In the short run, as a firm increases the number of workers while keeping capital fixed, what is likely to happen to the average product of labor?

In the short run, when a firm adds more workers while keeping its equipment or machinery the same, the average product of labor can change. Initially, as more workers join, they can help each other and make better use of the fixed capital, leading to an increase in the average product of labor. However, after a certain point, adding too many workers can lead to overcrowding, where there isn't enough equipment for everyone to use efficiently. This can cause the average product of labor to decrease, as workers might get in each other’s way or have to share resources. For example, if a bakery hires too many bakers but only has one oven, the extra bakers may not be able to bake as much bread, reducing the overall output per worker.