11.3 Q&A
When the marginal product of labor (additional production) is greater than the average product of labor, then the average product of labor must be...
Increasing. (because additional production raises the average)
The GPA you earn in a particular Semester is your {...} and your cumulative GPA for all completed semesters is you {...} GPA
marginal / average
The law of diminishing return applies Refer to the table below. When do the diminishing returns in the pizza production start?
In the short-run When the marginal product of labor gets smaller relative to the previous marginal product. In that case, it is with the third worker is hired. (100 vs. 250)
Refer to the graph on the right. 1) From the origin up until point A...? 2) From point A to point B..?
1) Output increases at an increasing rate 2) Output increases at a decreasing rate
Consider the table below, which describes the amount of output produced by various quantities of workers. 1) Plot the marginal product of labor 2) Plot the average product of labor
Just draw the table using X for quantity of workers and Y for quantity of work, either average or marginal.
Consider the table below, which describes the amount of output produced by various quantities of workers. Use the four point plot tool to plot the total product curve (1...4)
Just draw the table using X for quantity of workers and Y for total output
Fill in the marginal product and average product of labor in the following table.
Marginal product of labor = difference to previous number or workers. I.e. 1 = 60 | Marginal = 60 2 = 130| Marginal = 70 (130-60=70) Average product of labor = (Marginal product of labor of first worker + ... of second worker + ... of n-th worker)/n (60+70)/2= 65
The graph to the right illustrates the average product of labor. Graph the marginal product of labor. Why do the marginal product of labor and the average product of labor have the shapes illustrated in the graph?
Both A and B. A = The marginal product of labor initially increases die to division of labor and then decreases due to diminishing returns. B = Whenever the marginal product of labor is less than the average product of labor, it pulls the average product of labor down.
Is it possible for a firm to experience a technological change that would increase the marginal product of labor while leaving the average product of labor unchanged?
No. An increase in the marginal product of labor will increase the average product of labor
A student looks at the data in the table to the right and draw this conclusion [...] Do you agree with the students analysis? Briefly explain
No. Marginal product initially increases due to specialization and then decreases due to the law of diminishing return
Sally looks at her college transcript and says to you: "How is this possible? My GPA for this semester is higher than my GPA last semester, but my cumulative GPA still went down from last semester to this semester" Explain to Sally how this is possible
Sally's GPA for this semester is lower than her cumulative GPA
[Related to making the connection] Briefly explain whether you agree or disagree with the following statement: Adam Smith's idea of the gains to firms from the division of labor makes a lot of sense when the good being manufactured is something complex, but it doesn't apply for less complex goods/
The argument is incorrect. Gains from division of labor will occur whenever production of a good or provision of a service has multiple tasks.
The table below shows the quantity of workers and total output for a local pizza parlor. Answer the following questions a) When the owner hires 4 workers, the average product of labor is pizzas...? b) The marginal product of the fifth worker is.. c) If the marginal product of the second worker is 6, then the total number of pizzas produced when 2 workers are hired are... d) Assuming the marginal product of the second worker is 6, the law of diminishing return sets in with the....?
a) Average product of labor = (Marginal product of labor of first worker + ... of second worker + ... of n-th worker)/n (3+0+14+5)/4=5.5 b) Marginal product of labor = difference to previous number or workers.: (26-22) = 4 c) (3+9) = 9 Previous marginal product PLUS current marginal p. d) the law of diminishing return sets in whenever marginal product starts to decline, which is when the marginal product of labor gets smaller relative to the previous marginal product. In that case, it is with the fourth worker hired (4 vs. 5)
What is the law of diminishing return? The law of diminishing return states that... Does it apply to the long run?
adding more of a VARIABLE input to the same amount of a FIXED input eventually causes the marginal product of the VARIABLE input to decline No.
How do specialization and division of labor typically affect the marginal product of labor? In the initial stages pf production [...] lead to an increasing marginal product for workers...?
allowing workers to concentrate on a few tasks so that they become more skilled at doing them quickly and efficiently
