ECON6007 Labour EconomicsWeb

Java Python ECON6007 Labour Economics

Course Objectives:

The aim of this course is to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to un-dertake academic research in labour economics and to work as professional labour economists. The course discusses in details some of the most important topics in labour economics re-search by bringing the theory to the data using a combination of empirical methodologies.

Syllabus:

• Labour supply: Neoclassical theory of labour supply; Empirical evidence on estimates of the labour supply elasticities; Policy applications

• Labour demand: Static labour demand; Adjustment costs; Empirical evidence on labour demand elasticities (Focus on minimum wages)

• Human capital: The theory of human capital (schooling model and signalling model); Empirical evidence on returns to education

• Discrimination: Theories of discrimination; Empirical evidence on gender and race discrimination

• Labour mobility: Theory; Empirical evidence on labour market effects of migration

• Empirical project: How to carry out a labour economics empirical project

Learning Outcomes:

Having successfully completed the module students should be able to:

• Identify and discuss key issues related to current research in labour economics.

• Employ modern theoretical and empirical techniques to analyse research questions in labour economics.

• Use applied economics to address policy relevant questions in labour economics.

Course Assessment

• one 10% written assignment – to be handed in March 22nd 2019.

• one 90% individual coursework in form. of an essay / research report on a labour eco-nomics topic (including econometric analysis with statistical software) – to be handed in May 3rd 2019. You will also have to give a brief oral presentation of your research report. Details will be posted on Blackboard.

Textbook References

The lecture slides should be self-contained, but in case you want to consult some textbooks:

• Cahuc, Pierre, Stephane Carcillo and Andr´e Zylberberg (2014). Labor Economics, MIT Press.

• Borjas, George (2012). Labor Economics (6th edition), McGraw-Hill.

• Angrist, Joshua and J¨orn-Steffen Pischke (2009). Mostly Harmless Econometrics, Princeton University Press, Princeton and Oxford