Labour Economics 2

Aims of the course

- Develop an understanding of the importance of institutions on the functioning of the labor market from demand and supply side connection between the theoretical framework and the effective functioning of the labor market
- Develop the ability to analyze problems and presenting solutions in the case of the labor market by using comparative methods
- show the importance of labor market performance
- understanding and evaluating the performance of various economic policy measures

Course syllabus

1. Overview of the labour market
2. What do determine wages and earnings?
a) Demand side factors.
b) Supply side factors.
c) The impact of culture, history, law and public policy.
3. The role of education in labor markets
4. How much does education affect earnings and employment prospects?
5. What policies might increase educational attainment past high school? What policies might improve education attainment?
6. Discrimination in the labour market. What are the differences or “gaps” in labor market outcomes by race, gender and ethnicity?
7. Unemployment: who has the greatest chance of becoming unemployed? The short and long run impacts of unemployment on workers
8. Examining wage and income inequality: What do the data show? The role of education, skills and technology
9. Unions and labour market

Course director(s)