Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2022 - ECON 483 D100

Selected Topics in Economics (3)

Economic Inequality

Class Number: 3766

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 7 – Dec 6, 2022: Wed, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 18, 2022
    Sun, 12:00–3:00 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    To be determined by the instructor subject to approval by the department chair.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

The subject matter will vary from term to term depending upon the interests of faculty and students.

COURSE DETAILS:

Economic inequality: theories and evidence. We examine recent models and evidence on inequality of wealth, income, and status in the context of marriage and labor markets. Topics will include measurement of genetic influence on economic outcomes, equilibrium matching models, and theories of relative status or hierarchy.

 

 

Topics:

 

  1. Human capital and Occupation:
    1. The Mincer equation
    2. Oaxaca decomposition
    3. The Roy Model
  2. Labor-Market Search
    1. Competitive search
    2. Matching
  3. Marital sorting and long-run inequality
    1. Social Mobility
    2. Nature vs Nurture
  4. Savings for Retirement
    1. The Euler equation
  5. Parental Investment
    1. The Quality-Quantity tradeoff
    2. Cohabitation & the retreat from marriage
  6. Hierarchy and Social Status
    1. The Span of control
    2. Preferences for status
    3. Superstar firms

 

Grading

  • Assignments 25%
  • Midterm 25%
  • Presentation 25%
  • Final Exam 25%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Readings will be from papers supplied on the Canvas Econ 483 web site.


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