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Edexcel A Level Economics A:复习笔记1.1.5 Specialisation & the Division of Labour

Category: A-level课程, 教材笔记, 福利干货 Date: 2022年9月26日 下午3:01

Specialisation & The Division of Labour

 

  • Scotsman?Adam Smith?is often referred to as the 'father of Economics'
  • He published?'The Wealth of Nations'?in March 1776 and explained many fundamental economic principles that we still use today
    • The premise of the book was to discuss how to?increase?productivity?and wealth
  • Based on observations made during a visit to a pin factory, he developed the ideas of?specialisation?and the?division of labour
    • He noted that a single worker could not make more than 20 pins a day as it involved around 18 different processes, such as cutting the wire, sharpening the end, stamping the head etc.
    • However, if the labour was?divided up into different tasks?and workers?specialised in just that one task, Adam Smith estimated that just 10 workers could produce 48,000 pins per day
  • The?division of labour?is when a?task is broken up into several component tasks
  • This allows workers to?specialise?by focusing on one (or a few) of the components that make up the production process and thereby gain significant skill in doing it
    • This results in higher?output per worker?and so increases productivity
  • Specialisation?occurs on several different levels
    • On an individual level
    • On a business level. For example, one firm may only specialise in manufacturing drill bits for concrete work
    • On a regional level. For example, Silicon Valley has specialised in the tech industry
    • On a global level as countries seek to trade. For example, Bangladesh specialises in textiles and exports them to the world

Advantages & Disadvantages of the Division of Labour & Specialisation

Pros & Cons of the Division of Labour & Specialisation in Production

Pros Cons
Higher labour productivity lowers cost/unit for firms Task repetition?often leads to boredom and a?decrease in worker motivation
Lower costs?can be passed on to consumers in the form of?lower prices A decrease in motivation may lead to?less productivity?and/or?poorer manufacturing quality
Lower costs?can mean?higher profits?for the firms. This may lead to?higher wages for workers It may?increase worker turnover rates?as workers look to move on to a role that is more stimulating
Increased productivity allows some firms to sell beyond their local market into international markets Mass produced products?often?lack variety?and do not take different consumer preferences into account
It creates?many low skilled?jobs If workers lose their jobs,?then it may be hard for them to find work as they are?only trained in one skill

Pros & Cons of the Division of Labour & Specialisation in Trade

Pros & Cons of the Division of Labour & Specialisation in Trade

Pros Cons
Higher labour productivity lowers cost / unit?for firms, which makes their goods more competitive?internationally (exports) International trade is beneficial for the firms that?can compete?globally. However, some industries will be?unable to compete?and will go out of business
Increased exports can result in economic growth for the nation Many firms in an?entire industry?may close leading to?structural unemployment
Economic growth usually leads to higher income?and a better standard of living Specialisation may create over-dependency?on other countries' resources. This may?cause problems?if conflict arises (For example, Europe's reliance on Russian natural gas during the Ukraine crisis)
Income gained from exports can be used to purchase?other goods from around the world?(imports).?This increases the?variety of goods available in a country Specialisation using a country's own resources?will lead to resource depletion over time. Specialisation will increase the rate of resource depletion

The Functions of Money

  • As individuals and firms?trade?with each other in order to acquire goods or raw materials, they?require a means of exchange?that is acceptable and easy to use
  • Modern?currency?fulfils this purpose and money functions as?a medium of exchange, a measure of value, a store of value, and a method of deferred payment

The Four Functions of Money

A Medium of Exchange A Measure of Value ?A Store of Value A Method of Deferred Payment
 

  • Without money, it becomes necessary for buyers and sellers to?barter (exchange goods)
  • Bartering is problematic as it requires two people to want each other's good?(double co-incidence of wants)
  • Money easily facilitates the?exchange?of goods as no double co-incidence of wants is necessary

 

  

  • Money provides a means of?ascribing value?to different goods and services
  • Knowing the price of a good in terms of money allows both consumers and producers?to make decisions?in their best interests
  • Without this measure it is difficult for buyers and sellers to arrange an?agreeable exchange
  

  • Money?holds its value?over time (of course?inflation?means that is not always true!)
  • This means that money?can be saved
  • It remains?valuable in exchange?over long periods of time

 

  

  • Money is an acceptable way to?arrange terms of credit?(loans) and to settle any?future debts
  • This allows producers and consumers to acquire goods in the?present?and pay for them in the?future

 

 

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