Labor Economics and Labor Relations

Catalog description

Nearly 70 percent of income earned in the United States is a return to labor. This course applies the fundamentals of microeconomic and macroeconomic analysis to important decisions that people make in labor markets. From an employee's perspective, questions include: Should I work in exchange for a wage? If so, how much? How will my work affect my lifestyle and family decisions? Should I go to school to improve my skills? From an employer's perspective, questions include: Should I hire workers? If so, how many? How should I pick workers out of a pool of applicants? What techniques should I use to provide incentives for these workers? Many of the answers to these questions require complex analysis and an understanding of the impact of government policy on the workplace. The course explores a variety of public policy issues such as minimum wage programs, government welfare programs, workplace regulatory requirements, Title IX, immigration, and the union movement.