Topics in Historical Labour Markets

This advanced option paper explores topics related to the development and functioning of historical labour markets. It introduces core frameworks from labour economics and related social sciences and considers their application across a wide range of historical contexts. Cases from pre-industrial economies to the twentieth century will illuminate topics that may include unemployment, labour supply, wages, human capital accumulation, and migration, explored through recent findings in economic history.  The course encourages students to consider how labour markets have evolved over time and to critically assess the extent to which economic theory and methods can be used to identify and interpret those changes.