analysis to understand their market impact.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question concerns the concept of marginal productivity within the context of production technology and the allocation of workers to machines. Considering different production technologies, where technology 1 includes 10 workers and 2 machines, technology 2 includes 7 workers, and so on, one can deduce the effects of varying worker allocations on productivity. An essential point is that capital, such as machinery, is fixed in the short run. The implication is that when the number of workers exceeds the optimal allocation to the available capital, there will be diminishing marginal returns. For example, if the production process, such as typing, is optimally designed for one worker per computer (PC), adding more workers than PCs will lead to diminishing marginal productivity due to the limitation in available capital.Furthermore, when considering changes in an economic environment, such as higher compensation for workers or shifting consumer preferences from traditional methods to digital alternatives, it necessitates a detailed analysis of the economic ramifications. As presented in the hypothetical example regarding postal workers and the transition from snail mail to digital messaging, it is necessary to undertake a two-fold analysis to assess the consequences of both disturbances on the market.