Chapter 8 Assignment
1. Explain how increases in worker productivity can lead to an increase in the standard of living.
A: The most widely used measurement of the material standard of living is gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. In the U.S., as in most developed nations, the standard of living has been improving over time. However, its rate of change varies as a result of business cycles that affect prices, wages, employment levels, and the production of goods and services.
2. What do you see as the most significant advantages and disadvantages of telework?
Advantages:
a. Allows employees to be effective and productive from wherever they are
b. Employee morale
c. Able to complete routine assignments without office disruptions
d. Avoid long stressful commutes
Disadvantages:
a. Not having all necessary materials to complete a task
b. Some employees are not able to be productive workers away from the office
c. Allowing teleworkers to access organizational data and systems from remote sites creates potential security issues.
d. Managers have a hard time monitoring the quality and quantity of the work performed by teleworkers.
3. Explain how the development and use of new medical technology, such as new diagnostic procedures and treatments, has increased spending and accounts for one-half to two-thirds of the increase in healthcare spending in excess of general inflation.
A: Many experts point to two primary causes for cost increases: the use of more expensive technology and the shielding of patients from the true costs of medical care.
4. Should the medical industry place more emphasis on using older medical technologies and containing medical