Coldbox Corporation hires its workers in a perfectly competitive labor market and produces and sells frozen peas in a perfectly competitive product market. The market price for frozen peas is $4 per bag. The table below shows Coldbox' short-run production of frozen peas. Labor is the only variable input. Coldbox Corporation's fixed cost is $500. Number of Workers Bags of frozen peas 0 0 1 60 2 140 3 250 4 320 5 380 6 400 a) If the wage is $200 per worker, identify the profit-maximizing number of workers for Coldbox. Explain using marginal analysis. b) If the price of frozen peas decreases by $2 per bag, would the number of workers hired by Coldbox be more than, less than, or equal to the number of workers you identified in part (a) ? Explain. c) Suppose that Coldbox hires workers from a monopsonistic labor market. Would the wage be higher, lower, or equal to the equilibrium wage in a perfectly competitive market? Explain.

Exploring Economics
8th Edition
ISBN:9781544336329
Author:Robert L. Sexton
Publisher:Robert L. Sexton
Chapter11: The Firm: Production And Costs
Section: Chapter Questions
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Coldbox Corporation hires its workers in a perfectly competitive labor market and produces and sells frozen peas in a perfectly competitive product market. The market price for frozen peas is $4 per bag. The table below shows Coldbox' short-run production of frozen peas. Labor is the only variable input. Coldbox Corporation's fixed cost is $500.

Number of Workers Bags of frozen peas
0 0
1 60
2 140
3 250
4 320
5 380
6 400

a) If the wage is $200 per worker, identify the profit-maximizing number of workers for Coldbox. Explain using marginal analysis.

b) If the price of frozen peas decreases by $2 per bag, would the number of workers hired by Coldbox be more than, less than, or equal to the number of workers you identified in part (a) ? Explain.

c) Suppose that Coldbox hires workers from a monopsonistic labor market. Would the wage be higher, lower, or equal to the equilibrium wage in a perfectly competitive market? Explain.

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