📚 Learning Guide
Factor Markets and Monopsonies
easy

Order the following steps to illustrate how a monopsony affects the labor market:

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Learning Path

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Choose the Best Answer

A

Monopsonist sets a lower wage than in a competitive market → B. Workers supply less labor → C. Monopsonist reduces hiring → D. Overall employment decreases

Understanding the Answer

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Answer

A monopsony is a market situation where there is only one buyer for a particular type of labor, which gives that buyer significant power over wages and employment conditions. In this scenario, the monopsonist can set lower wages because workers have fewer alternatives for employment, leading to a situation where they must accept the offered wages to secure a job. For example, if a small town has only one factory hiring workers, that factory can pay lower wages than if there were multiple employers competing for the same workers. As a result, the overall supply of labor decreases since some workers may choose not to work at those lower wages, which can lead to a less efficient labor market. Thus, the monopsony not only affects wages but also influences the number of people willing to work in that market.

Detailed Explanation

When a monopsonist pays lower wages, fewer workers want to work. Other options are incorrect because Some might think that just setting a lower wage is enough; It's easy to assume that workers will always supply labor.

Key Concepts

Monopsony in labor markets
Wage determination
Labor supply
Topic

Factor Markets and Monopsonies

Difficulty

easy level question

Cognitive Level

understand

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