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Labour Economics - ECO00043H

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  • Department: Economics and Related Studies
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
    • See module specification for other years: 2023-24

Module summary

Economic models and empirical evidence of labour market issues that help shape public policy

Related modules

Pre-requisite modules

Co-requisite modules

  • None

Prohibited combinations

  • None

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2024-25

Module aims

This course is an introduction to the economic analysis of behaviour and institutions in labour markets.

Primarily microeconomic models are applied to labour market phenomena. These include

  • How do firms set wages? And how do workers respond to incentives to work?

  • Why do some people get paid based on their performance and others get a fixed wage?

  • Is there discriminiation against women/minority ethnic groups in the labour market?

  • How important is education in determining labour market outcomes?

  • How will technological change affect who is hired and at what wage?

  • Is immigration bad for natives with poor qualifications?

  • Can policy reduce inequality and discrimination without harming efficiency?

Module learning outcomes

On completing the module, students should be able to understand

  • Why inequalities and discriminiation are policy problems

  • how microeconomic models can be used to make predictions related to labour market

  • how micro models and empirical evidence are important policy tools

  • the empirical evidence linked to specific questions and use this evidence to understand policy solutions

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled) 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled) 100

Module feedback

Fortnightly problem sets: students can get feedback on each assignment if they choose to submit.

Fortnightly problem set lectures: the students will solve the problems together with the lecturer in class.

Indicative reading

G Borjas, Labor Economics.

Additional reading, drawn from journals, will be suggested during the course.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.