Economics 650: Modern Issues in Industrial Relations

Page is under construction for Spring 2002.  Modifications expected, but basic
substance will not change.  Registering for this course requires 
permission.  Contact me by email at: rlhannah@mtsu.edu
Richard Hannah, Professor of Economics

Course Description
This course is about a wide range of issues that are core to the study of
industrial relations (aka: employment relations, human resources, personnel,
labor-management relations, union-management relations, etc...).  Examples
include social security, pensions, human capital, gender, and the interaction of
internal and external labor markets.  A limited exploration of the international
dimensions of this field of study will also be integrated.

Technical skills required are time value computations, interpretation of simple
regression analysis, and a basic understanding of economic theory as applied to
labor markets, in general no more advanced than intermediate level.  Note,
however, that the course sticks more to a qualitative discourse.  Either a
practical background or previous course work will be very helpful.  No
prerequisites are required for this course, but intense dedication will be
required of those who can not draw on the skills/experience mix described above.
Econ 650 can be viewed as a companion course for Econ 651, which is more
oriented toward technical analysis.

If you have a disability that requires any kind of accommodation for this
course, contact me before the semester begins.  This is an accelerated course
that meets on Saturdays for long periods and attendance and timeliness is
required.

Materials Required--all books in MTSU Bookstore

Collective Bargaining & Labor Relations (Second Ed.) by Terry Leap.
Prentice Hall: ISBN 0-02-369101-8

The Economics of Women, Men, and Work (Fourth Ed.) by Francine Blau, Marianne
Ferber, and Anne Winkler.  Prentice Hall: ISBN 0-13090922-X

Social Capital (First Ed.) by Nan Lin, Karen Cook, Ronald Burt.  Aldine De
Gruyter: ISBN 0-202-30643-7

Financial calculator capable of computing NPV from uneven cash flows.  You can
use any calculator (or a laptop with this capability), but I only teach to a
TI-BAII Plus.

Online Lecture Notes: Sampler Only

Online Sources: Sampler Only

Class Schedule and Activities

Expect to submit written assignments in the periods between class meetings by
Word attachments.  Grading criteria will be decided by the first class, but
written assignments, class participation, presentations, and exams by email will
likely be the mix.

January 12
Introductions
Terminology
Comments on Origin and Evolution of the Field of IR, by Kaufman
Theory review: economics & comments on political science, sociology, psychology
Academic fit of IR
Time value and regression analysis review
International dimensions
Internet dimensions
Library databases and other sources
Survey of Leap text
Assignments


February 9
Review of Economics of Women, Men, and Work (Blau, et al)
Social Security
Labor market for the elderly
Labor market for youth: Hannah and Baum papers
Case
Assignments


March 9
Review of Social Capital
Case
Assignments

April 13
Teaching: Budd paper
Learning: Bloom's taxonomy
Knowledge workers
Case
Presentation of research paper at the Tennessee Economics Assn. Annual Meeting
Possible topics include: Tele-working
	Corporate universities
	Collective bargaining by teachers
	Collective bargaining by utility workers List-server networks
	Workplace privacy
	Analysis of youth labor market data