EconGoneCountry

Supply and demand with a twang

Title: Shiftwork

​Artist: Kenny Chesney

Economic Concepts: Productivity; Income; Marginal product of labor; Labor movement 

Details: Hard, physical work often does not equate to high pay.  A firm's demand for labor and the amount they are willing to pay employees depends on the marginal product of labor (MPL).  Since the productivity of low-skilled workers is relatively low, their pay is also relatively low.         

Most blue-collar jobs require an 8 hour work day to be considered full-time.  If workers put in more than 40 hours per work, their employers are required to pay overtime.  However, it wasn't that long ago that labor laws didn't exist and workers would often put in 12-14 hour days for six days a week.  This can be a good place to   
introduce to students the labor movement of the 19th and 20th century.  https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/august-20/#:~:text=On%20August%2020%2C%201866%2C%20the,Congress%20to%20enact%20labor%20reforms 

Lyrics: 
Shift work, hard work, tired body
Blue-collar shirt and a baseball cap
You knew me

He's hot, sweat drops, 'round the clock
Door never locks
Noise never stops
Not all day
Work seven to three
Three to eleven
Eleven to seven

Shift work, tough work for the busy convenience store clerk
Two feet that hurt, going insane
She's mad at some lad
Drove off and didn't pay for his gas and he won't be the last
'Round the clock pain
Work seven to three
Three to eleven
Eleven to seven

Talking about a bunch of shift work
A big ol' pile of shift work
Work seven to three
Three to eleven
Eleven to seven

Well I work, shift work,
Ten years man, i hated that work
I made a break with the money i saved
It took me to the beach to have a beer by the edge of the sea
And this 'round a clock place
I drank my money away
We partied
Work seven to three
Three to eleven
Eleven to seven

Talking about a bunch of shift work
A big ol' pile of shift work
Work seven to three
Three to eleven
Eleven to seven   ​​​​