Question 1

The term "path dependence" refers to

Accepted Answer

Path dependence refers to the idea that historical processes and events can have a lasting impact on the development and outcomes of a system. In the case of technology choices, decisions made early on can create a path that organizations and industries are locked into, even if better options become available later. This can lead to inefficiency and missed opportunities for innovation.

Question 2

All of the following served to reduce labor market discrimination against women and minorities except

Accepted Answer

Marriage bars were policies that prevented women from being hired or employed if they were married or likely to get married. They were discriminatory policies that aimed to restrict married women's participation in the workforce. None of the other options were aimed at reducing discrimination but were designed to promote equality in employment opportunities for women and minorities. The Civil Rights Act, Johnson's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Program, and the Equal Pay Act of 1963 were all initiatives designed to eliminate discrimination in the workplace based on race, gender or ethnicity.

Question 3

Which of the following statements about the "separate but equal" provision of Plessy v.Ferguson is MOST accurate?

Accepted Answer

The "separate but equal" provision of Plessy v. Ferguson led to the creation of African-American schools that were systematically under funded. The idea of separate but equal was rarely achieved in reality and resulted in unequal resources and opportunities for African-Americans compared to whites. This discrimination also extended beyond education to other areas such as housing and employment.

Question 4

Productivity growth in the service sector

Accepted Answer

Productivity growth in the service sector is notoriously difficult to measure and has been slower compared with productivity growth in manufacturing.

Question 5

Which of the following statements correctly characterizes the trend in real wages since 1960?

Accepted Answer

The real product wage (inflation-adjusted wage based on the value of goods produced per hour) has kept pace with labor productivity since 1960, while the real consumption wage (inflation-adjusted wage based on purchasing power) has been relatively stagnant. This means that while workers are producing more goods per hour, their actual purchasing power has not increased at the same rate.

Question 6

According to the text,which of the following factors contributed to the increased labor force participation rate of women during the postwar period?

Accepted Answer

All of the choices - rising real wages, an increase in the years of schooling completed by women, declining fertility rates, and the growth of the service sector - contributed to the increased labor force participation rate of women during the postwar period. Rising real wages made it more economically viable for women to enter the workforce, while an increase in education resulted in more women being qualified for higher-paying jobs. Declining fertility rates meant that women were having fewer children, leaving them with more time to work outside the home. The growth of the service sector provided more job opportunities, particularly for women, in areas such as health care, retail, and education.

Question 7

Which is not a cause of the deterioration of the strength of labor?

Accepted Answer

All the options listed (A, B, C, D) are factors that can contribute to the weakening of labor strength. The rise of the service sector, regional shifts in manufacturing, foreign industrial competition, and a high rate of immigration of unskilled workers who may be hesitant to engage in union activities can all dilute the influence and bargaining power of labor unions and workers.

Question 8

Key features of the American labor market in the postwar period include all of the following except

Accepted Answer

The American labor market in the postwar period did not have steadily increasing union membership. In fact, union membership peaked in the mid-1950s and has been in decline ever since.

Question 9

Relative to the white median family income,since 1980 African-American median family income has ________ and Hispanic median family income has __________.

Accepted Answer

According to the information given, African-American median family income has fallen relative to the white median family income since 1980, while Hispanic median family income has increased. Therefore, only option D is correct.

Question 10

In 2001,the labor force participation rate of married women equaled ________.

Accepted Answer

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2001 the labor force participation rate of married women was just over 60 percent.

Question 11

New immigration laws championed by the Kennedy and Johnson administrations

Accepted Answer

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, championed by the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, placed a high priority on reuniting immigrant families and attracting skilled labor to the United States, moving away from the quota system based on national origin.

Question 12

All of the following have played a role in reducing union strength since 1970 except

Accepted Answer

Rising service sector employment, foreign industrial competition, and "right-to-work" laws have all contributed to reducing union strength since 1970. However, the Supreme Court has generally been seen as being pro-business and anti-union, so its decisions have often worked against organized labor. One key decision that limited union power was the Court's application of antitrust laws to union organization efforts, which made it harder for unions to use collective bargaining tactics to negotiate favorable contracts for their members.

Question 13

In 2001,the percent of total employment in the manufacturing,mining,and construction sector equaled

Accepted Answer

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2001, the percent of total employment in the manufacturing, mining, and construction sector was 17.7%, which is less than 20%.

Question 14

During the postwar period,the portion of total employment declined in the ______ sector.

Accepted Answer

During the postwar period, the portion of total employment declined in the agricultural, manufacturing, mining, and construction sectors due to various factors such as technological advancements, urbanization, and shifts towards a service-oriented economy.

Question 15

In 2001,women in most occupations earned ________ of what males in the same occupation earned.

Accepted Answer

In 2001, women in most occupations earned about 70 percent of what males in the same occupation earned.

Question 16

By 1964,nearly all blacks outside the South were covered by laws that allowed the government to issue cease and desist orders against discriminating firms.According to recent research by William Collins,these laws

Accepted Answer

The laws had some success in improving the wages and working conditions of African-American women. While the laws were effective in ending some forms of discrimination, they were not necessarily successful in ensuring equal pay and opportunities for advancement for all black workers. However, African-American women experienced some improvements in their wages and employment opportunities as a result of these laws.

Question 17

Which of the following statements correctly characterizes fertility rates in the postwar period?

Accepted Answer

The postwar period saw a baby boom, which led to a peak in birth rates in the late 1950s. However, fertility rates began to decline in the 1960s and reached very low rates in the 1970s. This decline was due to a number of factors, including increased access to contraception and changing societal norms regarding family size. The increased labor force participation of women may have played a role in this decline, but it was not the primary factor. The birth rate did not rise steadily throughout the postwar period, nor did it exhibit a clear pattern in response to economic trends.

Question 18

Between 1960 and 2001,the labor force participation rate increased for each of the following groups except

Accepted Answer

The labor force participation rate increased for married women, single women, and single men, but did not increase for married men.

Question 19

Paul David examined _______________ as an example of path dependence.

Accepted Answer

Paul David examined the QWERTY keyboard as an example of path dependence, which refers to the tendency of systems to persist in their current state due to initial investments or choices, even if they may not be the most efficient or effective option.

Question 20

According to the text,the growth of service sector employment in the US has contributed to

Accepted Answer

The text states that the growth of service sector employment in the US has contributed to a slowdown in the growth of real wages during the postwar period. None of the other options are mentioned in the text.

Quiz 28: Manufacturing, Productivity, and Labor