TROY UNIVERSITY
MASTER SYLLABUS
SORRELL COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
ECO 3355
Labor Economics
Prerequisites
ECO 2252.
Description
Employment, unionism, labor-management relations and human capital.
Objectives
On completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1. Discuss the role of personal choice in the work-leisure decision.
2. Explain the economic forces causing the historical trends in labor force participation rates
and hours of work since 1900.
3. List and describe the basic models that demonstrate methods of estimating rates of return on
human-capital investment.
4. Explain the relationship between the firm’s production function and its demand for labor.
5. Outline the determination of wages under conditions of perfect competition, monopsony,
and unionism.
6. Explain the economic impact of unions.
7. List and summarize the basic laws governing labor-management relations.
8. Discuss public policy as it affects labor.
9. Outline and explain the causes and consequences of migration.
10. Explain the basic measurement and meaning of employment and unemployment data.
Purpose
To provide supplemental insights into the nature and choice behavior of the labor force beyond
what is addressed in microeconomics. Students taking this elective should already have satisfied
all of their 3000-level core and specified-elective requirements. This is an unspecified elective
course.
Master Syllabi are developed by the senior faculty in each business discipline. This Master Syllabus must be used as the basis for developing the
instructor syllabus for this course, which must also comply with the content specifications outlined in the Troy University Faculty Handbook.
The objectives included on this Master Syllabus must be included among the objectives on the instructor’s syllabus, which may expand upon the
same as the instructor sees fit. The statement of purpose seeks to position the course properly within the curriculum and should be consulted by
faculty as a source of advisement guidance. Specific choice of text and other details are further subject to Program Coordinator guidance.
19 April 2011
Master Syllabus: ECO 3355 (Revised August 2013)
2
Approved Texts
Borjas, G. J. (current). Labor economics. McGraw-Hill.
Cahuc, P., & Zylberberg, A. (current). Labor Economics. MIT Press.
Kaufman, B. E., & Hotchkiss, J. L. (current). The Economics of Labor Markets. Thomson/SouthWestern.
McConnell, C. R., Brue, S. L., & Macpherson, D. (current). Contemporary Labor Economics.
McGraw-Hill.
Supplements
McNulty, P. J. (1984). The origins and development of labor economics. Cambridge, MA: MIT
Press.
Saint-Paul, G. (1997). Dual labor markets. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Sowell, T. (2003). Applied economics: Thinking beyond stage one. New York, NY: Basic Books.
Troy University Faculty Handbook (2010): Section 3.9.2.8 [extract] — essential elements of the syllabus (somewhat modified for space):
1. Course title
2. Course number +
section
3. Term
4. Instructor
5. Prerequisites
6. Office hours
7. Class days, times
8. Classroom
location
9. Office location +
e-mail address
10. Office telephone
11. Course
description,
objectives
12. Text(s)
13. Other materials
14. Grading methods, 16. General supports
criterion weights,
(computer works,
make-up policy,
writing center)
mid-term grade
17. Daily assignments,
reports
holidays, add/drop
15. Procedure, course
& open dates, dead
requirements
day, final exam
18. ADA statement
19. Electronic device
statement
20. Additional
services,
statements
21. Absence policy
22. Incomplete-work
policy
23. Cheating policy
24. Specialization
requirements
(certification,
licensure, teacher
competencies)