ASOK15418U Comparative Sociology of Labour Markets

The course introduces students to comparative studies of labour markets in modern capitalism, including especially how national institutions and customs impinge on the relationships between workers and employers. Students are introduced to the major theories in the field, to methods of how to compare labour markets cross-nationally and to major empirical issues in the study of labour markets.

The 14 sessions are organised into three parts. In the first part, we review classic and newer theoretical orientations in the study of labour markets. In addition to the sociology of work and economic sociology, this includes theories originating from disciplines such as labour econonomics, industrial relations and political economy. In the second part, we review methods for comparing cross-nationally ranging from large-N to small-N methods. Strengths and weaknesses of theses methods are disccussed. In the third part, we review and discuss major empirical issues such as role of organised actors like trade unions and employer associations, wage (in)equality and precarious work. Hereby, students are introduced to the different impact on national labour markets of economic liberalization and technological development.