Syllabus

Course Description

This is the second of a two-part sequence of courses in labor economics. This sequence is designed to prepare graduate students for general examinations in the field of labor economics in the Department of Economics and in the Sloan School of Management. The course sequence is also open to qualified students in related fields and classes may be taken individually or out of sequence.

This class focuses on labor institutions, the transformation of those institutions in the last three decades, and the possible relationship between that transformation and the shifting distribution of wage and salary income. The emphasis is on the United States and other advanced industrial countries, with some discussion of the relevance of the theory and analysis to developing economies.

Course Requirements

There will be 3 required problem sets, a paper, and one exam. All students must attend class regularly and contribute to discussions. Note two important policy changes from prior years: (1) Students taking the Labor General must also take the Final Exam; (2) Late papers and incompletes will not be accepted – you must complete all class requirements this spring.

Teaching

The course will be taught in two parts: Part I by David Autor; Part II by Michael Piore. There will also be a weekly recitation session conducted by the teaching assistant.

Grading (Out of 100 Points)