Undergraduate Course: The Economics of Sorting (ECNM10103)
Course Outline
| School | School of Economics |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course examines the sorting decisions of economic agents across a range of markets. The aim is to provide students with the tools to understand the economic forces that determine sorting patterns, as well as the influence the sorting process wields on the distribution of income in the economy. |
| Course description |
This course examines the sorting decisions of economic agents across a range of markets. The aim is to provide students with the tools to understand the economic forces that determine sorting patterns, as well as the influence the sorting process wields on the distribution of income in the economy.
As an example, observe the following facts about the labour market: workers differ greatly in their skills and preferences; jobs differ in the types of skills they require, the extent to which the worker's skills matter, and the amenities they offer.
Which workers will then perform which jobs in a market equilibrium? How much of a paycut would a worker need take to land their dream job? How much of a premium would a firm need to offer in order to hire the most skilled worker? These are the types of questions we will attempt to answer in this course.
The course will cover five topics. Each topic will be divided into two parts: theory and applications. The theory part will develop and solve a particular sorting model, while the applications part will apply said model to specific markets. The following topics may be covered (subject to change):
1. The one-dimensional model of sorting. Applications: sorting and CEO compensation, marriage market (1), distributional consequences of international migration.
2. Roy's model of self-selection/occupational sorting. Applications: selection into migration, technological change and the distribution of wages (1).
3. Multi-dimensional sorting. Application: technological change and the distribution of wages (2).
4. Sorting with non-transferable utility. Applications: school choice, marriage market (2).
5. Sorting with imperfectly transferable utility. Application: marriage market (3).
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2021/22, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 6,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
170 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
75 %,
Coursework
25 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Essay - 25%
Exam - 75% |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
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| Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- A knowledge and understanding of key concepts, issues and models in the economics of sorting, along with applications and policy implications of those models and a deeper understanding of recent research activity in some more specialised areas.
- Research and investigative skills such as problem framing and solving and the ability to assemble and evaluate complex evidence and arguments.
- Communication skills in order to critique, create and communicate understanding.
- Personal effectiveness through task-management, time-management, dealing with uncertainty and adapting to new situations, personal and intellectual autonomy through independent learning.
- Practical/technical skills such as, modelling skills (abstraction, logic, succinctness), qualitative and quantitative analysis and general IT literacy.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | sorting,labour,labour market |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Pawel Gola
Tel:
Email: pawel.gola@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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