Delivery and Resources

Classes

There will be one two-hour lecture each week, beginning in week one. There will be a one-hour tutorial each week, beginning in week two.

The timetable for classes can be found on the university web site at: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au

Required and Recommended Texts and/or Materials

Recommended Text

The unit is based on the following textbook:

Kaufman, Bruce & Hotchkiss, Julie (2006) (7th ed) The Economics of Labor Markets, Mason (OH): South-Western (Thomson Learning).

Students DO NOT need to purchase this textbook. The sections from the textbook that are used in the unit are available to students via the econ244 e-reserve folder.

Additional References

The following books are sometimes referred to in the lectures and tutorials. Many of these books also offer an alternative presentation of the material covered in the unit. Students may wish to consult these books for assistance in understanding the lecture material.

Norris, K., Kelly, R. and Giles, M. (2005) (6th ed) The Economics of Australian Labour Markets. Pearson, Australia.

Whitfield, K. & Ross, R. (1996) (2nd ed), The Australian Labour Market. Harper Educational, Australia.

Ehrenberg , R.G. & Smith, R.S. (1994)(5th ed). Modern Labor Economics Theory and Policy. HarperCollins College Publishers, New York.

Elliott, R. (1991), Labor Economics: A Comparative Text. McGraw Hill, London.

Lazear, E. (1998) Personnel Economics for Managers. Wiley, New York.

McConnell, C., Brue, S.L. & Macpherson, D. (1999) Contemporary Labor Economics. McGraw Hill, New York.

These books are available in the Reserve section of the library. 

Technology Used and Required

Unit Web Page

The web page for this unit can be accessed via ilearn.mq.edu.au. You should check this web page regularly. The lecture slides for each weeks lecture will be posted on the web page, before the lecture. You will find it useful to download the slides prior to the lecture, and bring to them to the lecture. We also use the web page to post important notices from time to time.

Teaching and Learning Strategy

This unit is taught as a mix of tutorials and lectures. The lectures are designed to provide the tools which can then be applied in tutorials.

• Lectures – (2 hours each teaching week)
• Lectures are intended to provide an overview of the key concepts explored in the unit. Students are expected to attend all lectures and the read the relevant textbook chapters before each lecture.  
• Tutorials – (1 hour each teaching week beginning in Week 2)
• Tutorials constitute a critical learning experience of this unit and students must attend them, prepare for them and actively participate in them. Your tutor will help you to understand the tutorial material and can also give guidance on how to approach problems.   
• Independent learning
• Econ244 relies heavily on independent learning where students read the relevant chapters and papers, revise lecture notes and contribute to tutorial discussion.