Exam 7: Getting a Job

arrow
  • Select Tags
search iconSearch Question
flashcardsStudy Flashcards
  • Select Tags

According to labor market theory, why would a person forego an immediate job in order to spend more time in educational training?

Free
(Short Answer)
4.8/5
(43)
Correct Answer:
Answered by Examlex AI Copilot

According to labor market theory, a person might choose to forego an immediate job opportunity in order to spend more time in educational training for several reasons related to long-term economic benefits and career prospects:

1. **Higher Future Earnings**: One of the primary reasons is the expectation of higher future earnings. Education is often seen as an investment in human capital. The human capital theory suggests that by acquiring more education, individuals increase their skills and productivity, which in turn can lead to higher wages and better job opportunities in the future.

2. **Better Employment Opportunities**: With higher education, individuals may have access to a broader range of employment opportunities, including those in specialized or high-skill fields. These positions are often more stable and offer better working conditions.

3. **Career Advancement**: Education can be a stepping stone for career advancement. It can provide the qualifications needed for promotions or to enter into a professional career track that would not be accessible without further training or education.

4. **Job Market Competition**: In a competitive job market, having higher education can give a job seeker a competitive edge over others with less education. Employers often use educational qualifications as a screening tool.

5. **Economic Conditions**: During times of economic downturn, individuals might choose to stay in school longer to avoid entering a weak job market. This can be a strategic move to wait for better job prospects while improving one's qualifications.

6. **Personal Development and Fulfillment**: Beyond economic reasons, individuals may pursue further education for personal growth, intellectual fulfillment, or a passion for a particular field of study.

7. **Expected Rate of Return**: Individuals may calculate the expected rate of return on their educational investment. If the present value of future earnings gains outweighs the costs of education and the opportunity cost of not working, then continuing education is a rational economic decision.

8. **Signal Theory**: Education can also serve as a signal to employers about an individual's abilities. It can indicate a person's capacity to learn, persist, and complete tasks, which are valuable traits in the labor market.

In summary, labor market theory suggests that individuals make decisions about education and work based on the trade-off between the immediate earnings they must forego and the potential future benefits they expect to gain from additional training. These decisions are influenced by factors such as expected income, job security, career aspirations, and the state of the economy.

Enrollment and eventual graduation from college are correlated with

Free
(Multiple Choice)
4.9/5
(28)
Correct Answer:
Verified

D

Describe the backward-bending supply curve for labor. Why might this model not be as applicable today?

Free
(Essay)
4.8/5
(37)
Correct Answer:
Answered by Examlex AI Copilot

The backward-bending supply curve for labor is a concept in economics that suggests that as wages increase, individuals may initially choose to work more hours to take advantage of the higher pay. However, at a certain point, the increased income may lead individuals to value leisure time more and they may choose to work fewer hours, resulting in a decrease in the overall supply of labor.

This model may not be as applicable today for several reasons. Firstly, the nature of work has changed with the rise of technology and the gig economy. Many individuals now have more flexibility in their work hours and may not be as constrained by traditional 9-5 jobs. This means that the trade-off between work and leisure time may not be as rigid as the backward-bending supply curve suggests.

Additionally, the model does not account for other factors that influence individuals' decisions about work, such as job satisfaction, career advancement opportunities, and the availability of alternative sources of income. These factors can also impact the supply of labor and may not fit neatly into the backward-bending curve framework.

Furthermore, the model may not fully capture the complexities of labor markets, including the impact of government policies, labor unions, and other institutional factors that can influence individuals' decisions about work.

Overall, while the backward-bending supply curve for labor provides a useful framework for understanding the relationship between wages and labor supply, it may not fully capture the realities of modern labor markets and the diverse factors that influence individuals' decisions about work.

One criticism of the minimum wage standard is that it:

(Multiple Choice)
4.8/5
(37)

How does Granovetter's research undermine market-based theories of employment?

(Essay)
4.7/5
(36)

How does credentialism perpetuate existing patterns of inequality?

(Essay)
4.9/5
(37)

Minimum-wage legislation was first enacted in the 1930's by the Roosevelt's administration.

(True/False)
4.8/5
(35)

Higher rates of pay will always motivate individuals to put in longer hours at work.

(True/False)
4.9/5
(35)

Educational attainment is strongly correlated with the social class of a student's family.

(True/False)
4.8/5
(32)

The federal minimum wage:

(Multiple Choice)
4.9/5
(24)

Conventional labor market theory treats workers as a kind of commodity

(True/False)
4.8/5
(26)

The only employees who benefit from minimum wage standards are the working poor.

(True/False)
4.8/5
(29)

The term disutility refers to something that:

(Multiple Choice)
5.0/5
(41)

Despite the advantages of acquiring a formal education, formal education does not always make workers more capable because:

(Multiple Choice)
4.8/5
(37)

Cultural capital refers to class-based attributes such as values, tastes, leisure pursuits, and speech patterns.

(True/False)
4.9/5
(39)

Criticisms of the emphasis on education as a means of gaining credentials include:

(Multiple Choice)
4.8/5
(37)

A large number of occupations offer low wages because:

(Multiple Choice)
4.9/5
(39)

What is human capital? How might one add to their stock of human capital?

(Essay)
4.8/5
(36)

A formal education guarantees that an employee has acquired the skills necessary for the job he or she holds

(True/False)
4.8/5
(40)

The term "efficiency wage" refers to the provision of flexible hours at increased rates of pay offered by employers..

(True/False)
4.7/5
(40)
Showing 1 - 20 of 29
close modal

Filters

  • Essay(0)
  • Multiple Choice(0)
  • Short Answer(0)
  • True False(0)
  • Matching(0)