Labour Economics
| Module title | Labour Economics |
|---|---|
| Module code | BEE3057 |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Professor Sonia Oreffice (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 30 |
|---|
Module description
The module examines the behaviour of workers and firms in modern economies. The first part of the module will introduce labour demand, labour supply, the labour market, and the human capital model, with appropriate applications. These will be followed by contemporary topics in the labour economics literature and the current economic policy agenda, and social debates: for instance, the effects of minimum wages, discrimination and labour market outcomes, what discrimination is and how to assess its extent, and gender disparities in the labour market, also due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The module contains both theoretical and empirical components and will include the interpretation of estimates from econometric analyses.
Module aims - intentions of the module
- Provide students with the microeconomic tools needed to analyse a range of labour market issues and to critically examine workers’ and firms’ behaviour and the impact of related public policies, both from theoretical and empirical perspectives.
- Help students to understand contemporary issues in labour economics and public policy, and society overall.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Apply standard economic principles to the analysis of labour market behaviour
- 2. Describe the main features of, and trends in, the UK labour market
- 3. Interpret relevant labour market data and empirical findings
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Interpret relevant data and empirical findings
- 5. Assess appropriate policy responses for different labour market and social problems
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Demonstrate awareness of the role of numerical evidence in Economics
- 7. Demonstrate written communication skill
Syllabus plan
Indicative content includes:
- Labour supply and demand
- Labour market equilibrium and non-perfectly competitive firms
- Education and training
- Labour market discrimination and labour market outcomes
- Labour mobility and immigration
The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:
- Enhance skills in analytical and critical thinking, and in written and verbal presentation
- Appreciate the complexities of decision making, weighing theory and practice
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | 122 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 22 | Lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 5 | Tutorials |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 1 | Revision |
| Guided Independent Study | 122 | Independent Study |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tutorial Questions | In-class | 1-7 | In class feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 100 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-class test | 30 | 40 minutes | 1-7 | Individual Feedback |
| Final Exam | 70 | 1 hour 30 minutes | 1-7 | Indicative solutions on ELE |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-Class Test (30%) | In-Class Test (30%) (40 minutes) | 1-7 | August/September Reassessment Period |
| Final examination (70%) | Final Examination (70%) (1 hour 30 minutes) | 1-7 | August/September Reassessment Period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading:
- Essential Reading
- Borjas, G. J. (2019), Labor Economics, 8th edition, McGraw-Hill.
Additional readings (excerpts of recent research articles, policy reports, and articles from The Economist) will be assigned. The exact references will be provided by the instructor.
Background Reading
- Becker, G. (1998), Accounting for tastes
- Becker, G. and Nashat Becker, G. (1998), The economics of life
- Becker, G. (1992), “The economic way of looking at life”, Nobel Lecture.
- Deaton, A. (2013), The great escape: health, wealth, and the origins of inequality
- Dixit, A. and Nalebuff, B. (2008), The art of strategy
- Dixit, A. and Nalebuff, B. (1993), Thinking strategically
- Fogel, R. (1995), Time on the cross
- Hamermesh, D (2013), Beauty pays
- Hamermesh, D (1996), Labor demand
- Krugman, P. (2012), End this depression now
- Krugman, P. (1999), The accidental theorist
- Levitt, S. and Dubner, S. (2007), Freakonomics
- Stiglitz, J. (2012), The price of inequality
- Wilson, W. (1990), The truly disadvantaged
- Zingales, L. (2012), A capitalism for the people
- The Economist providing contextual articles and current examples.
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | BEE2025 and BEE2026 |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 17/02/2020 |
| Last revision date | 25/11/2022 |
