gcse economics - specialisation and the division of labour

The DIVISION OF LABOUR is a system whereby workers concentrate on performing a few tasks and then exchange their production for other goods and services. This is an example of specialisation.

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ADVANTAGES OF SPECIALISATION / DIVISION OF LABOUR

To the business:

- Specialist workers become quicker at producing goods
- Production becomes cheaper per good because of this
- Production levels are increased
- Each worker can concentrate on what they are good at and build up their expertise

To the worker:

- Higher pay for specialised work
- Improved skills at that job.

DISADVANTAGES OF SPECIALISATION / DIVISION OF LABOUR

To the business:

- Greater cost of training workers
-Quality may suffer if workers become bored by the lack of variety in their jobs

To the worker:

- Boredom as they do the same job
- Their quality and skills may suffer
- May eventually be replaced by machinery

OTHER TYPES OF SPECIALISATION

REGIONAL

Certain areas have specialised in certain industrial production e.g. coal mining in Yorkshire, pottery in Stoke

INTERNATIONAL

Certain countries have advantages in producing certain goods. They may have natural resources or they may be able to produce goods more cheaply.
e.g. Sri Lanka Tea, Japan electronics. They then trade these goods for those produced in other countries.

ACTION

A Describe how there is a division of labour in: (a) A school (b) McDonalds

B Why may a worker on a till in a supermarket suffer with boredom? What will then be the problems for the business?

These GCSE Economics revision notes have been kindly provided by Peter Davies of Mill Hill School, Ripley Keep Up-todate with your GCSE Economics - Subscribe Free to Economics in the News by Email

 

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