Nick Bloom, Stanford University, Labor Topics, LABOR TOPICS Nick Bloom Introduction

Nick Bloom, Stanford University, Labor Topics, 2015 Start with a class introduction 2

Nick Bloom, Stanford University, Labor Topics, 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, 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, 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 (11 th Feb) Field experiments (23 rd Feb) NBER Labor Studies trip, February 20 th at SF Fed. JM candidates talk about the JM process (later to in the quarter, to be scheduled)

Nick Bloom, Stanford University, Labor Topics, 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, This is not supposed to be a test – everyone passes This is supposed to help you develop a 3 rd /4 th 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 Term papers - continued

Nick Bloom, Stanford University, Labor Topics, Food sessions Finally, we will have 2 food themed sessions – you are encouraged to bring in food, especially for the pineapple event

Nick Bloom, Stanford University, Labor Topics, 2015 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