Nick Bloom, Stanford University, Labor Topics, 2015 1

LABOR TOPICS

Nick Bloom

Introduction

Nick Bloom, Stanford University, Labor Topics, 2015

Start with a class introduction

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This is an applied-micro class, covering 3 topics

1) Inequality, workers and labor markets (andimpacts of trade and technology)

2) Firms and goods markets (with a heavydevelopment focus)

3) Non-market interactions (peer-effects, spilloversunions, culture, intergenerational effects)

Class focuses on non-structural papers (with Luigi’s Econ 248 focusing on structural papers and 249 on Health)

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Classes will mostly have a standard formatWe will cover 1 recent top-journal paper in detail:

• One student will present this for 45 minutes with Q&A so plan to talk for 25 to 30 minutes

• Send this to me 48 hours in advance• I will then randomly pick a 5-minute discussant

(so every need to prepare a 3 slide review each class)

Use the paper as a way to address general issues, e.g.- Use of models in applied micro- Cleaning outliers (“topping & tailing”, winsorizing)- Dealing with missing data- LATE

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Classes will mostly have a standard format

In the second half of class I will then I will then present an overview of a few other papers in the literature

We will also have a few other special sessions• Presentation skills and tips and tricks (11th Feb)• Field experiments (23rd Feb)

NBER Labor Studies trip, February 20th at SF Fed.

JM candidates talk about the JM process (later to in the quarter, to be scheduled)

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Term papers

Students taking the class for credit will write a term paper

This is not a full paper, but an idea outlineand first data cut

You should have an idea, some dataand an identification strategy

To do this students should sort into groups of 2 or 3 people, and in advance of handing in your first draft to cross read.

I will meet up individually to give you feedback, then at the end of term you hand in the final draft and we’ll meet again.

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This is not supposed to be a test – everyone passes

This is supposed to help you develop a 3rd/4th year papers

Find some new data, explain it, explain your question and how will you answer this. So focus on big 3 elements of a paper:- The question- Measurement- Identification

Term papers - continued

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Food sessionsFinally, we will have 2 food themed sessions – you are encouraged to bring in food, especially for the pineapple event

Nick Bloom, Stanford University, Labor Topics, 2015

Sign-up 1

Right now I’ll ask for a brave volunteer to present on Monday

“The skill content of recent technological change: an empirical exploration”, David Autor, Frank Levy & Richard Murnane, (2003), Quarterly Journal of Economics

For this you can send me the slides on Sunday afternoon

Nick Bloom, Stanford University, Labor Topics, 2015

Sign-up 2

I’ll also ask for a brave volunteer to present on Wednesday

“The China Syndrome: Local Labor Market Effects of Import Competition in the United States”, David Autor, David Dorn & Gordon Hanson, American Economic Review 2013”.

For this you can send me the slides next Monday afternoon