Suppose that education does not affect worker’s productivity, but it is more costly for low-ability workers to obtain the education. If firms cannot distinguish between different workers they must pay them all the wage equal to the expected productivity. If they can distinguish between workers with different abilities, they pay each worker their marginal product of labour and make zero profits. 70% of workers in the population have low ability. The productivity of low-ability workers is YL = 20000, and the productivity of high-ability workers is YH = 50000. The cost of education to high-ability workers is CH(S) = S 4 , and the cost of education to low-ability workers is CL = S. (Answer 4.5.6 only) 1. Suppose firms cannot observe worker’s education. What wage will they offer to a highability worker? What is the optimal level of schooling for the high-ability worker? Why? 2. Suppose that firms can observe worker’s educational attainment and believe that workers with the level of schooling above some benchmark S ∗ are high-ability workers. For what values of S ∗ high-and low-ability workers choose different levels of educational attainment (separating equilibrium)? 3. What will be the optimal level of schooling for high- and low-ability workers in a separating equilibrium? 4. Draw indifference curves of high- and low-ability workers and the values of S ∗ that sustain the separating equilibrium. 5. For what levels of S ∗ will all workers optimally choose to obtain positive schooling S ∗ (pooling equilibrium). What will be the wage offered to high-ability workers? 6. Suppose that the government reforms the school system to promote education among lowability workers and decreases the cost of education for low-ability workers to CL = S 2 . For what range of educational requirements the separating equilibrium is sustained? Is it different from 2.2? Why?

ENGR.ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
14th Edition
ISBN:9780190931919
Author:NEWNAN
Publisher:NEWNAN
Chapter1: Making Economics Decisions
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1QTC
icon
Related questions
Question

Suppose that education does not affect worker’s productivity, but it is more costly for low-ability workers to obtain the education. If firms cannot distinguish between different workers they must pay them all the wage equal to the expected productivity. If they can distinguish between workers with different abilities, they pay each worker their marginal product of labour and make zero profits. 70% of workers in the population have low ability. The productivity of low-ability workers is YL = 20000, and the productivity of high-ability workers is YH = 50000. The cost of education to high-ability workers is CH(S) = S 4 , and the cost of education to low-ability workers is CL = S.

(Answer 4.5.6 only)

1. Suppose firms cannot observe worker’s education. What wage will they offer to a highability worker? What is the optimal level of schooling for the high-ability worker? Why?

2. Suppose that firms can observe worker’s educational attainment and believe that workers with the level of schooling above some benchmark S ∗ are high-ability workers. For what values of S ∗ high-and low-ability workers choose different levels of educational attainment (separating equilibrium)?

3. What will be the optimal level of schooling for high- and low-ability workers in a separating equilibrium?

4. Draw indifference curves of high- and low-ability workers and the values of S ∗ that sustain the separating equilibrium.

5. For what levels of S ∗ will all workers optimally choose to obtain positive schooling S ∗ (pooling equilibrium). What will be the wage offered to high-ability workers?

6. Suppose that the government reforms the school system to promote education among lowability workers and decreases the cost of education for low-ability workers to CL = S 2 . For what range of educational requirements the separating equilibrium is sustained? Is it different from 2.2? Why?

Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 5 steps with 12 images

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Fee-for-Service
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, economics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
  • SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
ENGR.ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ENGR.ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
Economics
ISBN:
9780190931919
Author:
NEWNAN
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Principles of Economics (12th Edition)
Principles of Economics (12th Edition)
Economics
ISBN:
9780134078779
Author:
Karl E. Case, Ray C. Fair, Sharon E. Oster
Publisher:
PEARSON
Engineering Economy (17th Edition)
Engineering Economy (17th Edition)
Economics
ISBN:
9780134870069
Author:
William G. Sullivan, Elin M. Wicks, C. Patrick Koelling
Publisher:
PEARSON
Principles of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Principles of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:
9781305585126
Author:
N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Managerial Economics: A Problem Solving Approach
Managerial Economics: A Problem Solving Approach
Economics
ISBN:
9781337106665
Author:
Luke M. Froeb, Brian T. McCann, Michael R. Ward, Mike Shor
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Managerial Economics & Business Strategy (Mcgraw-…
Managerial Economics & Business Strategy (Mcgraw-…
Economics
ISBN:
9781259290619
Author:
Michael Baye, Jeff Prince
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education