ECC3710 · Labour economics

Overview

This unit provides you with modern economic tools to tackle pressing economic and social issues such as inequality, gender pay gaps, migration, education, and discrimination. It builds solid theoretical foundations and then puts them to work with real data and evidence. You will learn to think critically and connect economic theory to real-world policy debates in labour economics while applying modern economic methods for public policy and program evaluation. Applied labs using statistical software (e.g., Stata) and frequent problem sets strengthen both theoretical intuition and practical data-analysis skills. Ultimately, the unit equips you with industry-relevant skills to build, interpret, and present evidence-based economic analysis using real data. These skills are essential for modern, data-driven decision-making.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook lists an examination for this unit.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. build a conceptual framework that allows students to analyse the incentives and behaviour that determine the labour demand and labour supply decisions, and how these generate an equilibrium in the labour market
2. develop the theoretical and empirical tools to understand the labour market effects of a range of policies and economic changes. Example of such policies or economic changes include, but are not limited to: minimum wage laws, technological changes, welfare programs, educational and on-the-job training programs, affirmative actions
3. develop the skills to critically examine contemporary issues such as labour mobility, labour market discrimination and income inequality.

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities. You are expected to complete all pre-class activities prior to your scheduled class, and post-class activities should be completed after your scheduled class. Learning activities may include a combination of teacher directed, peer directed and online engagement activities.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.