Before the widespread acceptance of the efficiency-wage theory, scholars believed that increased worker productivity benefited workers in two ways: higher real wages and/or reduced working hours. According to the efficiency-wage theory, however, the causation can go the other way as well: productivity depends on the real wage paid by the firm. Productivity gains from higher wages result primarily from greater incentives to work coupled with diminished incentives to shirk, and secondarily from employers' ability to raise productivity by using higher wages to reduce turnover; improve morale, and attract superior applicants.

Just as an efficiently higher wage may lower per-unit labor costs, so might judiciously shortened workweeks. Most workweek reductions; such as France's 1998 decision to implement a 35-hour workweek, are meant to ameliorate unemployment. While this is a worthy objective, the efficiency-week theory predicts far greater benefits. The theory asserts that an optimal number of hours worked per week will increase the productivity of the labor force for reasons akin to those argued by the efficiency-wage theorists. Moreover, an efficient week can have substantial social and economic benefits: workers will have more time to spend with family, as well as more time to consume a greater volume of goods.


According to the passage, each of the following is a way in which higher wages can affect productivity EXCEPT:


Workers are encouraged to work harder.

The number of workers who need to be replaced is reduced.

The morale of workers is raised.

The atmosphere of the workplace becomes more cooperative.

The employer is able to attract better-qualified workers.

考题讲解

此讲解的内容由AI生成,还未经人工审阅,仅供参考。

正确答案是 D。根据文章的内容,通过更高的工资可以提高生产率,原因主要包括增加工作动力,减少逃避责任的动机,以及减少更换工人的次数,以提高士气并吸引更优秀的申请者。不过,提高工资不会使工作场所的气氛变得更具合作性,因此 D 选项是正确答案。

展开显示

登录注册 后可以参加讨论

快来第一个发言吧
BiChu21-RC