Course 2008-2009 a.y.

8104 - LABOUR ECONOMICS


MM-LS - AFC-LS - CLAPI-LS - CLEFIN-LS - CLELI-LS - DES-LS - CLG-LS - M-LS - IM-LS - ACME-LS - EMIT-LS

Department of Economics

Course taught in English

Go to class group/s: 31
MM-LS (6 credits - II sem. - AI) - AFC-LS (6 credits - II sem. - AI) - CLAPI-LS (6 credits - II sem. - AI) - CLEFIN-LS (6 credits - II sem. - AI) - CLELI-LS (6 credits - II sem. - AI) - DES-LS (6 credits - II sem. - AI) - CLG-LS (6 credits - II sem. - AI) - M-LS (6 credits - II sem. - AI) - IM-LS (6 credits - II sem. - AI) - ACME-LS (6 credits - II sem. - AI) - EMIT-LS (6 credits - II sem. - AI)
Course Director:
TITO MICHELE BOERI

Classes: 31 (II sem.)
Instructors:
Class 31: TITO MICHELE BOERI



Course Objectives

The purpose of the course is to provide the basic analytical tools allowing students to understand the operation of markets in which labour services are exchanged for wages.   

Course Content Summary

The course is structured in four parts.
The first part of the course is on labour supply.  After recalling the neoclassical theory of labour supply, the course introduces the dynamic labour supply, retirement decisions and intrafamily decision-making. The second part of the course covers labour demand.  It discusses the tradeoffs between labour and capital, skilled and unskilled labour as well as between hours and workers, intensive and extensive margins. 
The third part is on labour market equilibrium, notably on wage formation.  Students start by characterizing atomistic bilateral monopoly conditions in which firms and workers individually bargain over wages and then move on to collective bargaining structures and models of unions.
The fourth and last part of the course is on a general equilibrium model of the labour market allowing to study specific institutions such as unemployment benefits and employment protection.


Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

The exam is written. 

Attending students
For students attending the course, there will be a 1st partial exam covering Parts I and II.  The mark of the 1st partial  is valid only until the first exam period of the summer session (2nd partial exam). 
Students taking the exam afterwards will have to cover the entire program (general exam).


Textbooks

  • P. CAHUC, A. ZYLBERBERG, Labor Economics, MIT Press, 2004.
  • O.J. BLANCHARD, J. WOLFERS, The Role of Shocks and Institutions in the Rise of European Unemployment: The Aggregate Evidence, in Economic Journal 110(462): C1-33.
  • G. BERTOLA, T. BOERI, EMU Labour Markets Two Years On: Microeconomic Tensions and Institutional Evolution, in M. BUTI, A. SAPIR (eds.), EMU and Economic Policy in Europe, Edward Elgar, 2002.  

Additional readings are provided at the beginning of the course.    

Exam textbooks & Online Articles (check availability at the Library)
Last change 18/03/2008 12:33