Note from June 29, 2020
Although we do not yet know how long the social distancing related to the Covid-19 pandemic will last, and regardless of the changes that had to be made in the evaluation of the June 2020 session in relation to what is provided for in this learning unit description, new learnig unit evaluation methods may still be adopted by the teachers; details of these methods have been - or will be - communicated to the students by the teachers, as soon as possible.
Although we do not yet know how long the social distancing related to the Covid-19 pandemic will last, and regardless of the changes that had to be made in the evaluation of the June 2020 session in relation to what is provided for in this learning unit description, new learnig unit evaluation methods may still be adopted by the teachers; details of these methods have been - or will be - communicated to the students by the teachers, as soon as possible.
5 credits
30.0 h
Q2
Teacher(s)
Dejemeppe Muriel; Van der Linden Bruno; Van der Linden Bruno (compensates Dejemeppe Muriel);
Language
French
Prerequisites
Despite its introductory level, this course assumes a certain number of prerequisites in microeconomic theory (the theory of the firm, the demand for factors; the microeconomic theory of the consumer/worker) and in macroeconomics (wage formation at the aggregate level; analysis of the causes of unemployment).
Main themes
- Choice of labour input by firms and choice of labour supply by the population.
- Perfect and imperfect competition on the labour market.
- Imperfect information on the labour market.
- Discrimination.
- Role of labour market institutions (labour law, unions, minimum wages, etc.).
- Analysis of performances on the labour market, with an emphasis on unemployment and the effectiveness of employment policies.
Aims
At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to : | |
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The contribution of this Teaching Unit to the development and command of the skills and learning outcomes of the programme(s) can be accessed at the end of this sheet, in the section entitled “Programmes/courses offering this Teaching Unit”.
Content
The course covers the following topics:
- What labour economics is about and what are the major methodological approaches?
- The measurement of phenomena on the labor market: employment, unemployment, wages, inequalities,...
- Labor Demand (the firms' side).
- Labor Supply (the population's side).
- Perfect and imperfect competition on the labor market and their respective analysis of phenomena like the minimum wage.
- Collective bargaining and its effects.
- Labor market performance and the causes of unemployment.
- The effects of employment policies, social protection and the policies fighting unemployment.
Teaching methods
Three learning methods are used. First, the class meets every week. Meetings in class are made of lectures, problem solving, discussions over applied issues, exchange of ideas based on a preparatory reading. The active participation of students is encouraged. Second, a deep understanding of the material covered requires some homework (exercises, readings). Third, the production of an individual report will allow to apply some tools introduced in class (see the section concerning the evaluation of students).
Evaluation methods
Continuous evaluation. In practice:
- Between consecutive meetings of the class, the student will solve an exercice or read a document to prepare the next class. Weight of the homework assignments: 2 points over 20.
- Each student will prepare an individual and compulsory short written note on a freely chosen topic of interest chosen in a list provided by the lecturer. This written note needs to be handed in before the beginning of the regular session of exams. Otherwise, the student will not get a mark for LECON2051. Weigth given to this individual written note: 3 points over 20.
- During the session of exams, a written exam will be organized. Weight of the final exam: 15 points over 20.
Other information
This course in taught in French. The lecture notes and the slides are in French as well. Howeworks, the individual written note and the final exams can all be written in English. A student interested by the topic but unable to read and understand French is invited to contact the lecturer.
Online resources
Bibliography
Borjas, George (2020) Labor Economics, Eighth edition (New-York : McGraw-Hill)
Cahuc, Pierre, et André Zylberberg (2001) Le marché du travail (Paris, Bruxelles : De Boeck-Université)
Cahuc, Pierre, et André Zylberberg (2003) Microéconomie du marché du travail (Paris : Editions la Découverte, Collection Repères, 354)
Cahuc, Pierre, and André Zylberberg (2004) Labor economics (Cambridge : MIT Press)
Cahuc, Pierre, Stéphane Carcillo, and André Zylberberg (2014) Labor economics (Cambridge : MIT Press)
Laing, Derek (2011) Introduction to classic and the new labor economics (New-York : W.W. Norton and Company)
Sloane, Peter, Paul Latreille, and Nigel O’Leary (2013) Modern Labour Economics (Lon- don and New York : Routledge)
Van der Linden, Bruno (2008) ‘Economie du travail.’ In ‘Economie,’ collection mention ed. (Paris : Eyrolles) chapter 7, pp. 129–151
Cahuc, Pierre, et André Zylberberg (2001) Le marché du travail (Paris, Bruxelles : De Boeck-Université)
Cahuc, Pierre, et André Zylberberg (2003) Microéconomie du marché du travail (Paris : Editions la Découverte, Collection Repères, 354)
Cahuc, Pierre, and André Zylberberg (2004) Labor economics (Cambridge : MIT Press)
Cahuc, Pierre, Stéphane Carcillo, and André Zylberberg (2014) Labor economics (Cambridge : MIT Press)
Laing, Derek (2011) Introduction to classic and the new labor economics (New-York : W.W. Norton and Company)
Sloane, Peter, Paul Latreille, and Nigel O’Leary (2013) Modern Labour Economics (Lon- don and New York : Routledge)
Van der Linden, Bruno (2008) ‘Economie du travail.’ In ‘Economie,’ collection mention ed. (Paris : Eyrolles) chapter 7, pp. 129–151
Teaching materials
- Transparents disponibles sur la page Moodle du cours
- Notes de cours disponibles sur la page Moodle du cours
Faculty or entity
ECON
