This course studies how institutions affect labour market outcomes, such as unemployment, participation, migration and wage inequality. We will investigate the labour market effects of a variety of institutions, including unemployment insurance systems, education policies, minimum wages, employment protection legislation and migration policies. Questions that will be addressed are: which active labour market policies are effective in reducing unemployment? Do immigration flows – such as the recent influx of refugees – have an impact on wages and employment opportunities of natives? How does employment protection legislation (‘flexibility’) affect a country’s labour market performance? How do processes such as globalisation and technological change (‘robotisation’) change the future of work?
The course consists of two central elements: first, the course provides a state of the art overview of the literature on labour economics and the impact of institutions on labour markets. During the course you will not only apply theories from modern labour economics, but also study empirical findings on the impact of labour market policies. Specific attention will be paid to policy evaluation methods: how do recent studies estimate the causal effect of policy reforms? This course will thereby increase your understanding of how institutions affect labour market outcomes. Second, during the course you will write an empirical research paper (instructions on data access will be provided during the course). This allows you to improve your writing skills as well as your skills in data management and analysis.
Learning objectives
At the end of the course the student is able to:
• Independently evaluate labour economic issues and the relevant literature;
• Analyse how institutions affect labour markets;
• Advise about the economic consequences of reforms of labour market institutions;
• Write an empirical research paper.
Format
Combination of lectures, tutorials and paper sessions.
Assessment method
• Written exam (60%, individual);
• Empirical research paper (40%)
In case online access is required for this course and you are not in the position to buy the access code, you are advised to contact the course coordinator for an alternative solution. Please note that access codes are not re-usable meaning that codes from second hand books do not work, as well as access codes from books with a different ISBN number. Separate or spare codes are usually not available.
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