Economics 314 Race and Ethnicity in the Labor Market Fall Semester 2000-2001 M/W 1:10-2:30, Room 139 Science Center Professor: Wendy L. Rayack Office: 327 PAC E-mail: wrayack@wesleyan.edu Phone: 685-2358 Office hours: Wed. 2:40-4, and walk-in whenever door is open; also by appointment. General Course Information Course Description: This course uses concepts from the neoclassical analysis and from alternatives to the neoclassical framework to study specific issues of race and ethnicity in the labor market. We begin with a discussion of human capital differences and the meaning attached to categories defined by race and ethnicity. The course then takes up several special topics including racial and ethnic differences in the division of labor, the decision to drop out of the labor market, occupational segregation, and human capital explanations of differences in occupations and earnings. We then consider critiques of the human capital approach, economic theories of labor market discrimination, and the possible policy responses to differences in labor market opportunity and success. As part of our policy discussion, we explore the labor market effects of equal employment law and affirmative action regulation. The material covered devotes particular attention to the labor market experiences of African American, Hispanic and Asian-American women and men. Our readings draw from articles that use both the case study approach and those that rely more on econometric analysis. Throughout the course, students are asked to consider institutional, Marxist, and neoclassical approaches to understanding how labor markets operate. Prerequisites: Econmics 111 and Economics 112, or Economics 105. Required purchases: Please purchase the following required texts: 1. Hoffman, Emily. Essays in the Economics of Discrimination 2. Common Destiny: Blacks and American Society, edited by Gerald Jaynes. 3. Jaynes, Gerald. Branches Without Roots: Genesis of the Black Working Class. 4. Jones, Jacqueline. Labor of Love, Labor of Sorrow: Black Women, Work and the Family. 5. Wolff, Edward. Economics of Poverty Inequality, and Discrimination. Course Mechanics: Regular and consistent class attendance is expected. You will need the lecture material in order to write several short (3-page) papers on the assigned readings and in order to successfully complete the term paper (20-25 pages). In calculating the semester grade, assignments will be weighted approximately as follows: GRADE = .15(Class participation.) + .50(Short Papers) + .35(Term Paper). The quality of class participation matters more than the number of times that you speak! Quality of participation is based on how consistently you ask insightful questions, provide relevant and informed evaluations of the material, and offer constructive responses to other students during class discussions. Papers will be graded on the basis of both writing style and content. Stylistic sophistication along with analytical strength will matter when I calculate your grade. Close attention to the material along with frequent reference to the required readings will be primary factors in constructing a strong paper. Class participation 15% Short Papers 50% Term Paper 35% Total 100% Assignment are due by 1 p.m. on Thursdays and should be put in the Econ 209 slot in the alcove next to the economics department office. Assignments handed in late will be penalized unless an agreement is made ahead of time with me. Graded assignments and quizzes that are not picked up in class will be filed by last name in the alphabetical slots in the alcove. Honor Code: All work handed in must be your own. Course Schedule, Course Links, and Downloadable Course Documents: Once you are enrolled in this course, you can obtain the course schedule, view course links and print other downloadable course documents by going to the following web site: http://blackboard.wesleyan.edu. All documents are saved in Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (pdf); you will need to download the free Adobe Reader from the Adobe site (http://www.adobe.com/proindex/acrobat) if you do not already have it on your machine. Computers in the PAC datalab and Science Center labs should already have it downloaded.