ECON455 Labor Economics
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Jan 01, 2026
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Economics
Azra Bičo
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course is designed to introduce students to the analytical tools of modern labor economics by illustrating the method of labor economics with empirical evidence drawn from developed and developing countries
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
McConnel, C. R. &, Brue S.C. &Macpherson D.A. (2021). Contemporary Labor Economics 12th Ed. Mc Graw Hill
Additional Literature
Ehrenberg, R. G. & Smith, R. S. (2018). Modern Labor Economics: Theory and Public Policy. Pearson publisherTeaching Methods
The methods include lectures (which may involve power point presentation
Video and audio aids)
Student presentations
Projects
And class discussions
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introductory lecture | |
| 2 | Labor Economics: Introduction and Overview | Chapter 1 |
| 3 | The Theory of Individual Labor Supply | Chapter 2 |
| 4 | Population, Participation Rates, and Hours of Work | Chapter 3 |
| 5 | Quiz 1 Case study I | |
| 6 | Labor Quality: Investing in Human Capital | Chapter 4 |
| 7 | The Demand for Labor | Chapter 5 |
| 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | |
| 9 | Mobility, Migration, and Efficiency | Chapter 9 |
| 10 | Labor Unions and Collective Bargaining | Chapter 10 |
| 11 | Labor Market Discrimination Chapter | Chapter 14 |
| 12 | QUIZ 2 Case study II | |
| 13 | Employment and Unemployment | Chapter 18 |
| 14 | Nonworking Day | |
| 15 | Final Exam Review Project Presentation Deadlines |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECON455.1 | Course | Thursday 10:00 - 12:50 | B F1.17 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10:00 - 12:00 | B F1.32 | Online MS teams and at Office B F1.32 |
| Wednesday | 10:00 - 12:00 | B F1.32 | Online MS team and Office B F1.32 |
| Thursday | 11:00 - 12:00 | B F1.32 | Online MS team and Office B F1.32 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Case study
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Quizzes
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Group Project
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Home Study
30 hours ⏳ (15 week × 2 h)
Quizz
5 hours ⏳ (1 week × 5 h)
Group Project
16 hours ⏳ (1 week × 16 h)
Midterm Exam Study
20 hours ⏳ (1 week × 20 h)
Final Exam Study
30 hours ⏳ (1 week × 30 h)
Case study
4 hours ⏳ (2 week × 2 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [ECON455] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Jan 01, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| ECON455 | Labor Economics | 3 | 0 | 6 | Thursday 10-12:50 BF1.17 | |||||
| Prerequisite | ECON111 | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Azra Bičo | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Tuesday: 10:00-12:00 Online MS teams and at Office B F1.32 Wednesday: 10:00-12:00 Online MS team and Office B F1.32 Thursday: 11:00-12:00 Online MS team and Office B F1.32 |
|||||||
| abico@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course is designed to introduce students to the analytical tools of modern labor economics by illustrating the method of labor economics with empirical evidence drawn from developed and developing countries | |||||||||
| Textbook | McConnel, C. R. &, Brue S.C. &Macpherson D.A. (2021). Contemporary Labor Economics 12th Ed. Mc Graw Hill | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | The methods include lectures (which may involve power point presentation, video and audio aids), student presentations, projects, and class discussions | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introductory lecture | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Labor Economics: Introduction and Overview | Chapter 1 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | The Theory of Individual Labor Supply | Chapter 2 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Population, Participation Rates, and Hours of Work | Chapter 3 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Quiz 1 Case study I | |||||||||
| Week 6 | Labor Quality: Investing in Human Capital | Chapter 4 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | The Demand for Labor | Chapter 5 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Mobility, Migration, and Efficiency | Chapter 9 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Labor Unions and Collective Bargaining | Chapter 10 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Labor Market Discrimination Chapter | Chapter 14 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | QUIZ 2 Case study II | |||||||||
| Week 13 | Employment and Unemployment | Chapter 18 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Nonworking Day | |||||||||
| Week 15 | Final Exam Review Project Presentation Deadlines | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 20 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Case study | 2 | 10 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Quizzes | 2 | 20 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Group Project | 1 | 20 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Home Study | 2 | 15 | 30 | |||
| Quizz | 5 | 1 | 5 | Group Project | 16 | 1 | 16 | |||
| Midterm Exam Study | 20 | 1 | 20 | Final Exam Study | 30 | 1 | 30 | |||
| Case study | 2 | 2 | 4 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 30/01/2026 | |||||||||