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Economics IGCSEPDF 62
118 pagesrevision 46932
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●
●
● Increased Productivity: Workers
become highly skilled and proficient
at their specific task due to
repetition ("practice makes
perfect"), increasing output per
worker.
● Time Saving: Less time is wasted
by workers switching between
different tasks and tools.
● Reduced Training Time: Workers
only needto be trained for one
specific,simple task, reducing the
cost andtime of training.
negotiate a wage above the market
equilibrium.
Public vs. Private Sector: Wages
can differ due to different funding,
objectives, and employment policies.
The public sector may offer better
non-wage factors (e.g., pensions,
security) in exchange for potentially
lower wages.
Discrimination: Unfair treatment
based on characteristics like gender,
race, or age can restrict
opportunities or lower the wage paid
to a discriminated group, despite
equal productivity.
This section covers the role, functions, and impact of trade unions.
● Monotony and Boredom:
Repetitive tasks can become boring
and
unsatisfying
(alienation),
potentially leading to low motivation,
absenteeism, and poor quality work.
● Lack of Mobility: Workers acquire a
very narrow skill set, which reduces
their
occupational
mobility
and
makes them vulnerable to structural
unemployment if the demand for their
specific
task
declines.
Interdependence:
The
production
process becomes highly dependent
on every stage. If one specialised
worker or stage fails (e.g., due to
illness or breakdown), the entire
production line can halt.
●
● Facilitates Machinery Use: It
allows for the use of specialised,
capital-intensive machinery for each
specific task, further increasing
efficiency.
● Leads to Economic Growth:
Higher productivity across firms
leads to a greater total output of
goods and services for the economy.
Advantages of
Specialisation/Division of
Labour
Disadvantages of
Specialisation/Division of Labour
Due to Unit 3.4 (Trade Unions) being closely linked to topic 3.3 (Workers), the solved questions
sections have been merged together under the notes of Unit 3.4
3.4 Trade Unions