Smith's theory of the division and specialization of labor implies that a worker skilled in engineering will negatively affect economic output if employed in anything but engineering

improve economic output

yield economic output that is sub-optimal if she were employed in something other than engineering-type functions

Banana computers has decided to procure processing chips required for its laptops from external suppliers instead of manufacturing them in their own facilities. how will this decision affect the firm? a. the firm will be protected against the principal-agent problem. b. the firm's administrative costs will be low because of necessary bureaucracy. c. the firm will have more flexibility in purchasing and comparing prices of goods and services. d. the firm will have high-powered incentives, such as hourly wages and salaries.

Levine inc., which produces a single product, has prepared the following standard cost sheet for one unit of the product. direct materials (9 pounds at $1.80 per pound) $16.20 direct labor (6 hours at $14.00 per hour) $84.00 during the month of april, the company manufactures 270 units and incurs the following actual costs. direct materials purchased and used (2,500 pounds) $5,000 direct labor (1,660 hours) $22,908 compute the total, price, and quantity variances for materials and labor.

Which of the following best explains the purpose of protectionist trade policies such as tariffs and subsidies? a. they make sure that governments have enough money to pay for fiscal policies. b. they give foreign competitors access to new markets around the world. c. they allow producers to sell their products more cheaply than foreign competitors. d. they enable producers to purchase productive resources from everywhere in the world.