30600 - Workshop in Economics

Learning outcomes

This course teaches some specific issues related to the labour market, especially certain topics of applied economics. At the end of the course the student is expected to understand: a) the foundations of the demand for and supply of labour; b) the basic principles of the labour markets functioning in perfect and imperfect competition; c) the actual dynamics of labour markets in the light of theoretical models and available statistics; d) the basic themes of the economic policy debate on labour markets; e) the basic themes of the knowledge-based economy and smart development.

Course contents

The aim of the course, which includes two modules - “Economia del Lavoro/Labour Economics” and “Laboratorio di Economia/Economics Workshop”, is twofold. On the one hand, it aims to provide a full overview of the main analytical tools of labour economics at both microeconomic and macroeconomic levels. On the other hand, the course seeks to emphasize the complexity of the discipline often leading to conflicting approaches, due both to the different emphasis associated to relevant issues and to the different analytical methods respectively adopted. Thus, in addition to partial equilibrium analysis, referring to a mainstream approach, the course will also provide the students with analytical models that emphasize the role played by both the labour market structure and the macroeconomic context in which these markets are placed.

The Programme is articulated into two modules and five parts. The first three parts belong to the module "Labour Economics"

 

Part I: Labour supply and demand

1. Labour demand: the hiring and firing decisions made by firms

2. Labour supply in the short term.

3. Labour markets in perfect competition

 

Part II: Economics of education and human capital

1. Long-term labour supply. The human capital theory.

2. Economics of education. Main reference models.

3. Education supply. Efficiency and effectiveness assessment.

4. The over-education phenomenon

 

Part III: Work organization in the firm

1. Internal labour markets

2. Institutional firm models: Firm A and Firm J

3. Human resource management and new organizational practices

4. Work-based training

 

The two following parts belong to the module “Economics Workshop”

 

Part IV: Imperfect competition and the structure of labour markets

1. Non competitive labour markets

2. Labour markets nature, form and structure

 

Part V: Macroeconomics of labour markets

1. Unemployment, inflation, aggregate demand. The neo-classical model

2. Unemployment, inflation, aggregate demand. The Keynesian model

3. Inflation, bargaining, aggregate supply. The model of Friedman and New Classical Macroeconomics

4. Inflation, bargaining, aggregate supply. New Keynesian macroeconomics and non competitive markets

Readings/Bibliography

The handbook is:

Antonelli G., Guidetti G., Economia del lavoro e delle risorse umane, Torino, Utet, 2008.

Single chapters associated to the different parts of the programme are here below listed.

 

Part I: Labour demand and supply

Antonelli G., Guidetti G., Economia del lavoro e delle risorse umane, Torino, Utet, 2008. (Chapters 1, 2).

Alternatively students may use the following textbook.

Borjas G.J., Labour Economics, New York, McGraw-Hill, 2010 (Chapters 2, 3).

 

Part II: Economics of education and human capital

Antonelli G. e Guidetti G., Economia del lavoro e delle risorse umane, Torino, Utet, 2008. (Chapter 3).

Alternatively students may use the following textbook.

Borjas G.J., Labour Economics, New York, McGraw-Hill, 2010 (Cap. 6)

 

Part III: Work organization in the firm

Antonelli G., Guidetti G., Economia del lavoro e delle risorse umane, Torino, Utet, 2008. (Chapter 7).

Coriat B., Ripensare l'organizzazione del lavoro. Concetti e prassi del modello giapponese(trad. it.), Bari, Dedalo, 1993 (capp. 1 e 2).

Part IV Imperfect competition and structure of labour markets

Antonelli G., Guidetti G., Economia del lavoro e delle risorse umane, Torino, Utet, 2008. (Chapter 5,6).

 Alternatively students may use the following textbook.

Borjas G.J., Labour Economics, New York, McGraw-Hill, 2010 (Cap. 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 10)

 Part V Macroeconomics of labour markets

 Antonelli G., Guidetti G., Economia del lavoro e delle risorse umane, Torino, Utet, 2008. (Chapter 8,9).

Alternatively students may use the following textbook.

Carlin W, Soskice D., Macroeconomia, Bologna, CLUEB, 1992 (cap. 6, 7, 8)

In order to improve the understanding of the course, both modules should be followed. In addition to that, this course should be preceded by an introductory course in economics.

 

Teaching methods

Every change and update concerning course contents and recommended readings will be communicated to the students during the lessons .

During office hours the teacher will be at disposal to explain and deepen the course contents.

The help of librarians is useful to find both basic and specific bibliographical references.

Assessment methods

The exam aims at verifying the achievement of the teaching objectives in terms of the comprehension of the following concepts:

·                    basics of labour demand and supply;

·                    basic interaction mechanisms of both perfect and imperfect competition in the labour markets;

·                    labour markets dynamics in the light of the studied models and of the available statistics;

·                    basic issues of the economic policy debate dealing with labour markets;

·                    main topics concerning the knowledge economy and the smart development.

 

The examination will consist of a written exam, evaluated with a mark of “out of 30”. Students who regularly attend the course have the chance to take partial written exams.

 

In the written exam students will be requested to answer to both open ended and multiple choice questions dealing with the course contents each student is supposed to study according to the teaching credits he needs to obtain. Open ended questions can be chosen by the students and require an answer of approximately 500 words.

Teaching tools

Any clarification or explanation concerning the course contents can be requested both in the office hours and through e-mail. During office hours specific parts of the course can also be explained or deepened.

Assisted web navigation will be carried on in order to retrieve on-line references and statistical sources on relevant topics.

The help of librarians is useful to find both basic and specific bibliographical references.

Links to further information

http://www.unibo.it/SitoWebDocente/default.htm?mat=033328; http://www.midic.org/index.htm

Office hours

See the website of Gilberto Antonelli