The aim of this course is to introduce the students to the economic analysis of topics related to human resources management within organizations. More specifically, students will have the chance to both apply statistical and econometric methods to specific topics related to work organization within companies and to test with real-world data the main personnel economics theories.
At the end of the course, the student will be able to: 1) understand the main economic determinants and impacts of different human resources policies within the firm, also considering the institutional context in which the firm operates; 2) define a research question related to personnel economics, identify and/or collect data to empirically answer this question and implement the empirical analysis; 3) provide some policy recommendations for both companies and policy makers at different levels (local, national and international).
This course is useful to both students who want to work, equipped with quantitative skills, in the HR department of companies, and to students who want to pursue a career as economic analysts or consultants.
None, but some basic microeconomics and statistics is useful to fruitfully attend the course.
Frontal lectures with interactive sections, in which students will be encouraged to work in pairs or small groups on specific topics.
Open discussion based on specific papers that the students are required to read beforehand.
Specific lectures will see the participation of external experts on the topics of the course.
Applied Stata labs, in which students will have the chance to put their hands on real-world data and to replicate some of the empirical studies discussed during lectures.
For attending students: empirical project (40% of the final mark) and final written test (60% of the final mark).
The empirical project will be evaluated on a 30-point scale; it can be carried out in small teams.
For non-attending students: final written test.
The final test will consist of two parts: short questions (part A) and open questions (part B) on the topics covered by the course. The final mark of the test will be a weighted average of the score of the two parts.
For attending students, a minimum score of 18/30 in both the empirical project and the written test is required to pass the course.
The course will cover the following topics:
1. Introduction to the empirical analysis in labor (personnel) economics: Identification strategies, data types and collection, measurement issues.
2. Investment in skills: returns to education and the role of cognitive and non-cognitive skills.
3. Wage equations and sample selection
4. Differences in the labor market and discrimination. The role of AI in the recruiting process
5. Incentives in organizations
6. Work from home
