Wage Determination and Labor Market: Exploring the Factors Influencing Wages
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Presentation Transcript
Chapter 17 Wage Determination
Labor, Wages, and Earnings • Wages • Price paid for labor • Direct pay plus fringe benefits • Wage rate • Nominal wage • Real wage • General level of wages • LO1
Role of Productivity • Labor demand depends on productivity • U.S. labor is highly productive • Plentiful capital • Access to abundant natural resources • Advanced technology • Labor quality • Other factors • LO1
Real Wages and Output • LO1
Real Wages and Productivity • Long-run trend of real wages in the U.S. S2020 S2000 S1950 S1900 Real Wage Rate (Dollars) D2020 D2000 D1950 D1900 Quantity of Labor • LO1
Competitive Labor Market • Purely competitive labor market • Market demand for labor • Sum of firm demand • Example: carpenters • Market supply for labor • Upward sloping • Competition among industries • Labor market equilibrium • MRP = MRC rule LO2
Labor Market and the Firm Labor Market Individual Firm a S b e s = MRC Wage Rate (Dollars) Wage Rate (Dollars) ($10) WC ($10) WC D = MRP (∑ mrp’s) d = mrp c 0 0 qC QC (5) (1000) Quantity of Labor Quantity of Labor LO2
Monopsony • Monopsony • Employer has buying power • Characteristics • Single buyer • Labor immobile • Firm is a “wage maker” • Upsloping labor supply to firm • MRC higher than wage rate LO3
Monopsony Model MRC S b Wage Rate (Dollars) a Wc Wm c MRP 0 Qc Qm Quantity of Labor LO3
Monopsony Power • Maximize profit by hiring smaller number of workers • Examples of monopsony power • Nurses • Professional Athletes • Teachers LO3
Demand Enhancement Model • Union model that seeks to increase the demand for labor S Increase In Demand Wage Rate (Dollars) Wu Wc D2 D1 Qc Qu Quantity of Labor LO4
Craft Unions • Effectively reduce supply of labor • Restrict immigration • Reduce child labor • Encourage compulsory retirement • Enforce a shorter workweek • Exclusive unionism • Occupational licensing LO4
Craft Union Model S2 S1 Wage Rate (Dollars) Decrease In Supply Wu Wc D Qu Qc Quantity of Labor LO4
Industrial Union Model • Inclusive unionism • Auto and steel workers S b a Wage Rate (Dollars) Wu e Wc D Qu Qe Qc Quantity of Labor LO4
Wage Increases and Job Loss • Are unions successful? • Wages 15% higher on average • Consequences • Higher unemployment • Restricted ability to demand higher wages LO4
Bilateral Monopoly • Bilateral monopoly • Monopsony and inclusive unionism • Single buyer and seller • Not uncommon • Indeterminate outcome LO5
Bilateral Monopoly Model S MRC Wu Wage Rate (Dollars) a Wc Wm D = MRP Qu = Qm Qc Quantity of Labor LO5
The Minimum Wage Controversy • Case against minimum wage • Case for minimum wage • State and locally set rates • Evidence and conclusions LO6
Wage Differentials W W Sa Sb Wa (b) (a) Da Wb Db 0 Qa Q 0 Qb Q W W Sc (c) (d) Wc Sd Wd Dc Dd 0 0 Qc Q Qd Q LO7
Wage Differences • Wage differences across occupations • What explains wage differentials • Marginal revenue productivity • Noncompeting groups • Skills • Education and training • Human capital • Compensating differences LO7
Other Reasons • Workers prevented from moving to higher paying jobs • Market imperfections • Lack of job information • Geographic immobility • Unions and government restraints • Discrimination LO7
Pay for Performance • The principal-agent problem • Incentive pay plan • Piece rates • Commissions or royalties • Bonuses, stock options, and profit sharing • Efficiency wages • Negative side-effects LO8
Occupational Licensing • Makes sense for doctors and EMTs • But interior designers? • Nearly 1 in 3 jobs today require a license • Restricts competition and increases price • Burden on consumers and workers • Low-wage jobs like cosmetology, childcare, floristry, massage therapy, and travel agency require licenses today