PAM 3160 - Labor Markets and Public Policy

(SBA-HE)

Spring. 3 credits. Letter grades only.

Prerequisite: ECON 1110, PAM 3100.

Z. Pei.

This course provides a survey of labor economics with an emphasis on policy issues. While the course teaches the analytical tools necessary to understand how labor markets work, it is structured around a number of prominent labor market policy issues, such as immigration, inequality, minimum wages, affirmative action and the role of unions.

Outcome 1: Apply and explain at an introductory level the economic models that relate to labor supply, labor demand, and labor market equilibrium

Outcome 2: Describe how economic theory and evidence apply to and explain trends in labor force participation, hours of work, and wages

Outcome 3: Construct, defend, and analyze important labor policy issues

Outcome 4: Demonstrate proficiency with simple quantitative and economic tools useful in understanding labor markets, labor market institutions and labor market policy designs

Outcome 5: Comprehend, assess, and critique existing empirical work in labor economics