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level: Labour Supply

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level questions: Labour Supply

QuestionAnswer
What does it mean, the term, 'Individual Labour Supply'-This refers to the Total Number of Hours one will work at a Given Wage Rate. -In the Short Run, this determines the Supply of Labour. It depends on the Decision of people to Work or Not at the Given Wage Rate
Explain why the Supply Curve for Labour slopes Upwards-Individuals are Prepared to work more hours when the Wage Rate Increases. There, however, are limits to how many hours someone will work, even if Wages keep Increasing. -So Individual Workers will be limited to the amount of Labour they can Supply, but, the Higher Wages will incentivise more Workers to the Job/Occupation. This Increases the Labour Supply -This means the Curve slopes upwards.
What is the Supply Curve influenced by in the Long Run?-It all depends on Pecuniary (Monetary) and Non-Pecuniary (Non-Monetary) Factors. -It is These Factors that determines the overall Net Advantage of working at a Place or Not
What are Pecuniary Benefits?-This is the Welfare that Workers gain from the Wage they Get, or what is Bought with it.
What are Non-Pecuniary Benefits? Why can they be quite Important for Firms?-This is the Welfare that Workers gain from the Non-Wage Benefits of a Job. This can be of the following: -Flexible Working Hours -Employee Discounts -Generous Holiday Allowance -Good Job Location - Home Working? -Training Available -Opportunities for Promotion -Job Security -Perks of the Job - Company Car -Non-Pecuniary Benefits allow more Workers to Supply more Labour at the Given Wage Rate. So they Shift the Curve to the Right
If the Non-Pecuniary Benefits are 1. Low 2. High What would happen to Pecuniary Benefits?1. If the Job reaps little Job satisfaction, because of Tedious or Repetitive Stress, then Workers will want a Higher Wage for Compensation for the Low Satisfaction they Gain. Otherwise, they'll possibly Leave 2. If the Job reaps Tons of Job Satisfaction, then Workers will take a Lower Wage Rate because of the Perks / Non-Monetary Benefits they gain
Apart from Job Satisfaction, how else could the Supply of Labour be affected by?-Size of the Working Population in a given Country as a whole. An Aging Population which has a Large % of Retirement may provide not enough Workers to meet the Firm's Demand -Competitiveness of Wages: Workers may pick jobs that offer the Highest Wage. This makes Firms who pay Low Wages fare Poorly -Publicising of Job Opportunities: Can be Hard to attract Workers to a Job/Industry if not properly Advertised rightly. Information Failure?
Why can Low Skilled Jobs greatly Affect the Elasticity of Labour Supplied-Low-skilled jobs result in the Supply of Labour being more Elastic. A Small Rise in the Wage Rates creates a Bigger % in the Quantity of Workers Supplied. This can be due to a Large Pool of Unskilled Workers, and More being Unemployed and Looking for Work -Furthermore, low-skilled jobs usually have similar wage Rates. If one Low Skilled Job increases its wages by a Small Amount, it leads to a greater Force of Workers moving into the Firm
Why can Skilled Jobs greatly Affect the Elasticity of Labour Supplied?-The Supply Curve for Doctors, Bankers and Pilots are more Inelastic - Definitely in the Short Run -If there was a Shortage in Doctors in Britain, Raising the Wage will not be Enough to Raise Supply in the Short Term as it takes Years for a Trained Suitable Doctor. Increasing the Wage Rate would be more Effective in the Long Run
Why can the Mobility of Labour affect the Elasticity of Labour Supply?-If workers arew Occupationally Mobile - they can Move from one Job to another - then a Rise in the Wage leads to a greater % in Supply of Labour -If Workers are Geographically Mobile - they can move Locations to where the Jobs are - then Wage Rises leads to more Labour Elasticity for Supply
How can Net Migration boost the Supply of Labour?-Net Migration (More People entering a Nation than leaving it) can Boost the Supply of Labour and deal with Shortages of Skilled Workers and Seasonal Workers as well, in Agriculture and Construction