Jobs, Workers and Development

1.5-3 Credits · Level: Graduate

Jobs are the key to economic and social progress everywhere. For most people, and especially in poor countries, jobs are their main source of income. People work their way out of poverty through better and more productive jobs. However, the nature of jobs varies hugely across countries. In high-income economies, jobs will typically have a contractual nature and be associated with a steady pay. In poor countries, jobs are more likely to be associated with self-employment and be more volatile in terms of earnings. The process of development changes the nature of jobs and the conditions of work. At the same time, the types of jobs and employment an economy generates can have spillover effects on the development process itself. Some jobs have a bigger development impact than others. In this course, we will think about jobs, workers and labor markets in the context of economic development. We will examine the following questions: How do jobs change with the development process? Are some jobs better for development? What are the barriers that get in the way of the creation of jobs and the matching of jobs and workers? What is the role of government in addressing those barriers? Do labor markets match workers and jobs in a fair way? What types of inequalities arise in the labor market? What should governments do about them? What kinds of policies can help marginalized groups, youth and women? We will also look at how trade and capital flows, technology and migration transform labor markets, and will discuss how government policies may help address the challenges brought about by these trends. This is a seven-week course. Each week will focus on a core topic and cover the analytical framework; relevant empirical evidence and country examples; and policy solutions and interventions. Classes will be highly interactive and require substantial preparation on the part of students. Topics will include: 1) Jobs, poverty and development 2) Unemployment, underemployment and informality 3) Women and work 4) The challenge of youth employment 5) Globalization, technology and jobs 6) Cross-border migration and refugees 7) Rethinking policies through the jobs lens Pre-requisite: The focus of the course is on policies. However, a good understanding of core economic concepts is necessary. The course will not focus on overly technical tools and methodologies, but will cover some basic analytical frameworks for thinking about labor markets and will use materials that may require a basic understanding of statistical and econometric tools.