Suppose an economy's output is determined by a Cobb-Douglas production function Y = AKL¹ where A-8 and a-0.2. All other things remaining unchanged, if labour input increases by 5 percent, output will rise by: O 1% O 4% Ⓒ2% O 5%

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**Educational Exercise: Understanding Cobb-Douglas Production Function**

**Problem Statement:**

Suppose an economy's output is determined by a Cobb-Douglas production function:

\[ Y = AK^{\alpha}L^{1-\alpha} \]

where \( A = 8 \) and \( \alpha = 0.2 \). All other things remaining unchanged, if labor input increases by 5 percent, output will rise by:

- \( \circ \) 1%
- \( \circ \) 4%
- \( \circ \) 2%
- \( \circ \) 5%

**Explanation:**

Given the Cobb-Douglas production function:

\[ Y = AK^{\alpha}L^{1-\alpha} \]

where:
- \( Y \) is the total production (the real value of all goods produced in the economy).
- \( A \) is the total factor productivity.
- \( K \) is the amount of capital used.
- \( L \) is the labor input.
- \( \alpha \) is the output elasticity of capital, and \( (1 - \alpha) \) is the output elasticity of labor.

**Solution Approach:**

1. **Understanding Output Elasticity**: In the Cobb-Douglas function, \( (1 - \alpha) \) represents the elasticity of output with respect to labor. This means if labor input (L) changes by a certain percentage, the output (Y) will change by \( (1 - \alpha) \) times that percentage.
   
2. **Given Parameters**:
   - \( \alpha = 0.2 \) (thus, \( 1 - \alpha = 0.8 \))
   - Labor input increase = 5%
   
3. **Calculation**:
   If labor input increases by 5%, the percentage change in output \( \Delta Y \) can be calculated by:

   \[ \Delta Y = (1 - \alpha) \times \text{percentage change in } L \]
   \[ \Delta Y = 0.8 \times 5\% \]
   \[ \Delta Y = 4\% \]

**Answer Options:**
- \( \circ \) 1%
- \( \circ \) 4%
- \( \circ \) 2%
- \( \circ \) 5%

Thus, if labor input increases by 5
Transcribed Image Text:**Educational Exercise: Understanding Cobb-Douglas Production Function** **Problem Statement:** Suppose an economy's output is determined by a Cobb-Douglas production function: \[ Y = AK^{\alpha}L^{1-\alpha} \] where \( A = 8 \) and \( \alpha = 0.2 \). All other things remaining unchanged, if labor input increases by 5 percent, output will rise by: - \( \circ \) 1% - \( \circ \) 4% - \( \circ \) 2% - \( \circ \) 5% **Explanation:** Given the Cobb-Douglas production function: \[ Y = AK^{\alpha}L^{1-\alpha} \] where: - \( Y \) is the total production (the real value of all goods produced in the economy). - \( A \) is the total factor productivity. - \( K \) is the amount of capital used. - \( L \) is the labor input. - \( \alpha \) is the output elasticity of capital, and \( (1 - \alpha) \) is the output elasticity of labor. **Solution Approach:** 1. **Understanding Output Elasticity**: In the Cobb-Douglas function, \( (1 - \alpha) \) represents the elasticity of output with respect to labor. This means if labor input (L) changes by a certain percentage, the output (Y) will change by \( (1 - \alpha) \) times that percentage. 2. **Given Parameters**: - \( \alpha = 0.2 \) (thus, \( 1 - \alpha = 0.8 \)) - Labor input increase = 5% 3. **Calculation**: If labor input increases by 5%, the percentage change in output \( \Delta Y \) can be calculated by: \[ \Delta Y = (1 - \alpha) \times \text{percentage change in } L \] \[ \Delta Y = 0.8 \times 5\% \] \[ \Delta Y = 4\% \] **Answer Options:** - \( \circ \) 1% - \( \circ \) 4% - \( \circ \) 2% - \( \circ \) 5% Thus, if labor input increases by 5
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