Transcript LABOR TOPICS Nick Bloom Introduction Nick Bloom, Stanford University, Labor Topics, 2015 Start with a class introduction Nick Bloom, Stanford University, Labor Topics, 2015

LABOR TOPICS
Nick Bloom
Introduction
Nick Bloom, Stanford University, Labor Topics, 2015
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Start with a class introduction
Nick Bloom, Stanford University, Labor Topics, 2015
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This is an applied-micro class, covering 3 topics
1) Inequality, workers and labor markets (and
impacts of trade and technology)
2) Firms and goods markets (with a heavy
development focus)
3) Non-market interactions (peer-effects, spillovers
unions, culture, intergenerational effects)
Class focuses on non-structural papers (with Luigi’s Econ
248 focusing on structural papers and 249 on Health)
Nick Bloom, Stanford University, Labor Topics, 2015
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Classes will mostly have a standard format
We 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
Nick Bloom, Stanford University, Labor Topics, 2015
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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)
Nick Bloom, Stanford University, Labor Topics, 2015
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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 outline
and first data cut
You should have an idea, some data
and 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.
Nick Bloom, Stanford University, Labor Topics, 2015
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Term papers - continued
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
Nick Bloom, Stanford University, Labor Topics, 2015
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Food sessions
Finally, we will have 2 food themed sessions – you are
encouraged to bring in food, especially for the pineapple event
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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
Nick Bloom, Stanford University, Labor Topics, 2015