In Ancient Egypt, the "Bronze Law" Set Maximum Prices for Wages

question 259

Multiple Choice

In Ancient Egypt, the "Bronze Law" set maximum prices for wages, preventing them from rising above what rulers perceived as the minimum needed to survive. If this was 10¢ a day for a porter (someone who carries things short distances) and the market wage was 8¢ a day, which of the following would be a plausible consequence of this law?

• A) Porters would travel less quickly than they otherwise would.
• B) Porters would transport items they normally would not.
• C) Unemployment for porters would decrease.
• D) Nothing unusual would happen.

---

Definitions:

Perfectly Inelastic

A situation in demand where the quantity demanded does not change regardless of the change in price.

Perfectly Elastic

This describes a situation where a small change in price leads to an infinite change in the quantity demanded or supplied.

Demand Curve

A graph showing the relationship between the price of a good and the quantity of the good that consumers are willing and able to purchase at various prices.

Elastic Demand

A situation where the quantity demanded of a good or service changes significantly in response to a change in price.