Consider two firms that are in the same industry and the industry is competitive. Initially each firm employees equal amounts of type A and type B labor

Labor is perfectly mobile between the two firms, and type A and type B labor are perfect substitutes. Diagram separately the equilibrium conditions in the labor markets for type A and type B labor. What must be true about the wages both firms face? Why? Now assume that one of the firms decides not to hire type A labor due to some type of discrimination. What do you think will happen to the type A labor supply for both firms? How do you think the action will affect the wages for type A labor relative to type B? Why?


Wages must be the same in both markets because true mobility forces them to be. Workers would leave the discriminating firm and migrate to the other firm. The wages for type A workers would initially fall as the demand for type A workers falls. Demand for type B workers would increase driving up B's wages. The non-discriminating firm would increase demand for type A workers because of their relatively cheaper wage and decrease demand for type B workers because of their higher wages. The wages would again be the same, but the workers would be sorted to different firms. The discriminating firm would hire more B, while the non-discriminating firm would hire more A.

Economics

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Every worker is better off making more money and having better benefits. If you concluded from that fact that all workers would be better off if a law were passed requiring a 25% increase in wages and benefits, then you would be

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Zach withdrew $400,000 out of his personal savings account and used it to start his new cookie business. The bank account pays 3 percent interest per year. During the first year of his business, Zach sold 6,000 boxes of cookies for $2.50 per box. Also during the first year, the cookie business made monetary outlays of $9,000. You may assume that there is no opportunity cost to Zach’s time.

a. Zach's accounting profit for the year was? b. Zach's economic profit for the year was?

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