• Demonstrate knowledge of concepts, theories and methods used to study labour market inequality.
• Explain contemporary labour market theories and concepts.
• Operationalise key concepts with relevant data and indicators.
• Develop a relevant research question and design drawing upon the topics covered in the course.
• Show analytical proficiency in handling research questions and in supporting theory-driven arguments with relevant empirical evidence.

Inequality is a central issue in contemporary debates in business and social sciences as exemplified by Piketty’s research on inequality in his path-breaking book – “Capital in the Twenty-First Century". International organisations, such as the OECD, the World Bank and the European Union, are increasingly concerned with rising inequality across and within countries. Welfare states and labour markets are an important source and mitigator of inequalities. At the same time, labour market inequalities have a strong gender dimension which can be tackled by a variety of policies.

This course provides key inside on the role of governments, business and trade unions in creating and mitigating gender and labour market inequalities across countries and sectors of the economy. We examine various inequalities (gender, youth, migrant, low skilled) arising from recent decades of welfare state and labour market reforms and organizational changes within firms. The course thereby provides the students with analytical tools to assess the social and economic sustainability of advanced and emerging economies.

Digitalisation and big data are new trends influencing labour market inequalities. They also create new ethical dilemmas. For instance, we scrutinize the dilemmas in the "gig economy" and its implications on business models, wages and working conditions.

The course also focuses on work-place inequalities, especially from a gendered perspective and with a focus on youth and migrants. We discuss and examine, on the basis of country-examples, what businesses and policy makers can do to tackle such inequalities.

The course will enable the students to conduct independent research within the theme of labour market inequalities. Students will get hands-on experience of using relevant indicators and data and relating these to concepts and theories. This will allow them to analyse and understand complex societal problems. The skills acquired in this course are useful in preparation for writing a bachelor thesis and transferable to other settings, including work in businesses as well as, governmental and international organizations.

The coordinators and teachers of this course have an active labour market and gender research agenda and are involved in a range of EU projects of high relevance to this course.

Indicative overview of sessions

1. Course introduction and lecture – Labour market inequalities

2. Lecture: Social investment across the globe

3. Group exercise – Labour markets and social protection across Europe

4. Lecture: The role of governments in moderating low wages

5. Lecture: The role of collective bargaining in labor market inequalities

6. Lecture: Policies related to gender equality

7. Group exercise: Eurostat’s living and working conditions data base & the OECD’s family data base

8. Lecture: The role of the firm in gender equality

9. Group exercise: Gender and positions of power

10. Lecture: Unemployment, active labour market policies and profiling in public employment services

11. Group exercise: Unemployment and active labour market policies 

12. Lecture: Non-standard employment and precarity

13. Lecture: New inequalities through digitalisation of labour and work in the gig economy?

14. Group exercise: Fair work in the gig economy and working time and work-life balance 

15. Student presentations of research question and approach in view of the exam &  evaluation

• Classic and basic theory
• New theory
• Teacher’s own research

• Development of research questions
• Data collection
• Analysis
• Discussion, critical reflection, modelling
• Peer review including Peer-to-peer
• Students conduct independent research-like activities under supervision

Readings include state-of-the art academic articles, selected book chapters as well as reports by leading international organisations such as the OECD. Below is an indicative sample of readings used for this course:

Doellgast, V., Lillie, N., & Pulignano, V. (Eds.) (2018) Reconstructing Solidarity: Labour Unions, Precarious Work, and the Politics of Institutional Change in Europe. Oxford: Oxford University Press, ch. 1 “From Dualization to Solidarity: Halting the Cycle of Precarity (pp. 1-41). Retrieved from  https:/​/​academic.oup.com/​book/​6187/​chapter/​149772557

de la Porte, C., Larsen, T. and Lundqvist, Å. (2022), ” Still a Poster Child for Social Investment? Changing Regulatory Dynamics of Early childhood education and care (ECEC) in Denmark and Sweden”, Regulation and Governance, https:/​/​doi.org/​10.1111/​rego.12492

Esping-Andersen, G. (2009) Incomplete Revolution: Adapting Welfare States to Women's New Roles, chapters 1 & 2, Polity Press, 19-74.

Kowalewska, H. (2019), Bringing Women on Board: The Social Policy Implications of Gender Diversity in Top Jobs, Journal of Social Policy, DOI: https:/​​/​​doi.org/​​10.1017/​​S0047279419000722

Leschke, J. & Scheele, L. (2024) Social Sustainability and Decent Work on Digital Labour Platforms - Case note (Refs 324-0102-1/8):  http:/​/​casecent.re/​p/​198098

Muñoz de Bustillo R, Fernández-Macías E, Esteve F, & Antón J-I (2011). E pluribus unum? A critical survey of job quality indicators. SOCIO-ECONOMIC REVIEW, 9(3), 447−475.

OECD (2019), Negotiating Our Way Up: Collective Bargaining in a Changing World of Work: Executive Summary and Overview, OECD Publishing, Paris, https:/​/​doi.org/​10.1787/​1fd2da34-en

OECD (2017) The Pursuit of Gender Equality: An uphill battle, OECD Employment Outlook, Paris: OECD, Consult chapters 4 & 11.

O’Reilly, J., Leschke, J., Ortlieb, R., Seeleib-Kaiser, M. & Villa, P. (2019) Comparing the problems of youth labor market transitions in Europe: Joblessness, insecurity, institutions, and inequality, ch 1 in: O’Reilly et al. (eds.) Youth Labor in Transition: Inequalities, Mobility and Policies in Europe, Oxford University Press

Rubery, J. and Grimshaw, D. (2015) The 40-year pursuit of equal pay: a case of

constantly moving goalposts, Cambridge Journal of Economics Vol 39, 319–343: doi:10.1093/cje/beu053

Trygstad, S., Larsen, T. P., Nergaard, K. (2018) Dealing with austerity and migration in the northern European cleaning sector: Social partner strategies to strengthen wage floors, European Journal of Industrial Relations, online first: https:/​​/​​doi.org/​​10.1177/​​0959680118790818

Wood, A., Graham, M. & Lehdonvirta, V. (2019) Good Gig, Bad Gig: Autonomy and Algorithmic Control in the Global Gig Economy, Work, Employment and Society, Vol 33(1): 56 –75.