Unemployment - End of Chapter Problem There are several economic and social changes that have contributed to the trends in labor force participation rates for men and women since the 1950s. All of the followings are ways these changes have impacted the trade-offs people face between home production and the labor market, except for one The exception is some men are choosing not to work because an increase in access to entertainment options has increased the opportunity cost of staying home. new access to control over fertility enabled women to invest in their education and careers, which increased women's educational attainment and work experience. O new technology like automatic washing machines, prepackaged foods, and dishwashers made home production more efficient, reducing the need for a full-time homemaker. laws forbidding gender discrimination opened new doors for women, and the Equal Pay Act of 1963 required equal pay for equal work