Question

Suppose there are 1000 firms in a market and all are identical. Firm A will hire 20 workers when the wage rate is $10, 25 workers when the wage rate is $9, and 30 workers when the wage rate is $8. The equilibrium wage rate for a number of years has been $9. If the wage rate falls to $8, we know that

Answer 1

d. the quantity demanded for the market will increase to less than 30,000 workers.

Step-by-step explanation:

Missing options:

• a. the quantity demanded for the market will increase to 30,000 workers.
• b. the quantity demanded for the market will increase to more than 30,000 workers.
• c. the quantity demanded for the market will increase, but we can't tell which of the above answers is correct.
• d. the quantity demanded for the market will increase to less than 30,000 workers.

maximum total demand for labor = 30 (at $8) x 1,000 firms = 30,000 workers, but since the equilibrium rate had been $9 for many years, some workers have already been hired at $9, and it is usually very difficult to lower someone's wage once they have been working. Even thought the quantity demanded will increase, it will probably not be able to reach 30,000 workers.