EC4411 Labour Economics

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

20

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Available to General Degree students with the permission of the Honours Adviser

Planned timetable

When confirmed, check online https://timetables.st-andrews.ac.uk/.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr I Merkurieva

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr I Merkurieva

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module introduces the analysis of labour markets from the perspective of economic theory. It starts with the exploration of two major forces that shape the behaviour of labour markets: labour supply of workers and labour demand of firms. This is followed by the discussion of the equilibrium behaviour of employment and wages. These tools are further used to cover various applied topics in labour economics, such as wage inequality, labour market discrimination, human capital investment, labour mobility, unemployment and labour market participation. Students will study the main theoretical models used by labour economists and understand how they help inform policy making. Students will also acquire practical experience in the analysis of labour market data and policy evaluation while working on the applied project in their chosen area of labour economics.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

PERMISSION OF THE ECONOMICS HONOURS ADVISER

Co-requisites

YOU MUST ALSO TAKE EC3301

Assessment pattern

Two class tests 40% (20%) each; Applied project = 60%.

Re-assessment

100% Coursework

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

20 hours of lectures over 10 weeks, 1-hour tutorial (x 5 weeks).

Scheduled learning hours

25

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

175

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Students will be able to understand and explain factors that affect individual decisions over the life cycle, such as decisions about work, human capital investment, migration and retirement
  • Students will be able to understand and explain factors that affect firm decisions to hire and fire workers, to discriminate among workers and to choose different compensation policies
  • Students will be able to understand and evaluate how the government policies affect individual and firm decision making
  • Students will know the main data sources available for empirical analysis of the individual and firm behaviour in the labour markets
  • Students will develop skills that transfer to other fields, including ability to evaluate and defend policies, apply the tools of regression analysis to answer policy related questions, and connect theoretical economic models to the empirical questions and case studies.