a. To calculate the number of fewer people working, we need to find the difference between the initial employment rate and the decreased employment rate, and then apply it to the adult population.
Initial employment rate: 61%
Decreased employment rate: 55%
Difference in employment rate: 61% - 55% = 6%
Total adult population: 260 million
Number of fewer people working = 6% of 260 million
6% of 260 million = (6/100) * 260 million = 15.6 million
Therefore, approximately 15.6 million fewer people would be working.
b. To calculate the change in total output, we need to multiply the number of fewer people working by the per worker GDP.
Number of fewer people working: 15.6 million
Per worker GDP: $140,000
Change in total output = Number of fewer people working * Per worker GDP
Change in total output = 15.6 million * $140,000
Therefore, the total output would decrease by approximately $2.184 trillion.
a. Approximately 15.6 million fewer people would be working if the employment rate decreased from 61% to 55%.
b. The total output would decrease by approximately $2.184 trillion if the per worker GDP were $140,000.