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September 28, 2023 

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NET EXPORTS LINE: The graphical depiction of the relation between net exports and national income (or gross domestic product) that plays a role in Keynesian economics and the Keynesian cross. The net exports line is derived by combining the exports line, relating exports and national income, with the imports line, relating imports and national income. Because exports are largely independent of national income and imports (which are subtracted from exports) increase with national income, the net exports line has a negative slope. The slope of the net exports line is thus the negative of the marginal propensity to import. The aggregate expenditures line used in the Keynesian cross is obtained by adding this net exports line, as well as, government purchases and net exports, to the consumption line. The government purchases line is also combined with investment expenditures for the Keynesian saving-investment model.

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DIVISION OF LABOR:

A basic economic notion that labor resources are used more efficiently if work tasks are divided among different workers. This allows workers to specialize in production as each becomes highly skilled at specific tasks.
Efficiency achieved through specialization and the division of labor was popularized by Adam Smith in his classic work, The Wealth of Nations.

Specialization and Production

Suppose, for example, that Patrick Pennington plans to provide pizza to the people of Pittsburg by building a pizza parlor that employs 10 pizza workers. Patrick could, if he so chose, train each worker to perform every pizza-related task--waiting tables, kneading dough, spreading sauce, slicing meat, accepting payment, washing dishes, etc. And Patrick would likely produce an ample quantity of pizza to the people of Pittsburg.

But, Patrick's employees would likely perform more productively if he trains each in a specific task. One takes orders, another kneads the dough, a third spreads the sauce, etc. As each worker concentrates on a given task, each becomes more proficient. The workers waste less time running around the pizza parlor bumping into each other. They learn the best, more efficient, ways to do their specific jobs. All-in-all, Patrick gets more pizza per worker, and the pizza consuming people of Pittsburg are positively pleased.

A Complex Economy

This division-of-labor notion is one of those concepts that is so fundamental to the economy that its importance is occasionally overlooked in the real world. Without the division of labor, the comfortable living standard currently provided by members of the exceeding complex economic system would not be possible.

For example, complex goods involving hundreds or even thousands of production stages, components, and intermediate goods could not be produced without specialization and the division of labor. Or if produced, they would be incredibly expensive. Automobiles, airplanes, computers, motion pictures, processed foods, and even education are but a few examples of products that probably would not exist without the division of labor.

Foreign Trade

Foreign trade is a key area of economic activity in which the division of labor is important and often overlooked. Trade among nations, like trade within a nation, improves living standards as workers divide up production tasks. In particular, suppose the workers in one nation specialize in agricultural productions while the workers in another nation specialize in manufactured products. When they trade these products each nation is better off.

<= DISTRIBUTION STANDARDSDOMESTIC SECTOR =>


Recommended Citation:

DIVISION OF LABOR, AmosWEB Encyclonomic WEB*pedia, http://www.AmosWEB.com, AmosWEB LLC, 2000-2023. [Accessed: September 28, 2023].


Check Out These Related Terms...

     | specialization | efficient | economy | living standard | intermediate good | production |


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And For Further Study...

     | three questions of allocation | seven economic rules | economic goals | economic thinking | economic system | four estates | political views | production possibilities | short-run production analysis |


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