Which of the following experiments will yield observations that would allow one to calculate the marginal physical product of labor?
A)Increase the number of lumberjacks with chain saws and observe the change in output of cut trees
B)Increase the number of workers on an assembly line and record the change in output
C)Increase the number of data entry operators and computers and calculate the extra output.
D)Check the number of workers before and after a given time period.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Increasing the number of workers on an assembly line and recording the change in output would yield observations that would allow one to calculate the marginal physical product of labor, which is defined as the change in output resulting from a one-unit increase in the quantity of labor employed, holding all other inputs constant. By comparing the output before and after adding a worker or workers, the change in output can be attributed to the additional labor input, allowing for the calculation of the marginal physical product of labor. The other options may yield useful observations on changes in output, but they do not involve only changes in labor input and therefore may not allow for the calculation of the marginal physical product of labor.

Which of the Following Experiments Will Yield Observations That Would