Question

In July, 2013 the consulting firm Mercer released results from a survey where workers in the U.S. expected a 2.9% increase in pay in 2014. Assuming this occurs and it was the only development in the labor market that year, how would this affect the AS curve

Answer 1

Answer:

A 2.9% pay increase in 2014 for U.S. workers will cause the AS (aggregate supply) curve to shift inward in the short-run, signaling a decline in the quantity supplied.

Explanation:

The supply quantity declines because a pay increase increases suppliers' cost of production and reduces their ability to produce more goods and services.  On the contrary, a fall in workers' pay causes the aggregate supply curve to shift outward, thereby increasing the quantity supplied.  In the long-run, the pay increase will increase aggregate demand, thereby pushing prices to increase, while, at the same, suppliers try to increase the quantity supplied to meet with increased prices and demand.