Selected Topics in Labor Economics
Content
Objective
The aim of this course is to examine the functioning of labor markets, wage and employment determination, and labor market inequalities through selected theoretical and empirical studies. The course seeks to develop students' ability to compare theoretical approaches, evaluate empirical research methods, and analyze contemporary labor market issues.
Course Content
Wage determination and wage inequality; labor market discrimination; compensating wage differentials and working conditions; determination of working hours; social comparisons and labor supply; minimum wages and labor market institutions; wage distribution decomposition; theoretical and empirical studies of the Turkish labor market.
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
Explain and compare major theoretical approaches in labor economics.
Evaluate the determinants of wage differentials, inequality, and discrimination.
Critically assess the methodologies and findings of empirical labor economics research.
Establish connections between theoretical models and empirical evidence.
Develop a research question in labor economics and discuss appropriate theoretical and empirical methods.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Theoretical lectures, analysis of academic articles, discussion of empirical methods and findings, comparative analysis, student presentations, and applied studies focusing on the Turkish labor market.
References
Cahuc, P., Carcillo, S., & Zylberberg, A. (2014). Labor Economics (2nd ed.). MIT Press.
Rosen, S. (1986). The theory of equalizing differences. In O. Ashenfelter & R. Layard (Eds.), Handbook of Labor Economics, Vol. 1, 641–692. Elsevier.
Becker, G. S. (1957). The Economics of Discrimination. University of Chicago Press.
Blau, F. D., & Kahn, L. M. (2017). The gender wage gap: Extent, trends, and explanations. Journal of Economic Literature, 55(3), 789–865.
DiNardo, J., Fortin, N. M., & Lemieux, T. (1996). Labor market institutions and the distribution of wages, 1973–1992: A semiparametric approach. Econometrica, 64(5), 1001–1044.
Bowles, S., & Park, Y. (2005). Emulation, inequality, and work hours: Was Thorsten Veblen right? The Economic Journal, 115(507), F397–F412.
Oh, S.-Y., Park, Y., & Bowles, S. (2012). Veblen effects, political representation, and the reduction in working time over the 20th century. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 83(2), 218–242.
Bakış, O., & Polat, S. (2023). Wage inequality dynamics in Turkey. Empirica, 50(3), 657–694.
Weekly Contents
| Week | Weekly Contents |
|---|---|
| 1 | Labor Market Functioning and Main Approaches |
| 2 | Wage Determination and Wage Differentials |
| 3 | Compensating Wage Differentials and Working Conditions |
| 4 | Labor Market Discrimination: Theoretical Models |
| 5 | Empirical Analysis of Discrimination and Wage Decomposition Methods |
| 6 | Wage Inequality: Trends and Determinants |
| 7 | Wage Distribution Decomposition and Counterfactual Analysis |
| 8 | Minimum Wage and Labor Market Institutions |
| 9 | Determination of Working Hours: Theoretical Approaches |
| 10 | Social Comparisons, Inequality, and Labor Supply |
| 11 | Wage Inequality and Labor Market Structure in Turkey |
| 12 | Comparative Analysis and Discussion of Selected Empirical Studies |
| 13 | |
| 14 |
Assessment System
| Activities | Number | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Contribution of in-term studies to overall grade | 1 | 50 |
| Contribution of final exam to overall grade | 1 | 50 |
| Total | 2 | 100 |
| Activities | Number | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Assignments | 0 | 0 |
| Presentation | 0 | 0 |
| Midterm Examinations (including preparation) | 0 | 0 |
| Project | 0 | 0 |
| Laboratory | 0 | 0 |
| Other Applications | 0 | 0 |
| Quiz | 0 | 0 |
| Term Paper/ Project | 0 | 0 |
| Portfolio Study | 0 | 0 |
| Reports | 0 | 0 |
| Learning Diary | 0 | 0 |
| Thesis/ Project | 0 | 0 |
| Seminar | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 |
| Make-up | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 0 |
ECTS
| Activities | Number | Period | Total Workload |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class Hours | 12 | 12 | 144 |
| Working Hours out of Class | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Assignments | 2 | 15 | 30 |
| Presentation | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Midterm Examinations (including preparation) | 1 | 15 | 15 |
| Project | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Laboratory | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Applications | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Final Examinations (including preparation) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Quiz | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Term Paper/ Project | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Portfolio Study | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Reports | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Learning Diary | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Thesis/ Project | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seminar | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Make-up | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yıl Sonu | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hazırlık Yıl Sonu | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hazırlık Bütünleme | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Workload | 189 | ||
| Total Workload / 25 | 7.56 | ||
| Credits ECTS | 8 | ||