Labour Market Economics

obligatory courses

The seminar will aim to explain the economic mechanisms of the contemporary labour market. This explanation will be based on selected theoretical concepts, which will be empirically tested and re-interpreted. The starting point for the discussion of contemporary labour markets will be neoclassical economic theory, which will, however, be complemented by insights into imperfect labour markets and the analysis of processes that significantly impact labour markets (demographic issues, mobility and migration). We expect the students themselves to play an important role in the design of the course, as they will, among other things, be responsible for independent analysis of selected aspects of the functioning of labour markets (own presentations) and will confront their positions with those of other students (workshops and debates).

Classroom

The course will comprise four main elements:

- presentation and critical discussion of selected theoretical concepts (labour models)

- empirical verification of the discussed aspects of how labour markets work

- an introduction to the practical aspects of labour market analysis;

- independent and group work by students, who will present the conclusions of their analyses in a series of scheduled workshops and debates.

The seminar focuses on analysing and interpreting contemporary labour market processes. It aims to explain economic mechanisms of functioning of these markets using selected theoretical concepts and available empirical literature. Importantly, the students themselves will play an important role in shaping the course formula by, among other things, independently analysing selected aspects of the functioning of labour markets and comparing their opinions with those of other students (workshops and debates).

Structure of the course:

1. Contemporary labour markets - an introduction [2h].

2. Labour supply: individual and collective determinants and their consequences [4h].

3. Demand for labour: the neoclassical approach and possible modifications [2h].

4. Labour market equilibrium [2h].

5. Human capital [2h].

6. Statistical and econometric methods for labour market analysis (including data visualisation) [2h]

7. Workshop/debate: The future of labour markets [2h]

8. Wages: structure, determinants and regulatory issues [2h]

9. Unemployment: systematizing and searching for theoretical and empirical explanations [2 h]

10. Discrimination in the labour market [2h]

11. Workshop/debate: Anti-discrimination policies and their effectiveness [2h]

12. Mobility (internal and external) and labour markets: determinants and consequences of migration processes [4h]

13. Workshop/debate: Do we need immigrants? [2h]

- Boeri T., J.van Ours, Ekonomia niedoskonałych rynków pracy, Warszawa 2011

- Borjas, Labor Economics, MC Graw-Hill 2020

- Ehrenberg R.G, Smith R., Modern Labor Economics. Theory and Public Policy, Routledge 2018

- Góra M., U. Sztanderska: Wprowadzenie do analizy lokalnego rynku pracy. Warszawa 2006

- Kwiatkowski E.: Bezrobocie. Podstawy teoretyczne. Warszawa 2002.

- and additional readings (e.g. Handbook of Labor Economics, Elsevier 2011).

- Students know how perfect and imperfect labour markets work; they know what are the determinants of labour supply (activity) and demand as reported by employers; they understand what is equilibrium in the labour market, what causes unemployment and what are the mechanisms of wage differentials (K_W03; K_W04).

- Students understand the role of government in shaping the labour market, particularly the impact of micro and macroeconomic and labour market policies (K_W04).

- Students know how to search for labour market data and can use it in a way necessary for scientific discussion (K_W05). They can interpret labour market processes and relate them to other socioeconomic phenomena (K_U01; K_U02; K_U03).

- Students can work in a group and participate in a scientific debate, i.e. gather the necessary theoretical and empirical material, formulate their position and present it to the group (K_U06).

Attendance (two absences allowed during the course) and a minimum of 51 points;

Components of the evaluation (100 points in total):

1) Colloquium (written): 70 points

2) Presentation on a chosen subject: 30 points with three major assessment components: (1) preparation of abstract; (2) preparation and delivery of presentation; (3) level of presentation and participation in discussion.

In addition, 10 points may be awarded for an active participation in class discussions.

Not applicable