Ateneo - UPO

Work plays a fundamental role in individuals’ lives and in social well-being. The Labour Economics course analyses the decisions of workers and firms with respect to labour supply and demand, and examines how these decisions interact in the labour market.
Since the labour market differs significantly from markets for goods and services, the course also considers the role played by institutions and public intervention. In analysing this complex reality, the course will constantly refer to empirical evidence, in order to describe key labour market facts, illustrate the relationships that characterize them, and provide an interpretation of labour market dynamics with reference to the main industrialized economies.

George Borjas, Labor Economics, 7th Edition, Mc Graw Hill, 2016Material suggested during the lectures.For further information, please consult the course page on D.I.R.: https://www.dir.uniupo.it/

The Labour Economics course aims to ensure that students acquire the knowledge, understanding, and analytical skills needed to examine, by expressing autonomous judgements, the main issues concerning the behaviour of economic agents and the functioning of the labour market, as well as the interventions of economic policy-makers.

The course does not require any prerequisites; however, learning will be easier for students who have already passed the exams in Microeconomics and Macroeconomics

To achieve the objectives of the Labour Economics course, the following teaching methods will be adopted:Lectures, through which the topics that students are expected to know will be presented;Case discussions, aimed at verifying that students’ knowledge is accompanied by an understanding of the main issues, including the ability to express assessments of: a) how individuals and firms make their decisions; b) economic policy interventions;Seminars, aimed at exploring selected topics in greater depth;Guest lectures and testimonials, enabling students to interact with professionals and/or experts in the topics covered by the course, to understand how the skills acquired will be effectively applied in the labour market;Group presentations by students aimed at assessing their analytical and synthesis skills, critical judgment, and communication abilities.

Class attendance is optional but strongly recommended.Students with disabilities, Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), or Special Educational Needs (SEN) may request dedicated services and support tools by contacting the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti and consulting the relevant page on the University website: https://uniupo.it/it/servizi/servizi-studenti-disabili-e-dsaAfter contacting the relevant University office, students with disabilities, SLD, or SEN may contact the course lecturer in order to define the examination arrangements concerning academic aspects.

The examination consists of open-ended questions designed to assess whether students know, understand, and can apply the theoretical models used to analyse the main topics covered in the course, including when commenting on empirical evidence and economic policy interventions. The examination will be written. Students will have 45 minutes to answer three open-ended questions. Each of the three answers is awarded up to 10 points based on accuracy and completeness, the ability to apply theoretical models, and clarity of argument. The final grade is the sum of the scores: 0–17 fail; 18–21 satisfactory; 22–24 fair; 25–27 good; 28–30 excellent. Honours may be awarded for answers that are fully correct, complete, and particularly rigorous.

Labour supply. Labour demand. Labour market equilibrium under perfect competition. Labour market imperfections and unemployment. Labour market regulation. The European Employment Strategy. The gender dimension of the labour market: participation, employment, pay, and work–life balance policies. Labour market reforms in Italy and Europe, Italy and its labour market today.

By the end of the course, students should be able to understand and critically discuss the theoretical models that analyse how workers and firms make their key labour supply and labour demand decisions, and how the resulting behaviour affects labour market equilibrium in terms of wages and employment. A further objective of the course is to enable students to analyse the role of institutions, discuss the main economic policy interventions, and reflect on empirical evidence from the major industrialised countries.