Suppose Hinterland has been a closed economy (meaning there is no immigration from foreign countries and no international trade). The current labor force has 4 million skilled workers and 8 million unskilled workers. Both types of labor have perfectly inelastic supply curves, and the current skilled-unskilled wage ratio is 2.5. The elasticity of demand of skilled labor is -0.4, while the elasticity of demand of unskilled labor is -0.1. Suppose Hinterland allows a brief period of immigration, during which time 1 million skilled workers and 4 million unskilled workers migrate to Hinterland. Suppose there are no other changes to the economy. Approximately what is the new skilled-unskilled wage ratio? (Hint: The percent change in the wage ratio is approximately equal to the percent change in the skilled wage minus the percent change in the unskilled wage.)

ECON MICRO
5th Edition
ISBN:9781337000536
Author:William A. McEachern
Publisher:William A. McEachern
Chapter12: Labor Markets And Labor Unions
Section: Chapter Questions
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Suppose Hinterland has been a closed economy (meaning there is no immigration from foreign countries and no international trade). The current labor force has 4 million skilled workers and 8 million unskilled workers. Both types of labor have perfectly inelastic supply curves, and the current skilled-unskilled wage ratio is 2.5. The elasticity of demand of skilled labor is -0.4, while the elasticity of demand of unskilled labor is -0.1. Suppose Hinterland allows a brief period of immigration, during which time 1 million skilled workers and 4 million unskilled workers migrate to Hinterland. Suppose there are no other changes to the economy. Approximately what is the new skilled-unskilled wage ratio? (Hint: The percent change in the wage ratio is approximately equal to the percent change in the skilled wage minus the percent change in the unskilled wage.)

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