Labour Economics

Course content

The course in labor economics is supposed to enable students to read and understand current and previous research in labor economics, discuss policy proposals from the perspective of labor economics and reflect critically on new theories and empirical evidence.

 

The course covers the following topics:

  • Labor supply and demand
  • Education and human capital
  • Wage formation and wage bargaining
  • Job search, unemployment and job reallocation
  • Active labor market policies
  • Flexicurity and employment protection
Education

MSc programme in Economics – elective course

 

The PhD Programme in Economics at the Department of Economics:

  • The course is an elective course with research module. PhD students must contact the study administration AND the lecturer in order to register for the research module and write the research assignment.
Learning outcome

After completing the course the student is expected to be able to:

 

Knowledge:

  • Describe the following theories and concepts:
    • The neoclassical theory of labor supply
    • The neoclassical theory of labor demand
    • General and specific human capital
    • Different types of wage determination

    • Search and matching models of the labor market

Skills:

  • Apply the concepts and theories listed above in the analysis of concrete empirical phenomena and policy proposals
  • Evaluate differences and similarities between the theories and concepts listed above
  • Assess an empirical research design and how to develop arguments supporting or critizing the empirical strategy

 

Competences:

  • Apply and extend theoretical labor market models with the view to understanding real world issues.
  • Construct and defend arguments on issues related to labor economics.

Lectures and in-class discussion.

There will be office hours. The lecturers will inform you in Absalon.

Restrictions due to pandemic crisis:
The teaching in this course may be changed to be taught either fully or partly online due to a pandemic crisis like COVID-19. In case of changes and further information, please read the study messages in KUnet or the announcements in the course room on Absalon (for enrolled students).

Cahuc, P., S. Carcillo, and A. Zylberberg (2014), “Labor Economics”, MIT Press, ISBN: 9780262027700.

The textbook will be supplemented by lecture notes, slides and a few journal articles.

Pre-requisites are the bachelor-level econometrics course Econometrics I (Økonometri I) at the Bachelor programme in Economics, University of Copenhagen, or equivalent.

It is strongly recommended to have followed the course Microeconomics III at the Study of Economics, University of Copenhagen, or equivalent prior taking "Labour Economics".

Schedule:
2 hours lectures 1 to 2 times a week from week 6 to 20.

The overall schema for the Master courses can be seen at KUnet:
MSc in Economics => "courses and teaching" => "Planning and overview" => "Your timetable"
KA i Økonomi => "Kurser og undervisning" => "Planlægning og overblik" => "Dit skema"

Timetable and venue:
To see the time and location of lectures please press the link/links under "Timetable"/​"Se skema" at the right side of this page (F means Spring).

You can find the similar information in English at
https:/​/​skema.ku.dk/​ku2122/​uk/​module.htm
-Select Department: “2200-Økonomisk Institut” (and wait for respond)
-Select Module:: “2200-F22; [Name of course]”
-Select Report Type: “List – Weekdays”
-Select Period: “Forår/Spring – Week 5-30”
Press: “ View Timetable”

Please be aware:
- The schedule of the lectures and the exercise classes can be changed without the participants´ acceptance. If this happens you can see the new schedule in your personal timetable at KUnet, in the app myUCPH and through the links in the right side and the link above.
- It is the students´s own responsibility continuously throughout the study to stay informed about their study, their teaching, their schedule, their exams etc. through the curriculum of the study programme, the study pages at KUnet, student messages, the course description, the Digital Exam portal, Absalon, the personal schema at KUnet and myUCPH app etc.

Oral
Collective
ECTS
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written examination, 12 hours
individual take-home exam.
It is not allowed to collaborate on the assignment with anyone.
The exam assignment is given in English and must be answered in English.
____
Aid
All aids allowed

for the written exam.

Information about allowed aids for the re-examination, please go to the section "Re-exam".

____

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
for the written exam.
The oral re-examination may be with external assessment.
____
Criteria for exam assessment

Students are assessed on the extent to which they master the learning outcome for the course.

 

In order to obtain the top grade “12”, the student must with no or only a few minor weaknesses be able to demonstrate an excellent performance displaying a high level of command of all aspects of the relevant material and can make use of the knowledge, skills and competencies listed in the learning outcomes.

 

In order to obtain the passing grade “02”, the student must in a satisfactory way be able to demonstrate a minimal acceptable level of  the knowledge, skills and competencies listed in the learning outcomes.

Single subject courses (day)

  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 42
  • Preparation
  • 152
  • Exam
  • 12
  • English
  • 206