Question

A city mandates that all businesses who sell goods and services to the city must pay at least a living wage to their workers that is substantially above what low-skilled workers are currently being paid. Which of the following will result in a greater decrease in employment of low-skilled workers who were working for the affected businesses?

a. The city's demand for the services that businesses supply them in highly inelastic.
b. Low-skilled workers represent a small fraction of the costs of doing business with the city.
c. Higher-skilled workers are readily available at the higher wage.
d. Low-skilled workers are complements with other inputs providing city services.

Answer 1

c. Higher-skilled workers are readily available at the higher wage.

Step-by-step explanation:

the government decree would make the cost of hiring low skilled labour higher. As, a result there would be a reduction in the quantity demanded of low skilled labour.

if High skilled workers are readily available at the higher wage this would lead to a greater decrease in employment of low-skilled workers. Employers would ask themselves why pay the same high wages high skilled labour earns to low skilled labour when high skilled labour can be hired at the same price since most likely higher skilled workers would carry out the tasks better than lower skilled labour ?