Seminar in Labor Economics

Exam

The optional exam will take place on 22 July, 14:30-15:30 in lecture hall 1136.

The exam will last 60 minutes and there will be four short questions, one on each seminar paper. You will have the choice to answer three out of four questions.

You do not have to register with the Prüfungsamt. Just inform me or Ms. Hupfer as to whether you will participate in the exam. There will be no retake exam!

 

Brief Description of Subject:

This is a seminar on current research topics in labor economics which is open for Master and Diploma students. The seminar is in English. Exceptions for Diploma students (for the language of the seminar paper) are possible under special circumstances.

The seminar will cover the following two main topics:

(1)    Technological change, Education, Employment, and Wages
(2)    Empirical Strategies in Labor Economics using Regression Discontinuity Designs

The seminar focuses on an understanding and discussion of current research papers to enable the students to start with a diploma/master thesis in the above areas. The seminar will be organized as a block seminar with two dates. On the first date, four students (two for each topic) will present and discuss their seminar papers on the basic literature for the two main topics. On the second date, the remaining students will present and discuss their seminar papers on the further literature references. The seminar papers and the presentations should focus on the understanding and the discussion of the literature references given for the seminar.

Successful participation in the seminar includes:

1) writing a seminar paper (15-20 pages),
2) presentation and discussion of the seminar paper
3) discussion of the seminar paper/presentation of another student

This will give 4 credit points.
There is the possibility to obtain 6 credit points by also writing an exam at the end of the semester.

Prerequisites:

All topics require a solid knowledge in labor economics at the level of the course ‘Labor Economics’ and basic knowledge in econometrics at the level of ‘Einführung in die Empirische Wirtschaftsforschung’ or ‘Applied Econometrics’. In addition, topic 2 also requires a solid knowledge in microeconometrics at the level of the course ‘Microeconometrics’.

Registration:

Students can sign up for topics 1 (up to 8 students) or 2 (up to 6 students). At the organizational meeting the specific references for the seminar papers will be assigned. There will be a step assignment. First, the basic references will have to be covered and two students will be assigned to cover these for each topic. These students will present on the first date of the seminar (probably in mid June). Second, the remaining students can choose among the further references. These students will present on the second date of the seminar (probably early in July). Preferences in choice will be given to students who sign up for the seminar earlier. It is expected that a student who is assigned a further reference also studies carefully the basic references.

Downloads:

• Anncouncement of the seminar
  (also includes Topics and Literature References on pp. 3-4)
• Topics and Literature References