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Labour Economics

Code: 102321 ECTS Credits: 6
2025/2026
Degree Type Year
Business Administration and Management OT 4
Economics OT 3
Economics OT 4
Contemporary History, Politics and Economics OT 3
Contemporary History, Politics and Economics OT 4

Contact

Name:
Xavier Ramos Morilla
Email:
xavi.ramos@uab.cat

Teachers

Xavier Ramos Morilla
Manuel Fernando Flores Mallo

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

The course shows the relationship between micro-founded theory, empirical work and econometric issues. Thus, basic knowledge of microeconomic and macroeconomic principles and simple statistical/econometric methods such as multivariate regression is required.


Objectives and Contextualisation

By the end of the course students will

  • have a solid theoretical background about the basic labour economics’ issues;
  • have a knowledge of the most relevant characteristics of the spanish labour market, including its structural and institutional features.
  • have a basic knowledge of modern microeconometric tools and techniques employed in empirical work to analyse causal issues in labour economics, including labour market policy issues.

Competences

    Business Administration and Management
  • Capacity for adapting to changing environments.
  • Capacity for independent learning in the future, gaining more profound knowledge of previous areas or learning new topics.
  • Capacity for oral and written communication in Catalan, Spanish and English, which enables synthesis and oral and written presentation of the work carried out.
  • Demonstrate initiative and work individually when the situation requires it.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the structure of institutions and the state, their evolution and the consequences of possible changes, to be able to make a positive contribution to the debate about the role they play in current society.
  • Identify the economic agents that make up an economy, understanding how they have been interrelated to date, how they are currently interrelated and forecast futures according to new circumstances and their influence on a specific company.
  • Know how to handle the analytical framework and empirical knowledge that is offered by the economy on international relations and the most important economic areas.
  • Organise the work in terms of good time management, organisation and planning.
  • Select and generate the information necessary for each problem, analyse it and take decisions based on that information.
  • Work well in a team, being able to argue proposals and validate or reject the arguments of others in a reasoned manner.
    Economics
  • Analyse the operation of the labour market and the elements that are specific to it.
  • Capacity for independent learning in the future, gaining more profound knowledge of previous areas or learning new topics.
  • Lead multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, implementing new projects and coordinating, negotiating and managing conflicts.
  • Organise the work in terms of good time management, organisation and planning.
  • Select and generate the information necessary for each problem, analyse it and take decisions based on that information.
  • Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
  • Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Students must develop the necessary learning skills in order to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
  • Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
  • Take decisions in situations of uncertainty, demonstrating an entrepreneurial and innovative attitude.
  • Work well in a team, being able to argue proposals and validate or reject the arguments of others in a reasoned manner.
    Contemporary History, Politics and Economics
  • Explain and summarise knowledge acquired in English language at an advanced level.
  • Identify the fundamental analytical principles in international economics, globalisation of market and processes of economic integration.
  • Innovate in the methods and processes of this area of knowledge in response to the needs and wishes of society.
  • Recognise institutional and regulatory design and the main economic policies implemented in current economies on different scales to manage economic growth and its cyclical oscillations.
  • Relate fundamental questions of the current economic situation with previous economic developments on the basis of the main elements of contemporary economic history.
  • Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Students must develop the necessary learning skills to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
  • Work cooperatively in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams implementing new projects.

Learning Outcomes

  1. A capacity of oral and written communication in Catalan, Spanish and English, which allows them to summarise and present the work conducted both orally and in writing.
  2. Analyse the mechanisms of the formation of salaries.
  3. Analyse the role of international institutions in the economy.
  4. Assess the functioning and current situation of the Spanish economy.
  5. Assess work-related policies.
  6. Capacity to adapt to changing environments.
  7. Capacity to continue future learning independently, acquiring further knowledge and exploring new areas of knowledge.
  8. Communicating in oral and written form in Catalan, Spanish and English, in order to be able to summarise and present the carried out project in both forms.
  9. Demonstrate capacity to adapt to changing environments.
  10. Demonstrate initiative and work independently when required.
  11. Demonstrating a comprehension of the analysis of social phenomena presented in English, as well as observing their strengths and weaknesses.
  12. Describe the main economic agents making up the Spanish and Catalan economy.
  13. Develop strategies for autonomous learning.
  14. Examine the influence and the role of Spanish public institutions in the economy.
  15. Generating innovative and competitive proposals in research and professional activity.
  16. Identify the role of the public sector in the Spanish economy.
  17. Interpret the economic globalisation process and its consequences for the Spanish economy.
  18. Interpret the motivations, instruments and effects of public intervention on this market.
  19. Lead multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, implement new projects, coordinate, negotiate and manage conflicts.
  20. List the main characteristics of the labour market in Spain.
  21. Make decisions in situations of uncertainty and show an enterprising and innovative spirit.
  22. Organise work in relation to good time management and planning.
  23. Organise work, in terms of good time management and organisation and planning.
  24. Perform an economic analysis of integration processes, in general, and of the European integration process, in particular.
  25. Relate the labour market and economic activity.
  26. Respect the diversity and plurality of ideas, people and situations.
  27. Searching for documentary sources starting from concepts.
  28. Select and generate the information necessary for each problem, analyse it and take decisions based on that information.
  29. Select and generate the information needed for each problem, analyse it and make decisions based on this information.
  30. Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
  31. Students must be capable of assessing the quality of their own work.
  32. Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
  33. Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  34. Students must be capable of managing their own time, planning their own study, managing the relationship with their tutor or adviser, as well as setting and meeting deadlines for a work project.
  35. Students must develop the necessary learning skills in order to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
  36. Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
  37. Understand in economic terms, the problem of unemployment and its causes.
  38. Use of the available information technology and adaptation to new technological environments.
  39. Work as part of a team and be able to argue own proposals and validate or refuse the arguments of others in a reasonable manner.

