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Unit 5 - Factor Markets Guide

5.1 - Introduction to Factor Markets

  • Factor markets: is a resource for companies to buy what the need to produce their goods and services

  • Derived demand : the demand from a resource is derived by product demand

  • Marginal revenue product (MRP) : the additional revenue that is generated by an additional resource/worker

  • Marginal factor cost (MFC) : the additional cost of an additional resource/worker

  • Least cost rule : marginal product of labor/price of labor = marginal product of capital/price of capital (MPL/PL=MPK/PK)

    • Buy more of the one with a higher sum, and less of the one with a smaller sum (to explain, as you increase, diminishing marginal returns kicks in)

Fig. 1 Perfect Competition


5.2 - Changes in Factor Demand and Factor Supply

Determinants of Labor Demands (DL)

Determinants of Labor Supply (SL)

R.O.D

P.I.N

1. Productivity of the Resource

1. Personal values

2. Price of Other resources

2. Intervention by Government

3. Product demand

3. Number of Qualified workers

  • These factors determine the supply and demand of these quantities


5.3 - Profit-Maximising Behaviour in Perfectly Competitive Factor Markets

  • Market curve : standard supply and demand curve

  • Equilibrium wage in the market : establishes the wage that firms will pay workers

  • MRP=MRC!!!!

  • Firms will not hire if MRC>MRP, as they will be at a loss

Fig. 2 Profit Maximisation


5.3 - Monopsonistic Markets

  • Many sellers, one buyer

  • Monopsonies pay a lower wage and hire less than perfect competition

    • This market is an example of Imperfect competition

  • MRP=MFC

  • MFC > supply

DK

Unit 5 - Factor Markets Guide

5.1 - Introduction to Factor Markets

  • Factor markets: is a resource for companies to buy what the need to produce their goods and services

  • Derived demand : the demand from a resource is derived by product demand

  • Marginal revenue product (MRP) : the additional revenue that is generated by an additional resource/worker

  • Marginal factor cost (MFC) : the additional cost of an additional resource/worker

  • Least cost rule : marginal product of labor/price of labor = marginal product of capital/price of capital (MPL/PL=MPK/PK)

    • Buy more of the one with a higher sum, and less of the one with a smaller sum (to explain, as you increase, diminishing marginal returns kicks in)

Fig. 1 Perfect Competition


5.2 - Changes in Factor Demand and Factor Supply

Determinants of Labor Demands (DL)

Determinants of Labor Supply (SL)

R.O.D

P.I.N

1. Productivity of the Resource

1. Personal values

2. Price of Other resources

2. Intervention by Government

3. Product demand

3. Number of Qualified workers

  • These factors determine the supply and demand of these quantities


5.3 - Profit-Maximising Behaviour in Perfectly Competitive Factor Markets

  • Market curve : standard supply and demand curve

  • Equilibrium wage in the market : establishes the wage that firms will pay workers

  • MRP=MRC!!!!

  • Firms will not hire if MRC>MRP, as they will be at a loss

Fig. 2 Profit Maximisation


5.3 - Monopsonistic Markets

  • Many sellers, one buyer

  • Monopsonies pay a lower wage and hire less than perfect competition

    • This market is an example of Imperfect competition

  • MRP=MFC

  • MFC > supply