Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course, students will be familiar with

  • Basic concept and theories of labor economics in topics such as labor demand, labor supply, job search, job loss and unemployment, and labor market policies.
  • Examples of empirical work investigating these theories

Credits: 6

Schedule: 02.03.2021 - 13.04.2021

Teacher in charge (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022): Kristiina Huttunen

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Kristiina Huttunen

Contact information for the course (valid 08.02.2021-21.12.2112):

Kristiina Huttunen:  kristiina.huttunen@aalto.fi

tel- +358505493368

CEFR level (applies in this implementation):

Language of instruction and studies (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022):

English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    This course provides an overview of the modern theoretical and empirical approaches that economists use to analyze the labor markets. We will emphasize the interplay between theory and empirics and cover topics such as labor supply, labor demand, job search, job loss, unemployment and labor market policies.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    This course provides an overview of the modern microeconomic
    approaches that economists use to analyze the labor markets. We will emphasize
    the interplay between theory and empirics and cover topics such as labor
    supply, labor demand, minimum wage laws, job search, job loss, unemployment and
    gender differences in labor market. The aim is to link theory to recent
    empirical papers about the topic.


Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Spring 2021

    There will be four graded problem sets and a final exam. Half of the final grade (50%)  will be based on the performance in these problem sets and the final exam will account for the other half (50%). To pass the course, you should pass both the problem sets and the exam.

    Spring 2022

    There will be four graded problem sets and a final exam. One third of the final grade (33%)  will be based on the performance in these problem sets and the final exam will account for the remaining two thirds (67%). To pass the course, you should pass both the problem sets and the exam.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    There will be four graded problem sets and a final exam. 50% of the
    final grade will be based on the performance in these problem sets and the
    final exam will account for the remaining 50%. To pass the course, you should
    pass both the problem sets and the exam.

     

    Please note that deadlines are binding: problem sets will only be
    considered if they have been handed in on time.


Workload
  • Applies in this implementation:

    24 hours of lectures, 4 exercise sessions +1 empirical methods recap session.

    4 assignment require few hours work each.

DETAILS

Study Material
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Articles  assigned at the course. Selected chapters from book “Labor Economics” either by Cahuc/Carcillo/Zylberberg (2014, Second edition) or alternatively Cahuc/Zylbergerg (2004).

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Lecture slides. Many
    topics discussed in the course discussed in
     “Labor Economics” either by Cahuc/Carcillo/Zylberberg (2014, Second edition) or
    alternatively Cahuc/Zylbergerg (2004).

     

    In addition, in each
    lecture we also discuss particular
    academic papers
    . Possible papers are listed below (can be updated). In each
    chapter, required readings are marked with an asterisk.  I will ask you to read some of the articles
    before lecture/exercise sessions- these will be posted on course website.
    Furthermore, you can also find in the reading list a number of references which
    are meant to be additional reading for an interested student. During the
    lectures we will also cover briefly some articles outside of the reading list.
    All material will be posted at the Course Web Page:

    Preliminary list of papers is listed in document (syllabus) on course website


Prerequisites
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    You should be comfortable with intermediate microeconomics and with basic concepts covered in Empirical Methods for Economists (31C01200 Taloustieteen empiiriset menetelmät or 30C00200 Econometrics or 30C00500 Ekonometria, or Capstone course 31C99904 Econometrics and Data Analysis). We recommend also Microeconometrics I (31E00910), but is not a formal prerequisite of the course, we will also briefly review empirical methods in class.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Details on the schedule
  • Applies in this implementation:

    March 2- April 9

    Detailed time table in course website (document syllabus)
    lecturesMarch2,4,9,11,16,18,23,25,30
    April 1,6 and 8 
    exercisesMarch 5, 12,19, 26, April 9