Labor Economics and Forced Labor

This assignment delves into the complex issue of forced labor within the context of labor economics. It analyzes the consequences for domestic consumers, who face high prices due to inflated production costs, and domestic producers, who incur increased expenses due to unethical practices. The assignment also emphasizes the societal benefits of eliminating forced labor, promoting fairness, efficiency, and a free trade environment in Australia.

ECONOMICS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART 1............................................................................................................................................1
Question 1...................................................................................................................................1
Question 2...................................................................................................................................2
Question 3...................................................................................................................................3
Question 4...................................................................................................................................4
Question 5...................................................................................................................................4
Question 6...................................................................................................................................4
Question 7...................................................................................................................................4
Question 8...................................................................................................................................5
PART 2............................................................................................................................................5
Question 1...................................................................................................................................5
Question 2...................................................................................................................................6
Question 3...................................................................................................................................6
PART 3............................................................................................................................................7
Question 1...................................................................................................................................7
Question 2...................................................................................................................................7
Question 3...................................................................................................................................8
Question 4...................................................................................................................................8
Question 5...................................................................................................................................9
Question 6.................................................................................................................................10
Question 7.................................................................................................................................11
Question 8.................................................................................................................................11
Question 9.................................................................................................................................11
Question 10...............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

PART 1
Question 1
A point at which quantity of the demand and supply both are equal in the market is
considered as an equilibrium point (Calero and et.al., 2017). In the present scenario labour
market is taken into account where equilibrium calculated below:
Demand = 60,000 – 5,000 W
Supply = 5,000 W – 35,000
60,000 – 5,000 W = 5,000 W – 35,000
= -5,000 W -5,000 W = -35,000+- 60,000
= -10,000 W = -95,000
W = 95,000 / 10,000
W = 9.5 per hour
Therefore, at the equilibrium wage rate i.e. 9.5 each hour demand as well as supply level
will be same which are presented through graph below:
Quantity demanded of labour = 60,000 – (5000 * 9.5) = 12,500
Quantity supplied of labour = (5000 * 9.5) – 35000 = 12,500

Question 2
a) Surplus of consumer: Area DEW

b) Surplus of producer: ESW
c) Total surplus: DES or DEW + ESW
Question 3
a) When minimum wage rate is worth of $11.00 each hour then demand and supply both reduced
from Q0 to Q1 and enhanced from Q0 to Q2 respectively as reflected in above diagram.
b) Demand hours = 60,000 – (5,000 * 11)
= 60,000 – 55,000
= 5,000 hours
Supply of the labour hours = (5000 * 11) – 35,000
= 55,000 – 35,000
= 20,000 hours
c) Surplus by imposing minimum wage rate as per the above graph is the area Q1Q2S1D1 in the
labour market.

Question 4
Question 5
In the labour market, if government imposes minimum wage rate i.e. worth of $11 per
hour then workers or labours will be at the better off. The reason that, it helps to decline gender
diversity because to the male and female both employees same wages will be given by the
company (Faberman and Menzio, 2017).
Question 6
It can be ascertained from the scenario that, no significant affect of resources lost there
related to searching on customers, producers as well as overall surplus area.
Question 7
When the company provides minimum wages to the employees then they will be
motivated up to the greater extent. Apart from this, needed money will be easily generated or
earned by the workers in an appropriate manner. Thus, overall efficiency and productivity of the
workforce and company will be enhanced. Therefore, it can be said that case of minimum wages
is highly justified.

Question 8
In order to meet objective of enhancing living standard of unskilled labours, the provision
of minimum wage amount is justified in an ethical manner. In opposite to this, it will not fulfil
until and unless employees not work upon skill enhancing strategies and techniques. As they will
try to improve their existing skills then only this policy will be properly justified (Borjas, 2017).
PART 2
Question 1
Change in price as well as quantity for pocket calculator:
Change in the consumer income:

Question 2
Income elasticity of demand:
It has been interpreted from the above calculation that, value of income elasticity is
greater than 1 i.e. 1.545. Due to this, it can be said that as income of consumers increase or
decrease then quantity will give response in same direction.
Question 3
Price elasticity of supply:

It has been ascertained that, as price of pocket calculator enhances from 20 to 24 then
quantity supplied also from 10000 to 11000. Apart from this, less than 1 price elasticity of supply
denotes that, price of product will create positive impact up to the certain level on quantity
supplied.
PART 3
Question 1
Equilibrium price in the present scenario is 60 where demand and supply both curves
intersect to each other.
Question 2
a) Consumer surplus
Max price 80
Equilibrium price 60
Demand 1.6
Consumer surplus 20
Size of consumer surplus 16
b) Producer surplus
Max price 60

