Name: 
 

Labor Markets Practice Quiz



Multiple Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
 

1. 

A worker's labor supply depends on, among other things, his ability, his preference for the task, and the opportunity cost of his time.
a.
True
b.
False
 

2. 

Leisure is
a.
not subject to the law of diminishing utility because you can never have enough leisure time
b.
not subject to the law of diminishing utility because you can derive utility only from goods and services
c.
subject to the law of diminishing utility, just as the consumption of goods and services is
d.
subject to the law of diminishing utility only if it involves the consumption of goods and services
e.
not considered in maximizing utility
 

3. 

Because leisure is a normal good, an increase in income
a.
decreases the demand for leisure time and reduces the amount of time allocated to market work
b.
decreases the demand for leisure time and increases the amount of time allocated to market work and/or nonmarket work
c.
increases the demand for leisure time and reduces the amount of time allocated to market work and nonmarket work
d.
increases the demand for leisure time and increases the amount of time allocated to market work and nonmarket work
e.
has no impact on the demand for leisure time
 

4. 

The substitution effect in the labor supply decision refers to
a.
substituting leisure for work as the wage rate rises
b.
substituting market work for nonmarket work as the wage rate falls
c.
working more hours as the wage rate falls
d.
working fewer hours as the wage rate rises
e.
substituting market work for leisure or nonmarket work as the wage rate rises
 

5. 

If my wage rate increases, utility maximization requires that my quantity of labor supplied
a.
increase
b.
decrease
c.
increase if the income effect dominates the substitution effect
d.
increase if the substitution effect dominates the income effect
e.
increase if the substitution effect equals the income effect
 
 
labormkt_practice_files/i0070000.jpg
 

6. 

In Exhibit 0186, how much will the employer have to pay per hour to get this worker to work 48 hours per week?
a.
$6
b.
$7
c.
$9
d.
$12
e.
less than $12
 

7. 

Mitchell and Michelle are both attorneys at a Memphis law firm. Mitchell's salary is higher than Michelle's, which proves that there is sex discrimination at this firm.
a.
True
b.
False
 

8. 

Which of the following could explain a decrease in the demand for labor in a particular job?
a.
additional training that increases the productivity of each unit of labor in this market
b.
an increase in the amount of risk associated with this job
c.
a decrease in the amount of risk associated with this job
d.
an improvement in the working conditions associated with this job
e.
a decrease in the productivity of each unit of labor in this market
 

9. 

If labor were completely mobile, we would expect
a.
people to move where doctors are cheaper
b.
nurses in Toledo to earn the same income (after accounting for differences in the cost of living) as doctors in Toledo
c.
nurses in Toledo to earn the same income (after accounting for differences in the cost of living) as nurses in Nashville
d.
nurses in Toledo to earn the same income (after accounting for differences in the cost of living) as nurses in Nashville only if there were no differences in demand
e.
nurses in Toledo to earn the same income (after accounting for differences in the cost of living) as nurses in Nashville only if there were no differences in supply
 

10. 

In a winner-take-all labor market,
a.
anyone who is hired at any wage is a winner
b.
any firm that can hire a worker is a winner
c.
a few key people critical to the overall success of the enterprise are rewarded with substantial pay
d.
the person most critical to the overall success of an enterprise is rewarded with substantial pay, and everyone else is paid the median wage
e.
only one worker is paid
 

11. 

Most collective bargaining agreements in the United States are reached
a.
only after binding arbitration
b.
only after a strike
c.
without a strike
d.
only after a strike lasting at least three weeks
e.
only after government intervention to avoid a strike
 

12. 

Which of the following unions would be most likely to belong to the American Federation of Labor?
a.
a steelworkers' union
b.
a government employees' union
c.
a union of agricultural workers
d.
a bricklayers' union
e.
a union of communications workers
 

13. 

Unions organized at different businesses were allowed to join together to try to force wage increases by the
a.
Clayton Act of 1914
b.
Sherman Act of 1890
c.
Wagner Act of 1935
d.
Norris-LaGuardia Act of 1932
e.
executive order of President Gompers in 1921
 

14. 

An impartial observer who attempts to settle disagreements by listening to both sides separately and making suggestions is called a(n)
a.
collective bargaining agent
b.
arbitrageur
c.
mediator
d.
binding negotiator
e.
judge
 

15. 

