18 The Markets for the Factors of Production P R I N C I P E S O F ECONOMICS FOURTH EDITION N. GREGORY MANKI Premium PowerPoint Slides by Ron Cronovich 28 update 28 South-estern, a part of Cengage earning, all rights reserved In this chapter, look for the answers to these questions: hat determines a competitive firm s demand for labor? How does labor supply depend on the wage? hat other factors affect labor supply? How do various events affect the equilibrium wage and employment of labor? How are the equilibrium prices and quantities of other inputs determined? CHAPTER 18 THE MARKETS FOR THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION 1 Factors of Production and Factor Markets Factors of production: abor and Capital: Prices and quantities of these inputs are determined by supply & demand in factor markets. CHAPTER 18 THE MARKETS FOR THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION 2 1
Derived Demand Markets for the factors of production are like markets for goods & services, except: Demand for a factor of production is a derived demand CHAPTER 18 THE MARKETS FOR THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION 3 1. e assume Two Assumptions in the market for the product it produces in the labor market 2. e assume Each firm s supply of output and demand for inputs are derived from this goal. CHAPTER 18 THE MARKETS FOR THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION 4 Our Example: Farmer Jack Farmer Jack sells wheat in a perfectly competitive market. He hires workers in a perfectly competitive labor market. hen deciding how many workers to hire, Farmer Jack maximizes profits by thinking at the margin: If the benefit from hiring another worker exceeds the cost, Jack will hire that worker. CHAPTER 18 THE MARKETS FOR THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION 5 2
Our Example: Farmer Jack Cost of hiring another worker: Benefit of hiring another worker: Jack can The size of this benefit depends on Jack s production function: the relationship between the quantity of inputs used to make a good and the quantity of output of that good. CHAPTER 18 THE MARKETS FOR THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION 6 Farmer Jack s Production Function (no. of workers) 1 2 Q (bushels of wheat per week) 1 18 Quantity of output 3, 2,5 2, 1,5 1, 3 24 5 4 28 1 2 3 4 5 5 3 No. of workers CHAPTER 18 THE MARKETS FOR THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION 7 Marginal Product of abor (MP) Marginal product of labor CHAPTER 18 THE MARKETS FOR THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION 8 3
The Value of the Marginal Product Problem: cost of hiring another worker benefit of hiring another worker Solution: Value of the marginal product: CHAPTER 18 THE MARKETS FOR THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION 9 A C T I V E E A R N I N G 1: Computing MP and VMP P = $5/bushel. Find MP and VMP, fill them in the blank spaces of the table. Then graph a curve with VMP on the vertical axis, on horiz axis. (no. of workers) 1 2 3 4 5 Q (bushels of wheat) 1 18 24 28 3 MP VMP 1 A C T I V E E A R N I N G 1: Answers $6, The VMP curve 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1 2 3 4 5 (number of workers) 12 4
Farmer Jack s abor Demand Suppose wage = $25/week. How many workers should Jack hire? Answer: $6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, The VMP curve 1 2 3 4 5 (number of workers) CHAPTER 18 THE MARKETS FOR THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION 13 VMP and abor Demand For any competitive, profit-maximizing firm: To maximize profits, VMP CHAPTER 18 THE MARKETS FOR THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION 14 Shifts in abor Demand abor demand curve D 1 CHAPTER 18 THE MARKETS FOR THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION 15 5
Things that Shift the abor Demand Curve Example: If firm gets more equipment (capital), then workers will be more productive; MP and VMP rise, labor demand shifts upward. CHAPTER 18 THE MARKETS FOR THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION 16 The Connection Between Input Demand & Output Supply Recall: marginal cost (MC) = cost of producing an additional unit of output = Suppose = $25, MP = 5 bushels If Farmer Jack hires another worker, In general: CHAPTER 18 THE MARKETS FOR THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION 17 The Connection Between Input Demand & Output Supply Notice: To produce additional output, As rises, causing causing Hence, CHAPTER 18 THE MARKETS FOR THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION 18 6
The Connection Between Input Demand & Output Supply The competitive firm s rule for demanding labor: Divide both sides by MP: Substitute MC = /MP from previous slide: This is the competitive firm s rule for supplying output. Hence, CHAPTER 18 THE MARKETS FOR THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION 19 abor Supply People face trade-offs, including a trade-off between The more time you spend working, The cost of something is what you give up to get it. CHAPTER 18 THE MARKETS FOR THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION 2 The abor Supply Curve An increase in is an increase in S 1 People respond by 1 1 CHAPTER 18 THE MARKETS FOR THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION 21 7
Things that Shift the abor Supply Curve CHAPTER 18 THE MARKETS FOR THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION 22 Equilibrium in the abor Market The wage adjusts to balance supply and demand for labor. The wage always equals S D CHAPTER 18 THE MARKETS FOR THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION 23 A C T I V E E A R N I N G 2: Changes in labor-market equilibrium In each of the following scenarios, use a diagram of the market for auto workers to find the effects on the wage and number of auto workers employed. A. Baby Boomers in the auto industry retire. B. idespread recalls of U.S. autos shift car buyers demand toward imported autos. C. Technological progress boosts productivity in the auto manufacturing industry. 24 8
A C T I V E E A R N I N G 2A: Answers The market for autoworkers S 1 1 1 D 1 25 A C T I V E E A R N I N G 2B: Answers The market for autoworkers S 1 1 1 D 1 26 A C T I V E E A R N I N G 2C: Answers The market for autoworkers S 1 1 1 D 1 27 9
Productivity and age Growth in the U.S. time period 1959-25 1959-1973 growth rate of productivity 2.1% 2.7 growth rate of real wages 2.% 2.8 Recall one of the Ten Principles: A country s standard of living depends on its ability to produce g&s. Our theory implies 1973-1995 1.4 1.1 1995-25 2.8 2.6 e see this in the data. CHAPTER 18 THE MARKETS FOR THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION 28 The Other Factors of Production ith land and capital, must distinguish between: purchase price rental price The wage is The determination of the rental prices of capital and land is analogous to the determination of wages CHAPTER 18 THE MARKETS FOR THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION 29 How the Rental Price of and Is Determined Firms decide how much land to rent by comparing P The market for land S The rental price of land adjusts to balance supply and demand for land. D = VMP Q CHAPTER 18 THE MARKETS FOR THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION 3 1
How the Rental Price of Capital Is Determined Firms decide how much capital to rent by comparing P The market for capital S The rental price of capital adjusts to balance supply and demand for capital. D = VMP Q CHAPTER 18 THE MARKETS FOR THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION 31 Rental and Purchase Prices Buying a unit of capital or land The rental income in any period equals the value of the marginal product (VMP). Hence, the equilibrium purchase price of a factor depends on CHAPTER 18 THE MARKETS FOR THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION 32 inkages Among the Factors of Production In most cases, factors of production are used together in a way that makes each factor s productivity Example: an increase in the quantity of capital The marginal product and rental price of capital fall. Having more capital CHAPTER 18 THE MARKETS FOR THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION 33 11
CONCUSION The theory in this chapter is called the It states that factor prices determined by each factor is paid Most economists use this theory a starting point for understanding the distribution of income. The next two chapters explore this topic further. CHAPTER 18 THE MARKETS FOR THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION 34 12