ECON 262PPOPULATION ECONOMICS10:00-11:30 a.m. MW, 9384 Bunche Hall |
|
Spring
Quarter, 2006 Professor V. Joseph Hotz Email: hotz@econ.ucla.edu |
On
this Page: Course Syllabus Course Outline Course Readings Handouts |
Goals
The primary aim of this course is to provide an introduction to some of
the main substantive issues that play a central role in the field of
population and demography from the perspective of economics. In this
pursuit, I will place a good deal of emphasis on modeling and
econometric methods.
A second aim is to illustrate how economic models can be used to
understand
a range of phenomena and how econometric methods can be used to analyze
the empirical content of these models and in explaining behavior. We
also
take the opportunity to consider insights from the sociological and
anthropological
literatures. As a result, I hope to equip you with a good understanding
of how these models and methods can be applied to a wide range of
empirical
problems in social sciences.
Classes will focus on a subset of topics and papers. For each topic,
the main issues will be laid out within an economic framework, relying
primarily on standard consumer demand theory, and on the econometric
methods
used to investigate these topics. While not as thoroughly, we also will
examine the empirical validity of many of the models we consider. The
lectures
will focus on only a subset of papers on the reading list. The reading
list
contains a more comprehensive set of readings that is intended as a
guide
for you to become acquainted with the issues, models and methods in
this
field.
Course Requirements
The course will follow a lecture format. Students are expected to
participate in the lectures by asking questions or providing additional
insights into the literature. While you will not be formally graded on
your classroom participation, I cannot overemphasize the importance of
asking questions and probing new idea as an essential mode of learning.
I will provide
you with guidance about the central readings for future lectures. I
expect
students to read these papers and may resort to asking questions about
the
readings, especially if it appears students are not doing these
readings.
Requirements to Obtain a Grade for this Course
Students taking the course for a grade will complete a written final
examination. This examination will test knowledge of the literature in
the reading list as well as an understanding of the ideas presented in
class, contributions in the literature and potential deficiencies in
the
literature. The final will be a 24 hour take-home exam that will be
distributed during Final Exam Week (June 12-16, 2006).
There are two requirements for a student who plans to have Labor
Economics as a field. First, the student must take the full sequence of
courses
offered this year in this field and obtain at least an A- in each
course.
Economics 262P is the third course in this sequence. Second, the
student
must write, submit and present an original research paper on a topic
approved
by the faculty in this field. This paper must be submitted by July 31,
2006.
Additional Requirements
Students taking this course are also expected to attend and participate
in the Albert Family Fund Proseminar in Applied Microeconomics
(Mondays, 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m., Bunche 9383) and the Albert Family
Fund Workshop in Applied Microeconomics (Tuesday 3.30-5.00, Bunche
9383) ,
and the California Center for Population Research (CCPR) Colloquium
(Wednesdays, 12.00 noon - 1:30 p.m., 9383 Bunche). Some of the best
empirical researchers in the United States will be presenting their
work in progress in these latter workshops and it is difficult to over
emphasize the value to your development as a professional scientist of
seeing how smart
and successful scholars approach empirical problems. Regular attendance
at
these workshops is by far the best way for you to develop a good sense
of
how to approach hard empirical problems as well as find out what topics
are
currently being addressed in the field.
I.
Models of the
Allocation of Resources and
Time
The theory of allocation of time and
goods
Static models of fertility and
fertility regulation
Costs and benefits of children
Household as consumer and producer:
Theory and evidence
Life cycle models of time allocation
and consumption
Life cycle models of fertility
Models of marriage markets and
matching
Economics of divorce and child
support
Non-marital fertility
Collective models of the household:
Theory and evidence
Altruism, the family, the community
and inter-household transfers
Altruism, cooperation, commitment and
lack of them in the family
Models of optimal human capital
accumulation
Identification and estimation of
returns to school
Models of Child investments and
health: Identification and estimation
A subset of the readings for this
course are located here.
The complete course reading list (in PDF format) is here.
Revised 4-19-06
Labor
Supply Trends Handout (in PDF format).
Static
Consumer Theory Notes (in PDF format).
Static
Labor Supply Notes (in PDF format).
Fertility Trends Handout (in PDF format).
Static
Fertility Model Notes (in PDF format).
Models
of Family Interactions Notes (in PDF format).
Life
Cycle
Labor Supply Model Notes (in PDF format).
Life
Cycle Fertility Notes (in PDF format).
Hotz-Sanders
Notes on Contraceptive Choice (in PDF format).