Topics in labor economics
Description
This is a master-level seminar in labor economics. It will provide an overview of the current empirical labor economics literature and central debates in labor market policy. Topics include labor force participation, job loss and unemployment, active labor market policies, education, health, inequality, intergenerational mobility, migration, local labor market shocks, the impact of technological change, and gender gaps. Many of these topics are related to other research fields under the umbrella of applied microeconomics, such as public economics, health economics, and development economics.
The seminar has three main goals. First, to learn to evaluate and interpret empirical findings in labor economics. Second, to understand econometric and methodological issues that arise when doing empirical research in labor economics. In particular, we will focus on how hypotheses may be tested with data and how to identify causal relationships. Third, the seminar should also be good preparation for students’ own empirical work and writing of applied micro research papers.
The emphasis of the seminar is on linking basic theoretical insights with empirical patterns in the labor market, using a combination of methodologies and real-world data. To this end, the seminar will guide students through the process of developing their own research project. Students will choose a labor-related topic they are interested in; review recent advances in the empirical literature on the topic; motivate a research question that would contribute to this literature; propose an appropriate econometric method; identify data sources; and conduct empirical analysis using statistical software. The specific topic may be adjusted to meet students’ research interests; this can be discussed further during the kick-off session.
Instructor
Jun.-Prof. Sofía Fernández-Guerrico
Language
English
Prerequisites
A solid background in microeconomics and econometrics is recommended.
Grading
Seminar paper (50%); Presentation (30%); Participation (20%)
Dates
Kick-off meeting: Friday, October 25, 2024. Time: 11.45-13.15
Presentations: Friday, January 17, and Saturday January 18, 2025