Min 10
Equilibrium price 60
Demand 1.6
Surplus amount 50
Producer surplus 40
c) Total surplus
Consumer + producer surplus = 16+40
Therefore, total surplus = 56
Question 3
In the Australian market if price of figs charged at $40 per kg. Then quantity of supply
and demand will be 1.6 and 2.4 respectively of the product.
Question 4
a) Consumer surplus
Max price 80
Equilibrium price 40
Demand 1.6
Consumer surplus 40
Size of consumer surplus 32

b) Producer surplus
Max price 40
Min 10
Equilibrium price 40
Demand 1.6
Surplus 30
Producer surplus 24
c) Total surplus
Consumer + producer surplus = 32+24
Therefore, total surplus = 56
In the present scenario, producers are not better off due to amount of surplus declining
from 40 to 24. Society is at the condition of better off because equilibrium price reducing from
60 to 40. Apart from this, workers are also not better off due to producers earning less amount of
sales.

Question 5
When government of Australia imposes tariff worth of $10 per kg. Then overall price
will enhance and reach up to $50. Due to this, domestic supply level increase from 1.3 to 1.7
when tariffs are charged. When looking at the demand quantity then it was 2.2 at the previous
situation (Glitz, 2017). After imposing the tariff charges quantity demanded declined from 2.2 to
2.
Question 6
a) Consumer surplus
Max price 80
Equilibrium price 50
Demand 1.6
Surplus 30
Size of consumer surplus 24

b) Producer surplus
Max price 50
Min 10
Equilibrium price 50
Demand 1.6
Surplus 40
Producer surplus 32
c) Total surplus
Consumer + producer surplus = 24+32
Therefore, total surplus = 56
In the Q4 consumer and producer surplus was 32 and 24 which declines and increases
respectively due to imposing tariff amount by Australian government. Therefore, consumers and
society may not in the situation of better off. Apart from this, producers are at the condition of
better off due to increasing prices by tariff imposition.
Question 7
Situation of free international trade in the Australian economy is the most ethically
preferred because it helps to expand business in an appropriate direction. Along with this,
resources can be utilised in an optimum manner and firms can go for globalisation in free trade
condition.
Question 8
In the Australian fig market, the given policy will create the greater influence. The reason
is that, as forced labours reduced then it leads to enhance total prices or charges of the fig
products. Therefore, the cited project can be accomplish well along with social responsibilities
towards International Labour Organisation but will lead to enhance prices (Caliendo, Mahlstedt
and Mitnik, 2017).

Question 9
i) Domestic consumers: Customers or users of fig products have to pay high prices in the
market.
ii) Domestic producers: The manufacturers have to make more investment for producing
figs which lead to enhance overall expenses in the workplace.
iii) Society better off: The cited condition will be highly better off for the society when the
forced labour declined. The reason is that, it will support in order to promote free trade
situation within Australian economy (Kassenboehmer and Schatz, 2017).
Efficiency leads to support to the company in order to utilise resources in optimum
direction. Further, fairness helps to the people in order to get freeness while working in the
business environment. Hence, when fairness and efficiency both are included in the workplace at
same time then forced labour will be supported.
Question 10
A term under which people are bought or sold for an objective of forced labour within
entity is unethical, known as slavery. Under this concept, Anti-slavery ethical approach will be
considered which helps to reduce and avoid unethical systems from the working environment
(Foley, 2014). Moreover, if anyone is found who uses unethical approach then individual will be
terminated on an immediate basis.

REFERENCES
Journals and Books
Borjas, G. J., 2017. The labor supply of undocumented immigrants. Labour Economics. 46. pp.
1-13.
Calero, C. and et.al., 2017. Can arts-based interventions enhance labor market outcomes among
youth? Evidence from a randomized trial in Rio de Janeiro. Labour Economics. 45. pp.
131-142.
Caliendo, M., Mahlstedt, R. and Mitnik, O. A., 2017. Unobservable, but unimportant? The
relevance of usually unobserved variables for the evaluation of labor market policies.
Labour Economics. 46. pp. 14-25.
Faberman, R. J. and Menzio, G., 2017. Evidence on the relationship between recruiting and the
starting wage. Labour Economics.
Glitz, A., 2017. Coworker networks in the labour market. Labour Economics. 44. pp. 218-230.
Kassenboehmer, S. C. and Schatz, S. G., 2017. Re-employment expectations and realisations:
Prediction errors and behavioural responses. Labour Economics.
Online
Foley, P., 2014. Modern Slavery and Role of Business. [Online]. Available through:
http://www.ethicalcorp.com/supply-chains/modern-slavery-and-role-business.
[Accessed on 3rd October 2017].