Why do different people earn different wages? What determines firms’ demand for labor. What determines workers’ labor supply? Why has wage inequality increased? Why does unemployment exist? The purpose of this course is to answer these questions using both microeconomic theory and econometrics, and to apply this knowledge to questions of labor market policy. Topics addressed include the determinants of labor demand and supply, minimum wages, human capital, efficiency wages, and discrimination. This course may be offered in the spring semester, 2011.
Prerequisites: Economics 291 and 253, or consent of the instructor.