Content

Topic 1. Introduction: Economics and the Labour Market

Work and Economic Activity. Idiosyncrasies of Labour Markets and Labour Economics. Course overview.

 

PART I. LABOUR SUPPLY

 

Topic 2. Individual labour supply

The neoclassical model. The work-leisure decision. Activity, inactivity and reservation wage. Effects of taxes and benefits on labour supply.

 

Topic 3. Participation Rates and Family

Participation rates by gender and age. Family and time allocation. Life-cycle issues of labour supply. Working hours.

 

Topic 4. Human Capital and Labour

Human capital theory. Returns to education. On-the-Job training. Alternative theories to Human Capital.

 

Topic 5 Migrations and Labour Mobility

Types of labour mobility and migrations. Determinants of migration. Effects of migration on labour supply.

 

PART II LABOR DEMAND

 

Topic 6. The Demand for Labour: Wage Determination and the Allocation of Labour.

 

Short- and long-run demand for labour. Competitive and non-competitive markets. The monopsony. Determinants of labour demand. Effect of minimum wages on labour market outcomes. Unit labour costs.

 

PART III WAGE DETERMINATION AND WAGE STRUCTURE

 

Topic 7 Pay schemes and the Wage Structure

Wage differentials. Fringe benefits. Efficiency wages. Internal labour markets.

 

Topic 8 Wage Distribution and Labour Market Discrimination

Economic analysis of labour market discrimination. Occupational segregation. Segmentation and labour market duality. Temporary employment.

 

Topic 9 Trade Unions and Collective Bargaining

Economic analysis of trade unions. Collective bargaining. The economic impact of unions.

 

Topic 10 Government and the Labour Market

Labour market effects of public intervention. Minimum Wages. Effects of unemployment benefits. Legislation and regulation.

 

PART IV MACROECONOMIC ANALYSIS

 

Topic 11 Unemployment and Inflation

Labour market unbalances. Types of unemployment. Economic theories of unemployment. Policies to reduce unemployment.

 


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Lectures 32.5 1.3 3, 2, 24, 4, 5, 7, 12, 37, 20, 14, 16, 17, 18, 25
Tutorials 17 0.68 3, 2, 24, 4, 31, 5, 27, 1, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 37, 20, 14, 16, 17, 18, 23, 21, 25, 28, 29, 8, 39
Type: Supervised      
Tutorial 8 0.32 2, 31, 5, 27, 6, 1, 7, 9, 10, 13, 37, 20, 14, 22, 23, 21, 25, 28, 29
Type: Autonomous      
Autonomous study 50 2 3, 2, 24, 4, 31, 5, 27, 6, 1, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 37, 20, 14, 34, 16, 17, 22, 23, 21, 25, 28, 29, 8
Exercices, essays and collective works 36.5 1.46 3, 2, 24, 4, 31, 5, 27, 6, 1, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 37, 20, 14, 34, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 21, 25, 29, 8, 39

Teaching is scheduled to be face-to-face in the classroom.

The course combnes lectures and practical sessions. Besides, the students will have to write individual and collective essays, some of which will be presented and discusssed in class.

15 minutes will be devoted in one of the last lectures of the course to allow students to fill out the questionnaires that assesses the teaching activity of the professor and the subject.

