Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2022 - ECON 381 D100

Labor Economics (3)

Class Number: 3762

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 7 – Dec 6, 2022: Thu, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 15, 2022
    Thu, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    ECON 201 with a minimum grade of C-; 60 units.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Analysis of the economics of the labor market with particular emphasis on the roles of skills, technology, discrimination, market power, family life, and public policy in determining wages and working conditions. Quantitative.

COURSE DETAILS:

The course describes institutional aspects and recent trends in the Canadian labour market and introduces labour market models that seek to explain the behaviour of labour market participants. These models are applied to analyze labour market policies. We will think about the choice of the households to provide labour and the choice of the firms to hire the workers, how the wages are determined, and how government policies and unions affect the wages and employment. We will also try to analyze the decisions about acquiring human capital, effects of immigration, and some aspects of discrimination.

Topics:

 

  • Household Decisions about Labour Supply
  • Labour Demand
  • Quasi-Fixed Costs
  • Labour Market Equilibrium & Wage Differentials
  • Human Capital
  • Immigration
  • Discrimination & Wage Differentials
  • Labour Unions
  • Unemployment

Grading

  • Online Quizzes 10%
  • Midterm Test 25%
  • Assignments 25%
  • Final Exam 40%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Dwayne Benjamin, Morley Gunderson, Thomas Lemieux, Craig Riddell, Tammy

Schirle (2017), Labour Market Economics, 9th edition, McGraw-Hill

 


REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Department Undergraduate Notes:

Please note that, as per Policy T20.01, the course requirements (and grading scheme) outlined here are subject to change up until the end of the first week of classes.

Final exam schedules will be released during the second month of classes. If your course has a final exam, please ensure that you are available during the entire final exam period until you receive confirmation of your exam dates. 

Students requiring accommodations as a result of a disability must contact the Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) at 778-782-3112 or caladmin@sfu.ca.

***NO TUTORIALS DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF CLASSES***

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html