MICROECONOMICS
11th Edition
ISBN: 9781266686764
Author: Colander
Publisher: MCG
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Question
Chapter 2, Problem 5QAP
(a)
To determine
The current scenario of the effects of division of labor on productivity and on human capacity by Adam smith.
(b)
To determine
The policy implications.
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Writing in 1776, Adam Smith was concerned not only with the profound effects of the division of labor on productivity (as your textbook notes) but also its stultifying effect on the human capacity. InThe Wealth of Nations, Smith warned that performing a few simple operations over and over again could render any worker, no matter his or her native intelligence, “stupid and ignorant.” a. Does the division of labor in today’s economy continue to have both these effects? b. What are the policy implications? (Radical)
Give the three reasons that explain why the division of labor increases an economy’s level of production.
"If the law of diminishing returns did not hold, we can produce all
the food the world needs in one small patch of land."
Do you agree, disagree, or agree in part? Think of land as the only
fixed factor and fertilizer as the only variable factor. How much
food could you grow in the patch of land if the marginal product
of fertilizer were constant regardless of the amount used per unit
of land?
Chapter 2 Solutions
MICROECONOMICS
Ch. 2.1 - Prob. 1QCh. 2.1 - Prob. 2QCh. 2.1 - Prob. 3QCh. 2.1 - Prob. 4QCh. 2.1 - Prob. 5QCh. 2.1 - Prob. 6QCh. 2.1 - Prob. 7QCh. 2.1 - Prob. 8QCh. 2.1 - Prob. 9QCh. 2.1 - Prob. 10Q
Ch. 2.A - Prob. 1QECh. 2.A - Prob. 2QECh. 2.A - Prob. 3QECh. 2.A - Prob. 4QECh. 2.A - Prob. 5QECh. 2.A - Prob. 6QECh. 2.A - Prob. 7QECh. 2.A - Prob. 8QECh. 2 - Prob. 1QECh. 2 - Prob. 2QECh. 2 - Prob. 3QECh. 2 - Prob. 4QECh. 2 - Prob. 5QECh. 2 - Prob. 6QECh. 2 - Prob. 7QECh. 2 - Prob. 8QECh. 2 - Prob. 9QECh. 2 - Prob. 10QECh. 2 - Prob. 11QECh. 2 - Prob. 12QECh. 2 - Prob. 1QAPCh. 2 - Prob. 2QAPCh. 2 - Prob. 3QAPCh. 2 - Prob. 4QAPCh. 2 - Prob. 5QAPCh. 2 - Prob. 1IPCh. 2 - Prob. 2IPCh. 2 - Prob. 3IPCh. 2 - Prob. 4IPCh. 2 - Prob. 5IPCh. 2 - Prob. 6IP
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- "Schumacher agrees with Adam Smith's claim that a division of labor is beneficial to workers." True or Falsearrow_forwardSuppose that the marginal product of labor for a local bakery is 120 units per day and the price of labor is $10 per day. Instructions: Enter your answers as a whole number. a. What does the least-cost rule say that the ratio of the marginal product of capital to the price of capital should be? Book b. Now suppose that the marginal product of labor is 120 units per day, the price of labor is $10 per day, and the price of capital is $3 per day. What does the least-cost rule say that the marginal product of capital should be? Print Referencesarrow_forwardConsider two competitive economies that have the same quantities of labor and capital (K=L), and the same technology. The economies of the countries are described by the following Cobb–Douglas production func- tions: North Economy: Y = AK^0.7 L^0.3 South Economy: Y = AK^0.3 L^0.7 Compare the total production in these two countries and explain your answer. In which economy is the marginal product of labor larger? Explain your answer. In which economy is the labor’s share of income higher? Explain your answer. If half of workers (L) in North immigrated to South, explain how would total output, marginal produc- tivity of labor, and labor’s share of income in the two economies change?arrow_forward
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