If firms are competitive and profit-maximizing, the demand curve for labor is determined by:

A. the opportunity cost of workers' time.
B. the value of the marginal product of labor.
C. offsetting income and substitution effects.
D. the value of the marginal product of capital.



Answer :

Final answer:

The demand curve for labor is dictated by the value of the marginal product of labor in profitable and competitive firms. This value reflects the firm's hiring decisions until marginal revenue product matches marginal factor cost. Various factors affect the demand curve, including technology, product pricing, and the number of firms operating.


Explanation:

The demand curve for labor in competitive and profit-maximizing firms is determined by the value of the marginal product of labor. This means that the firm will hire labor until the point at which its marginal revenue product equals its marginal factor cost.

In a perfect competition scenario, marginal revenue product equals the marginal product of labor times the price of the good being produced, and any changes in these variables will shift the curve, along with changes in technology, product demand, or the number of firms.

Therefore, the demand for labor can be defined as the marginal product of labor times the value of the output to the firm, guiding the firm in maximizing its profits.


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