Attendance and Class Participation: Regular class attendance is an important part of this class. Students cannot expect to learn the relevant material

Transcription

1 Economics 2280 Principles of Labour Economics Spring 2010 Instructor: Margaret Evans Phone: Office: B147g Required Course Textbook: Helmar Drost and H. Richard Hird, An Introduction to the Canadian Labour Market, Second Edition, Thomson and Nelson, Canada, Additional readings will be assigned, and may be handed out in class, or posted under Links on MyLangara, or placed on reserve in the library. Course Introduction This course is intended as an introduction to the field of Labor Economics which applies microeconomic supply and demand analysis to important social issues and public policies involving employment, wages, working conditions, and unemployment. A partial list of issues and policies would include minimum wages, education, gender and racial discrimination, immigration and internal migration, labour relations, unions and other institutions, unemployment insurance, and income inequality. Office Hours: Monday 10:30-11:20 Tuesday 10:30-13:30 Wednesday 11:30-12:20 (Other times available by appointment) Please contact me as soon as possible if you are having difficulties. s will usually be answered during office hours. MyLangara Course Website: Important information regarding exam content and coverage, assignments and presentations, answers to quizzes and midterms, and general course conduct will be posted on this website. Students are expected to keep up to date with the course information provided on this website. Students can access their grades through Blackboard, and it is recommended that they do so. Evaluation: Attendance and Class Participation 5% Group In Class Presentation 10% Quizzes and Assignments 10% Midterm 1 25% Midterm 2 25% Final Exam (two hours, cumulative) 25% 1

2 Attendance and Class Participation: Regular class attendance is an important part of this class. Students cannot expect to learn the relevant material without attendance. Attendance will be taken in each class, at some point during the class time. There are 26 classes, and one point is earned for each class attended, up to a maximum of 23 points. A student may thus miss up to three classes without losing points. Group In Class Presentation: Please see the MyLangara file titled Guidelines for Group Presentation. The grade for the student presentation will depend on peer evaluation of the Presentation and instructor evaluation of the Written Presentation Outline as discussed in class. Grade Distribution A % B % C % D 50-55% A 90-95% B 75-80% C 60-65% F <50% A % B % C % Learning Outcomes and Course Outline: After successfully completing this course, the student should be able to: Discuss how market, institutional, and sociological forces determine labour market outcomes Describe the concept of a market Describe what is meant by price elasticity of demand and of supply Explain how the labour market differs from other markets Discuss how globalization affects the Canadian Labour market Outline the jurisdictional responsibilities of the federal, provincial, governments with respect to the labour market List the labour standards that have been enacted by various levels of government Discuss the characteristics of union membership in Canada Evaluate factors that bring about changes in the labour force Describe the changing patterns of immigration Discuss changes in the ethnic compositions of the labour force Describe changes in the gender composition of the labour force Describe the major trends in total employment over the last five years Describe how the amount of unemployment is measured Discuss the problems that arise in interpreting the official unemployment rate Distinguish between frequency of unemployment and the duration of unemployment Describe the main features of unemployment in Canada 2

3 Distinguish between wages, earnings, labour income and total income Describe the trends in total labour income, and labour s share in national income Discuss the growing wage differential between skilled and unskilled workers Define and describe the following terms: o nomal good, o income effect, o substitution effect (supply) o reservation wage, o marginal tax rate, o economic rent, o human capital, o demogrant Discuss the factors that influence an individual s decision to participate in the labour force Distinguish between a change in supply and a change in quantity supplied Explain the impacts of immigration and emigration on the supply curve for labour Discuss the factors that influence an individual s decision to migrate Define and describe each of the following terms: o Derived demand o Law of diminishing returns o Short run o Long run o Marginal productivity of labour o Marginal revenue product o Scale effect o Substitution effect (demand) o Quasi-fixed labour costs Explain how the firm s demand curve for a specific occupation is derived Discuss the factors that influence the wage elasticity of demand Discuss the various factors that that influence productivity in Canada Explain employment and wage rate determination in a competitive labour market and under conditions of monopsony Explain how unions can influence the demand curve for labour Discuss the causes of unemployment Explain how adjustment lags result in wage rate differences between occupations Define the following terms: o Wage structure o Compensating wage differentials o Equalizing differences List job characteristics that can contribute to equalizing differences 3

4 Discuss the government policies designed to combat employment and pay discrimination Discuss minimum wages Describe the typical pattern of age-earnings profiles for different levels of education Explain the cost-benefit analysis of investment in postsecondary education Contrast the signaling approach with the human capital approach to investment in education Distinguish between general and specific training Course Information: You are expected to read the assigned textbook chapters, the additional readings and attend class regularly. Unless otherwise indicated, all material from the textbook, lectures and other readings is testable. Please contact me for help at the earliest opportunity. If you are unable to write an exam on the scheduled date you must contact me in advance with a written and signed explanation of your absence. If you miss an exam without prior written notice you must also provide me with a written and signed explanation of your absence. I will use your written statements to evaluate whether you will be allowed to rewrite the exam. Approved exam rewrites will occur at the end of term. Missed quizzes and other in class work cannot be rewritten or made up in any way. Department of Economics Cheating Policy: Please read the e Code of Academic Conduct regarding plagiarism and cheating at Students who engage in cheating in this course will receive the maximum penalty allowed, and a permanent letter on their file. Note: Dates of midterms, assignments, presentations, quizzes, exams, topics covered and learning objectives are subject to change. 4

5 LANGARA COLLEGE EXAM SECURITY PRACTICES and RULES The following rules are in effect during all exams and midterms. Students may not make use of any books, papers, memoranda, audio or visual memory devices. The exams in this course are closed book exams. No materials of any kind are to be brought into the exam. No cellular phones, pagers or other electronic devices (other than approved calculators) are allowed on the desk or table or may be used during an exam. Any calculator used during the exam will be inspected by the invigilator. Graphic calculators may NOT be used during exams. All bags, books, notes, pencil cases and other items are to be left at the front of the room. Purposely exposing written papers to the view of other students is forbidden. The plea of accident or forgetfulness is not acceptable. Students may not leave and re-enter the exam room during the exam. All students should be prepared to produce their college id/library card, upon request. Students found to be in violation of any of the above or similar dishonest practices will immediately be dismissed from the examination and will be subject to disciplinary action under e policy F1004 Code of Academic Conduct. 5

6 Conduct of the Final Exam It is your responsibility to arrive at the correct room and at the correct time for the final exam. The final exam schedule will be posted by the registrar and will be available near the end of term. I cannot reschedule the final exam for any reason During the exam: The final exam is cumulative (covers all material presented since and including the first day of class) and will be scheduled for two hours. You may leave before the two hours is up. You MAY NOT leave and re-enter the exam room for any reason. If you have a medical or other condition that makes the above a hardship, you must contact me before the last day of class and alternate arrangements will be made. The LANGARA COLLEGE EXAM SECURITY PRACTICES and RULES as described above remain in effect for the final exam as well as all other exams in this course. 6