ECO2801 is a core course in labour economics. It is designed specifically to be suitable for both MA and PhD. students. PhD students wishing to complete the comprehensive exam in labour economics will need to complete the second course (ECO 2800) that is aimed at PhD students. The objective of ECO2801 is to demonstrate how the tools of microeconomic theory can be applied to labour economic decisions, and how the resulting theoretical insights can inform the evaluation of public policy. The topics covered will include the decision to work, the decision to attend school and other human capital investments, labour market discrimination and immigration. Applications will include public policies addressing poverty, pay equity, labour market policies that affect child development, immigrant selection mechanisms and tuition and associated policies in the educational sector.
