Research Seminar in Economics: Gender and Labor Markets

The seminar focuses on analyzing labor markets using quantitative methods. It will focus on theoretical models and empirical studies of recent developments in gender economics and labor markets. Possible topics include the gender pay gap, discrimination, labor force participation, family policies, and the growing importance of up- and reskilling initiatives. Students will be exposed to recent academic work and critically engage with the literature to understand the key findings and underlying methodological approaches. They will also have the opportunity to independently replicate empirical results, analyze simulations, and assess the robustness of study results. Throughout this process, they will receive regular support from the lecturers. For replicating empirical results, knowledge of a programming language is an advantage.

Students will gain a deeper understanding of how workforce education, training, and skills development programs affect labor market outcomes. They will develop the ability to critically discuss quantitative models and present complex issues in a clear and comprehensive manner. In addition, participants will improve their ability to better understand and evaluate research, including applied methods.

Seminar Schedule

• 30.04, 11:30 – 13:30:
  • Kick-Off Session (WiÜ Hörsaal):
    1. Introduction to gender economics and labor markets
    2. Introduction to writing & presenting academic work
• 30.04. – 25.06.:
  • Students will be assigned a paper/topic per group, conduct research, and engage in regular consultations with the lecturers within their respective groups.
• 25.06., 10:00 – 14:00:
  • Final presentations (WiÜ Hörsaal)
• After 25.06.:
  • Students work on their research paper

Grade Requirements

• Presentation: time slot for each group: 45 minutes (50% of the final grade)
• Written research paper in the style of a Science Reports article (50% of the final grade)

Attendance Requirements

As with all sessions of the module, attendance is mandatory for the Kick-Off Event. Unexcused absence in the first session will generally result in the loss of the assigned spot. The spot will be allocated to interested students from the waiting list.In general, any absence from a session must be communicated to the instructor in advance. The maximum allowable absence for the module must not be exceeded. For sessions that are part of the examination requirement, absence can only be excused with a medical certificate. The maximum allowable absence for a module also includes absences excused with a medical certificate.

Registration

The latest information on the registration process, including deadlines, is expected to be available from the beginning of March on the School of Business and Economics website.

Exam registration

A separate registration for the examination is mandatory. This must be done via the Curriculum Support section of RWTHonline.

Please note: For didactic reasons, such as the use of case studies or colloquia, registration for the examination takes place during the first week of lectures. More information is available at the link above.

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