Labor Economics
Labor Economics
7th Edition
ISBN: 9780078021886
Author: George J Borjas
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education
Question
100%
Book Icon
Chapter 4, Problem 1RQ
To determine

Producer surplus and worker surplus.

Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark

Explanation of Solution

Producer surplus in a labor market is an advantage taken by the producer due to the variations in the value of marginal product of the labor and the value of total product. Producer surplus is represented by the area above the competitive wage and below the demand curve, whereas worker surplus refers to the difference between the competitive wage that is earned by the worker and the opportunity cost of workers’ time. The area below the competitive wage and above the supply curve represents worker surplus.

Labor Economics, Chapter 4, Problem 1RQ

Figure 1 shows equilibrium in a competitive labor market. In this figure, employment is measured on the horizontal axis and the wage rate in dollars is measured on the vertical axis. The triangle P, which is above the wage rate and under the demand curve, gives the producer surplus and the triangle Q, which is above the supply curve and under the wage rate gives the worker surplus. Gains from the trade is the summation of producer surplus and worker surplus (P+Q). A competitive equilibrium makes effective distribution of labor resources and hence it takes full advantage from trade.

Economics Concept Introduction

Producer surplus: Producer surplus in a labor market is an advantage taken by the producer due to the variations in the value of marginal product of the labor and the value of total product.

Worker surplus: Worker surplus refers to the difference between the competitive wage that is earned by the worker and the opportunity cost of workers’ time.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!
Students have asked these similar questions
Assume the market depicted in the graph is in equilibrium. What is producer surplus?   $30   $60   $50   $20
Consider a market where: Consumer surplus is 250 Producer surplus is 125. If both consumer surplus and producer surplus are maximized, what is the amount of the deadweight loss? (round your answer to the nearest penny) Next, suppose that consumer surplus falls to 150, but producer surplus rises to 155. What is the change in welfare? (round your answer to the nearest penny and add the minus sign if necessary). You can conclude that the competitive output is being produced. more than less than
What is the producer surplus? What is the worker surplus? Show that a competitive market equilibrium maximizes the gains from trade.
Knowledge Booster
Background pattern image
Similar questions
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Text book image
ENGR.ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
Economics
ISBN:9780190931919
Author:NEWNAN
Publisher:Oxford University Press
Text book image
Principles of Economics (12th Edition)
Economics
ISBN:9780134078779
Author:Karl E. Case, Ray C. Fair, Sharon E. Oster
Publisher:PEARSON
Text book image
Engineering Economy (17th Edition)
Economics
ISBN:9780134870069
Author:William G. Sullivan, Elin M. Wicks, C. Patrick Koelling
Publisher:PEARSON
Text book image
Principles of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:9781305585126
Author:N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Managerial Economics: A Problem Solving Approach
Economics
ISBN:9781337106665
Author:Luke M. Froeb, Brian T. McCann, Michael R. Ward, Mike Shor
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Managerial Economics & Business Strategy (Mcgraw-...
Economics
ISBN:9781259290619
Author:Michael Baye, Jeff Prince
Publisher:McGraw-Hill Education