MasteryExams
Economics • Economic BasicsEasy

What does the term 'Disguised Unemployment' primarily imply in the context of an developing agrarian economy?

A. Workers receiving wages below the statutory minimum wage
B. A situation where marginal productivity of labor is zero or negative✓ Correct Answer
C. Structural unemployment caused by the adoption of modern farm machinery
D. Voluntary withdrawal of workers from agricultural activities due to seasonal shifts

💡 Solution & Explanation

Disguised unemployment occurs when more people are engaged in an activity than are actually required, resulting in a marginal physical productivity of labor that is zero. If some workers are withdrawn from the task, total output remains completely unchanged because their contribution is redundant. Other concepts like minimum wage violations or seasonal shifts refer to entirely different labor market distortions rather than hidden surplus labor. This phenomenon is frequently observed in traditional rural sectors across developing regions.

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