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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
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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 Wagesand Productivity • Long-run trend of average 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 • 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
Competitive Labor Market 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 Model • Employer has buying power • Characteristics • Single buyer • Labor immobile • Firm “wage maker” • Firm labor supply is upward sloping • MRC higher than wage rate • Equilibrium LO3
Monopsony Model • Examples of monopsony power 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 • Three union models LO3
Demand Enhancement Model • Union model • Increase product demand • Alter price of other inputs S Increase In Demand Wage Rate (Dollars) Wu Wc D2 D1 Qc Qu Quantity of Labor 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
Bilateral Monopoly Model • Monopsony and inclusive unionism • Single buyer and seller • Not uncommon • Indeterminate outcome • Desirability LO4
Bilateral Monopoly Model S MRC Wu Wage Rate (Dollars) a Wc Wm D=MRP Qu=Qm Qc Quantity of Labor LO4
The Minimum Wage Controversy • Case against minimum wage • Case for minimum wage • State and locally set rates • Evidence and conclusions LO5
Wage Differentials • Differences across occupations • What explains wage differentials? • Marginal revenue productivity • Noncompeting groups • Ability • Education and training • Compensating differences LO5
Wage Differentials • Workers prevented from moving to higher paying jobs • Market imperfections • Lack of job information • Geographic immobility • Unions and government restraints • Discrimination LO5
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 LO6