EC966: Labour Economics

Natalia Zinovyeva
Module Leader

15 CATS - Department of Economics

Summer Module

Spring Module

Principal Aims

EC966-15 Labour Economics

Principal Learning Outcomes

Subject Knowledge and Understanding:...have developed skills in combining theoretical models and empirical results to address policy issues related to employment, unemployment and wages. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures, reading, independent study. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Essays and final test.

Subject Knowledge and Understanding:...be able to advise on labour market policies from a position of knowledge. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures, reading, independent study. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Essays and final test.

Subject Knowledge and Understanding:...be able to understand recent research works in empirical labour economics, to assess their relevance, contribution and reliability and to connect them with existing results and open policy questions. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures, reading, independent study. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Essays and final test.

Syllabus

The syllabus may cover, but is not limited to, recent developments in labour economics research including:

1. Labour supply,

2. Labour demand,

3. Human capital: Returns to schooling and quality of education,

4. Equilibrium of the competitive labour market, Hedonic theory of wages and CEO pay,

5. Unemployment, Job Search and Matching,

6. Discrimination,

7. Unemployment Insurance,

8. Active Labour Market Policies

In each case, discussion will include theory and empirical work.

Context

Optional Module: L1P6 - Year 1
Pre or Co-requisites: Basic knowledge of microeconomic principles, elementary mathematical methods such as constrained optimization, and simple statistical methods such as multivariate regression. Knowledge of panel data techniques and basic microeconometrics would be an advantage.

Assessment

Assessment Method: Coursework (100%)
Coursework Details: Essay 1 (12%) , Essay 2 (12%) , Test (76%)
Exam Timing: N/A

Exam Rubric

Time Allowed: 2 Hours

Read all instructions carefully - and read through the entire paper at least once before you start entering your answers.

There are THREE sections in this paper. Answer ALL questions in Section A (45 marks), ONE question in Section B (25 marks) and ONE question in Section C (30 marks).

Approved scientific (non-graphical) pocket calculators are allowed.

You should not submit answers to more than the required number of questions. If you do, we will mark the questions in the order that they appear, up to the required number of questions in each section.

Previous exam papers can be found in the University’s past papers archive. Please note that previous exam papers may not have operated under the same exam rubric or assessment weightings as those for the current academic year. The content of past papers may also be different.