Unions can increase their wage rates by
a.
all of the following
b.
decreasing the supply of labor
c.
using the threat of a strike
d.
increasing the proportion of union workers in the industry
e.
increasing the demand for the product they produce and, therefore, the demand for their labor services
 

16. 

If the United Auto Workers successfully negotiates a wage that is higher than the competitive wage,
a.
there is no excess supply of labor because everyone who wants to work at the union wage can get a job
b.
there is no excess demand for labor because everyone who wants to work at the union wage can get a job
c.
the union must ration the available jobs
d.
all workers are better off
e.
more workers are employed than at the competitive wage
 
 
labormkt_practice_files/i0190000.jpg
 

17. 

In Exhibit 0188, if a union raises the market wage to $4, total employment by the firm (in the right-hand panel) will be
a.
10 workers
b.
12 workers
c.
600 workers
d.
720 workers
e.
800 workers
 

18. 

Assume an industrial union is formed and establishes the wage rate at $4 in Exhibit 0188. The reason the wage rate will not fall to the competitive equilibrium level is that
a.
all workers are wealthier in disequilibrium
b.
nonunion workers are poorer than union workers
c.
there is excess demand for labor at equilibrium
d.
there is excess supply of labor at equilibrium
e.
wages are determined by collective negotiation, not individual negotiation
 

19. 

If an industrial union is able to negotiate a wage above the market-clearing wage, the non-union wage in other industries will
a.
increase
b.
decrease
c.
increase, if the union can restrict the supply of labor
d.
increase, if the union can increase the supply of labor
e.
decrease due to the strike-breaking activity of the firm
 

20. 

A craft union is a union of workers in
a.
the same firm
b.
the same industry
c.
the same skilled profession
d.
different skilled professions
e.
different trades
 
 
labormkt_practice_files/i0240000.jpg
 

21. 

The situation represented in Exhibit 0189 reflects all of the following employment conditions except one. Which is the exception?
a.
collective bargaining by an industrial union for higher wages and benefits
b.
high union membership fees
c.
imposition of qualifying exams for prospective workers
d.
imposition of long apprenticeship periods
e.
restriction of employment to union members
 

22. 

Exhibit 0189 reflects which of the following?
a.
A union that is restricting the supply of labor.
b.
A firm that is restricting the number of job openings.
c.
The price of the good produced by this labor is rising.
d.
The price of the good produced by this labor is falling.
e.
The union that is creating an excess supply of labor.
 

23. 

Craft unions typically attempt to increase wages by
a.
setting a wage floor
b.
reducing labor supply
c.
increasing labor demand
d.
reducing initiation fees
e.
expanding new union memberships
 

24. 

In order to reduce labor supply, a union must be able to
a.
do all of the following
b.
force all employers in the industry to hire only union members
c.
set wages
d.
agree to wage concessions
e.
increase union membership
 

25. 

Of the several ways that the United Auto Workers can increase the wages of its members,
a.
none can also increase employment
b.
only direct negotiation of a wage above the competitive level can also increase employment
c.
only restricting the supply of labor can also increase employment
d.
only increasing the demand for labor can also increase employment
e.
only binding arbitration can also increase employment
 

26. 

An appeal to consumers to purchase union-made products represents an attempt to
a.
increase the supply of union labor
b.
increase the demand for union labor
c.
decrease the supply of union labor
d.
decrease the quantity demanded of union labor
e.
decrease the demand for union labor
 

27. 

It may be that unions increase worker productivity by
a.
minimizing conflicts, resolving differences, and reducing job turnover
b.
using seniority rules to keep the most experienced workers employed
c.
increasing job turnover so that the least experienced workers quit
d.
allowing workers to goof off, which improves morale
e.
increasing the number of workers required to perform each task
 

28. 

The union technique of creating unnecessary jobs is called
a.
craft-based negotiation
b.
an unfair labor practice
c.
an injunction
d.
featherbedding
e.
a sit-down strike
 

29. 

Which of the following explains the recent decline in union membership in the United States?
a.
smaller government safety nets
b.
slower technological change
c.
the change from a manufacturing to a service-based economy
d.
increasing market concentration
e.
none of the above
 

30. 

Unions are less likely to strike today than in the past because
a.
real wages have increased over the last 20 years
b.
employers are less willing to hire strike breakers
c.
most workers in the U.S. are already union members
d.
more workers, both union and nonunion, are willing to cross picket lines
e.
many high-profile strikes (e.g., Caterpillar) have succeeded in winning job security
 



 
Check Your Work     Reset Help