Modern Topics in Labor Economics

Catalog description

Why do we have a welfare system? What are the implications of artificial intelligence and robotics for jobs? How can we justify the existence of minimum wage? What is the effect of immigration of the outcomes of natives? Why are female workers consistently paid less than their male counterparts? We will study how labor economists think about these topics. The course will provide some basic tools of economic analysis and important institutional background regarding the US and international economies. The class will consist of lectures and debates on the interplay between labor and public policies, including the ethical dimensions of these controversial issues.