Question

Suppose that Congress passes a law requiring employers to provide employees some benefit (such as healthcare) that raises the cost of an employee by $4 per hour. Assume that firms were not providing such benefits prior to the legislation. On the following graph, use the green line (triangle symbol) to show the effect this employer mandate has on the demand for labor.On the previous graph, use the purple line (diamond symbol) to show the effect this employer mandate has on the supply of labor. Suppose the wage is free to balance supply and demand. Use the black point (plus symbol) to indicate the equilibrium wage and level of employment before this law, and use the grey point (star symbol) to indicate the equilibrium wage and level of employment after this law is implemented.
True or False: Employers and employees are made worse off by this law.
True False Suppose that, before the mandate, the wage in this market was $3 above the minimum wage. In this case, the employer mandate will decrease the equilibrium wage rate from $10 per hour to $6 per hour, causing employment to increase V and unemployment to decrease 'V' . Now suppose that workers do not value the mandated benefit at all. Which of the following statements are true under this circumstance?
1. The wage rate will decline by less than $4.
2. Employers are worse off than before the mandated benefit.
3. The equilibrium quantity of labor will decline.
4. The supply curve of labor doesn't shift at all.
5. Employees are worse off than before the mandated benefit.

Answer 1

Answer:

a. False

b. 1. The wage rate will decline by less than $4.

2.Employers are worse off than before the mandated benefit.

3. The equilibrium quantity of labor will decline.

4. The supply curve of labor doesn't shift at all

5. Employees are worse off than before the mandated benefit.

Explanation:

The Equilibrium wage and employment level are at the point where demand and supply curves intersect. The new law will cause the demand and supply curve to shift down. Employers and employees are not made worse off rather they are well off as before.  

When the workers will not value the benefit as mandated in the law the supply curve will not shift down, the equilibrium quantity of labor will decline and wage rate will decline by less than $4. Employers are worse off than before because a greater total wage will be paid by employers plus benefit for few workers. This will result in greater total cost to employer.