Final answer:
The labor demand function is derived from the value of the marginal product of labor, which equals the real wage in a competitive market. By setting the marginal product of labor equal to the real wage and rearranging the equation, we find the labor demand function to be ND = 234.375 - 19.53w.
Step-by-step explanation:
The labor demand function reflects the relationship between the quantity of labor demanded by firms and the real wage rate. In a perfectly competitive labor market, the demand for labor is determined by the value of the marginal product of labor (VMPL), which is the additional revenue a firm earns from employing one more unit of labor. Since real wage (w) should equal VMPL and we are given that marginal product of labor MPN is 4(3.00 - 0.0128N), we can find the demand for labor.
To calculate the demand function, we need to find N in terms of w:
- Firstly, set MPN equal to w: MPN = w
- So, 4(3.00 - 0.0128N) = w
- Divide both sides by 4: 3.00 - 0.0128N = w/4
- Finally, rearrange the equation to solve for N: N = (3.00 - w/4) / 0.0128 which simplifies to N = 234.375 - (w/0.0512).
Therefore, the labor demand function is ND = 234.375 - 19.53w, where ND represents the quantity of labor demanded and w represents the real wage.