Lectures in Macroeconomics- Charles W. Upton Determining Wage Rates.

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Lectures in Macroeconomics- Charles W. Upton Determining Wage Rates Determining Wage Rates D S H* w*
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Transcript of Lectures in Macroeconomics- Charles W. Upton Determining Wage Rates.

Lectures in Macroeconomics- Charles W. Upton

Determining Wage RatesDetermining Wage Rates

D

S

H*

w*

Determining Wage Rates

Labor Supply and Demand

D

S

H*

w*

Determining Wage Rates

Labor Supply and Demand

D

H

w

Determining Wage Rates

Labor Supply and Demand

D

H

wDemand for hours of work. All workers

are alike, so an hour of work is an hour of

work.

Determining Wage Rates

Labor Supply and Demand

S

h

w

Each worker supplies h hours of work. The

higher the wage rate, the more hours supplied.

Determining Wage Rates

Labor Supply and Demand

S

h

w

A major simplification; we come back to this

supply curve in subsequent lectures.

Determining Wage Rates

Labor Supply and Demand

S

h

w

Total supply is

H =hN*

Determining Wage Rates

Labor Supply and Demand

D

S

H*

w*

Determining Wage Rates

Assumptions

• All N* workers are alike

• w* is the hourly wage rate

• Each worker spends

h* = H*/N* hours in work

Determining Wage Rates

A Spending Spree

D

S

H*

w*

D’

H’

w’• Perhaps the government starts

to spend more.

• Perhaps people become more optimistic about the future.

Determining Wage Rates

A Spending Spree

D

S

H*

w*

D’

H’

w’

Determining Wage Rates

A Spending Spree

D

S

H*

w*

D’

H’

w’Wage Rates Up

Determining Wage Rates

A Spending Spree

D

S

H*

w*

D’

H’

w’People work harder.

Determining Wage Rates

A Spending Spree

D

S

H*

w*

D’

H’

w’People make more money

Determining Wage Rates

A Spending Spree

D

S

H*

w*

D’

H’

w’People make more money

Many make this argument to support increased government spending when times are bad.

Determining Wage Rates

A Spending Spree

D

S

H*

w*

D’

H’

w’People make more money

Many make this argument to support increased government spending when times are bad.

As we shall see there is more to the story.

Determining Wage Rates

Labor Supply and Demand

D

S

H*

w*We will apply this to some

additional cases

Determining Wage Rates

Labor Supply and Demand

D

S

H*

w*We will apply this to some

additional casesMore people reach

working age

Determining Wage Rates

More people reach working age

D

S

H*

w*

S’

H’

w’

Determining Wage Rates

More people reach working age

D

S

H*

w*

S’

H’

w’

The wage rate falls

Total hours worked rise

Determining Wage Rates

More people reach working age

D

S

H*

w*

S’

H’

w’

The wage rate falls

Total hours worked rise

Hours per worker fall

Determining Wage Rates

More people reach working age

D

S

H*

w*

S’

H’

w’

The wage rate falls

Total hours worked rise

Hours per worker fall

With hours per worker falling and wage rates

falling, income per worker falls, just as Malthus predicted.

Determining Wage Rates

More people reach working age

D

S

H*

w*

S’

H’

w’

Not everyone works. Suppose more people

worked. Same effects.

Determining Wage Rates

More people reach working age

D

S

H*

w*

S’

H’

w’

Not everyone works. Suppose more people

worked. Same effects.Factoid

During the 1930’s this argument was used in

support of social security and against women

working

Determining Wage Rates

More people reach working age

D

S

H*

w*

S’

H’

w’

Not everyone works. Suppose more people

worked. Same effects.Factoid

During the 1930’s this argument was used in

support of social security and against women

working

The fewer people working, the higher the

wages for “real” workers.

Determining Wage Rates

New technology, more capital

D

S

H*

w*

D’

H’

w’

Determining Wage Rates

New technology, more capital

D

S

H*

w*

D’

H’

w’

Wage rates up

Determining Wage Rates

New technology, more capital

D

S

H*

w*

D’

H’

w’

Wage rates upPeople work harder

Determining Wage Rates

New technology, more capital

D

S

H*

w*

D’

H’

w’

Wage rates upPeople work harder

People make more money

Determining Wage Rates

End

©2004 Charles W. Upton. All rights reserved