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is permitted only in support tasks, such as search of bibliography of information, text correction or translations. The students must clearly identify what parts of the work have been generated with this technology, spell out the tools that have been used and include a critical reflection on how the use of these tools have influenced the process and final result of the activity. Not being transparent on the use of AI in activities will be considered academic dishonesty and can lead to partial or total penalties in the grade of the activity or in major sanctions if the case is deemed especially grave.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Final Exam 50% 3 0.12 3, 2, 24, 4, 31, 5, 1, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 37, 20, 14, 34, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 21, 36, 35, 30, 32, 25, 28, 29, 8
Presentations in class 25% 3 0.12 3, 2, 24, 4, 31, 5, 6, 1, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 37, 20, 14, 15, 34, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 21, 36, 35, 33, 30, 32, 25, 26, 28, 29, 8, 39, 38
Submission of course work 25% 0 0 3, 2, 24, 4, 31, 5, 27, 6, 1, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 37, 20, 14, 15, 34, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 21, 36, 35, 33, 30, 32, 25, 28, 29, 8, 39, 38

Assessment combines individual and collective assignments, as well as exams.

All assignments are integrated in a process of  continuous assesment.

Students who have not submitted any evaluation activity in the process of continouos evaluation will be considered not evalauable.

This subject does offer the option for comprehensive evaluation.

By requesting the comprehensive evaluation the student waives the option of continuous evaluation.

The comprehensive  evaluation must be requested at the Academic Management (Gestió acadèmica) of the Campus where the degree/master's degree is taught. The request must be filed according to the procedure and the deadline  established by the administrative calendar of the Faculty of Economics and Business.

Attendance :

  • Student  attendance  is mandatory on the day of the comprehensive assessment. The date will be the same as that of the final exam of the semester as per the evaluation calendar published by the Faculty of Economics and Business and approved by the Faculty's Teaching and Academic Affairs Committee. The duration of the comprehensive assessment must be specified in the characteristics of such activity.
  • 100% of the evaluation evidences must be handed in by the student  on the day of the comprhensive assessment.
  • The evaluation evidences carried out in person by the student on the same day of the comprehensive assessment must have a minimum weight of 70%.

The comprehensive evaluation consists of a single final exam that will last two hours and will have a weight of 100% in the final assessment. The exam will take place on the date, time and place indicated by the School.

2.2 RETAKE PROCEDURE :

"For the retake procedure, no distinction is made between students who have followed the continuous evaluation and those who have optedforthecomprehensive evaluation. All will be re-assessed using the same test or evaluation evidence."

2.3 REVIEW OF THE FINAL QUALIFICATION:

"The review of the final qualification will follow the same procedure as for the continuous evaluation".

Calendar of evaluation activities

The dates of the evaluation activities (midterm exams, exercises in the classroom, assignments, ...) will be announced well in advance during the semester.

The date of the final exam is scheduled in the assessment calendar of the Faculty.

"The dates of evaluation activities cannot be modified, unless there is an exceptional and duly justified reason why an evaluation activity cannot be carried out. In this case, the degree coordinator will contact both the teaching staff and the affected student, and a new date will be scheduled within the same academic period to make up for the missed evaluation activity." Section 1 of Article 264. Calendar of evaluation activities (Academic Regulations UAB). 

Students of the Faculty of Economics and Business, who in accordance with the previous paragraph need to change an evaluation activity date must process the request by filling out an Application for exams' reschedule: e-Formulari per a la reprogramació de proves.

Grade revision process

After all grading activities have ended, students will be informed of the date and way in which the course grades will be published. Students will be also be informed of the procedure, place, date and time of grade revision following University regulations.

Retake Process

"To be eligible to participate in the retake process, it is required for students to have been previously been evaluated for at least two thirds of the total evaluation activities of the subject." Section 2 of Article 261. The recovery (UAB Academic Regulations). Additionally, it is required that the student to have achieved an average grade of the subject greater than or equal to 3.5 and less than 5.

The date of the retake exam will be posted in the calendar of evaluation activities of the Faculty. Students who take this exam and pass, will get a grade of 5 for the subject. If the student does not pass the retake, the grade will remain unchanged, and hence, student will fail the course.

Irregularities in evaluation activities

In spite of other disciplinary measures deemed appropriate, and in accordance with current academic regulations, "in the case that the student makes any irregularity that could lead to a significant variation in the grade of an evaluation activity, it will be graded with a 0, regardless of the disciplinary process that can be instructed. In case of various irregularities occur in the evaluation of the same subject, the final grade of this subject will be 0". Section 11 of Article 266. Results of the evaluation. (UAB Academic Regulations).

 

 


Bibliography

Basic textbooks

Borjas, George (2020), Labor Economics (8th edition), McGraw-Hill.

McConnell, Campbell R., Stanley L. Brue and David A. Macpherson (2017), Contemporary Labor Economics (11th edition), McGraw-Hill International Edition.

Complementary textbooks: 

Cahuc, Pierre and Andre Zylberberg (2004), Labor Economics, MIT Press.

 

Complementary readings: Topic specific readings will be found in the Campus Virtual.


Software

None


Groups and Languages

Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PAUL) Classroom practices 51 Spanish second semester afternoon
(TE) Theory 51 Spanish second semester afternoon