Course 2014-2015 a.y.

20294 - LABOUR ECONOMICS


CLMG - M - IM - MM - AFC - CLAPI - CLEFIN-FINANCE - CLELI - ACME - DES-ESS - EMIT

Department of Economics

Course taught in English

Go to class group/s: 31
CLMG (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/01) - M (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/01) - IM (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/01) - MM (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/01) - AFC (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/01) - CLAPI (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/01) - CLEFIN-FINANCE (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/01) - CLELI (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/01) - ACME (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/01) - DES-ESS (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/01) - EMIT (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/01)
Course Director:
TITO MICHELE BOERI

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



Course Objectives

The purpose of the course is to provide the basic analytical and empirical tools enabling to write an MA-level dissertation in Labour Economics. Consistently with the teaching of labor at the undergraduate level, particular emphasis is given to the role of institutions in affecting the operation of such markets.


Course Content Summary

The first part of the course provides the key analytical tools to be used in the reminder of the course. We proceed in parallel going through the theoretical and the empirical literature. On the theory side, the key framework used in the analysis of equilibrium unemployment and institutional interactions, the Mortensen and Pissarides model, is presented together with micro-founded models of product-labour and finance-labour interactions. In the review of the empirical literature, particular attention is devoted to difference-in-differences methods, which have been widely used in investigating the effects of institutions on labor market dynamics.

Thus, the focus is on four sets of institutions:

  • wage setting institutions (unions, collective bargaining and the minimum wage);
  • Wage differentials, education and equal opportunity;
  • Policies affecting the intensive margin (payroll taxes, short-time work, family policies, part-time);
  • Flexicurity (unemployment benefits, employment protection, active labour market policies).

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

The final exam is written.  
Students attending the course will have the option to obtain the 60% of the final grade as a presentation of one of the key papers.



Textbooks

  • T. BOERI, J. VANOURS, The Economics of Imperfect Labor Markets, Princeton University Press, 2nd edition.
  • Selected pages from P. CAHUC, A. ZYLBERBERG, Labor Economics, MIT Press, 2004

Additional readings are provided at the beginning of the course.    

Exam textbooks & Online Articles (check availability at the Library)

Prerequisites

The attendance of the course Microeconometrics  is recommended.

Last change 25/03/2014 15:30