Text

Course syllabus - Labour Economics

Scope

7.5 credits

Course code

NAA203

Valid from

Autumn semester 2023

Education level

First cycle

Progressive Specialisation

G1F (First cycle, has less than 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements).

Main area(s)

Economics

School

School of Business, Society and Engineering

Ratified

2013-02-01

Revised

2022-12-22

Literature lists

Course literature is preliminary up to 8 weeks before course start. Course literature can be valid over several semesters.

    • Ratified date: 2023-09-06
    • Latest update: 2023-09-06

    Books

    Borjas, George J.

    Labor economics

    Ninth edition, International student edition : New York : McGraw Hill, [2024] - xviii, 494 sidor

    ISBN: 9781266095528 LIBRIS-ID: fw8g8k2kckrg9bf0

    Mandatory

Objectives

The course aims to present modern economic theory of labor markets with applications to labor market policy.

Learning outcomes

Labor economics is the study of the labor market from an economic perspective. Students learn to analyze how the interactions of the labor market agents, such as individuals, firms, organizations, and government, determines labor market participation, employment and unemployment, as well as wages and other aspects of labor contracts.

Course content

Labor supply and demand is studied, with applications to labor market participation, employment and working hours. A flow perspective of the labor market is applied to the analysis of job creation and destruction, job search and the matching of workers with vacant jobs. Various theories of wage determination are studied, e.g. compensating differences, human capital, and individual and centralized wage bargaining. The determinants of unemployment are treated from the perspectives of labor market friction, as in the theory of search and matching, and of wage formation, as in the theories of unions and efficiency wages. These theories are applied to questions of labor market policy.

Tuition

Lectures with integrated demonstrations and exercises.

Specific requirements

22,5 credits in Economics. In addition English course 6 and Matematics c/Matematics 3b or 3c is required.

Examination

Examination (TEN1), 7.5 credits, marks Pass (G) or Pass with distinction (VG)

A student who has a certificate from MDU regarding a disability has the opportunity to submit a request for supportive measures during written examinations or other forms of examination, in accordance with the Rules and Regulations for Examinations at First-cycle and Second-cycle Level at Mälardalen University (2020/1655). It is the examiner who takes decisions on any supportive measures, based on what kind of certificate is issued, and in that case which measures are to be applied.

Suspicions of attempting to deceive in examinations (cheating) are reported to the Vice-Chancellor, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, and are examined by the University’s Disciplinary Board. If the Disciplinary Board considers the student to be guilty of a disciplinary offence, the Board will take a decision on disciplinary action, which will be a warning or suspension.

Study guide

Grade

Three-grade scale