Consider the following example, which follows the analytical framework of Goldin and Katz (2008). a) Suppose the economy uses just two inputs, capital (K) and labor (L). If the cost of each unit of capital (what we called the rental rate, r) is $10 and the cost of each unit of labor (the wage rate, w) is $20, and the economy spends $100 total in costs of production, draw the isocost curve for the economy with capital on the y-axis. b) Based upon (a) above, depict an isoquant where, at the optimal production mix, the economy uses twice as much labor as it does capital.

Microeconomic Theory
12th Edition
ISBN:9781337517942
Author:NICHOLSON
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Chapter9: Production Functions
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 9.3P
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Consider the following example, which follows the analytical framework of Goldin and Katz
(2008).
a) Suppose the economy uses just two inputs, capital (K) and labor (L). If the cost of each unit of
capital (what we called the rental rate, r) is $10 and the cost of each unit of labor (the wage rate,
w) is $20, and the economy spends $100 total in costs of production, draw the isocost curve for
the economy with capital on the y-axis.
b) Based upon (a) above, depict an isoquant where, at the optimal production mix, the economy uses
twice as much labor as it does capital.
c) Now, on the same graph, illustrate technological change that is capital-biased. Another term for
this is "labor saving" technical change. Based upon your depiction of the technological change,
identify the new optimal input mix - has it indeed been "labor saving"?
d) If the capital/labor ratio does not fully adjust as you depicted in part (c), what will be the
implication for the w/r ratio? If, as is the case in the US, most capital is owned by the relatively
well off and the relatively poor rely on income from their labor, what would be the implication
for economic inequality?
Transcribed Image Text:Consider the following example, which follows the analytical framework of Goldin and Katz (2008). a) Suppose the economy uses just two inputs, capital (K) and labor (L). If the cost of each unit of capital (what we called the rental rate, r) is $10 and the cost of each unit of labor (the wage rate, w) is $20, and the economy spends $100 total in costs of production, draw the isocost curve for the economy with capital on the y-axis. b) Based upon (a) above, depict an isoquant where, at the optimal production mix, the economy uses twice as much labor as it does capital. c) Now, on the same graph, illustrate technological change that is capital-biased. Another term for this is "labor saving" technical change. Based upon your depiction of the technological change, identify the new optimal input mix - has it indeed been "labor saving"? d) If the capital/labor ratio does not fully adjust as you depicted in part (c), what will be the implication for the w/r ratio? If, as is the case in the US, most capital is owned by the relatively well off and the relatively poor rely on income from their labor, what would be the implication for economic inequality?
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