Research group in Labour economics

Research topics

This research group is focused on empirically testing policy relevant issues in labour economics in a broad sense using modern applied micro econometric methods. There are two main research themes: i) The importance of investment in human capital (within the family, via the school system and in advanced research) and ii) the effect of restructuring of firms and industries by assessing productivity gains and labour market outcomes.
One key success factor has been the long term construction of a large data base for firms and workers in the Norwegian economy. The data set captures performance, investment and internal organisation data on firms, plus connecting information on workers’ family background, a complete set of labour market outcomes, and a very rich set of family and background variables. This data set has been extended to include health information, information on twins etc, and this development is still going on.

Networks

The group also has a large international network. The group has received a grant from the Nordic council for a Centre of Excellence in Empirical Labour Economics. Moreover, several group members are associated with respectively the Institute for the Study of Labour (IZA) in Bonn,  the labour group at the University College in London and to CEP/LSE. One member of the group is a international research fellow at CEP. There are also strong connections to the NBER with annual presentations at the summer institute. In terms of Norwegian collaboration, the group has a long-time research cooperation with the University of Oslo/Frisch centre (this includes participation in the centre of excellence at the University of Oslo), Statistics Norway and the University of Bergen.

Research output

The research output of the group is very good and the members of this group have published in top journals like American Economic Review, Quarterly Journal of Economics, Review of Economics and Statistics, Economic Journal, Journal of Human Resources, European Economic Review, as well as various excellent field journals.

Researchers

Kjell G. Salvanes J12, J13, I21, J62, J63, J38, J23, J24
Ragnhild Balsvik J23, J24, J62, J63
Astrid Oline Ervik J12, J13
Astrid Kunze J71, J12, J13; J38
Øivind Anti Nilsen J23, J24, J62, J63, J38, I21
Erik Ø. Sørensen J31, J24, J38, J62, I21

Associated adjunct professor is Sandra E. Black.

PhD students working on issues in labour economics include Julia Tropina and Alief Rezza.