RFBerlin Podcast Series

In this podcast episode dedicated to the new edition of the Handbook of Labor Economics, Tim Phillips speaks with Patrick Kline, Professor of Economics at UC Berkeley, about monopsony in the labor market.

Unlike monopoly, where a single supplier dominates, monopsony occurs when a single buyer—in this case, an employer—has significant power to set wages. 

Prof. Kline discusses recent research on the prevalence of monopsony and the role of policy and regulation in addressing monopsony power. He emphasizes the need for rigorous understanding and innovative policy solutions to tackle this issue effectively.  

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In this podcast episode dedicated to the new edition of the Handbook of Labor Economics, Gordon Hanson (Peter Wertheim Professor in Urban Policy at Harvard Kennedy School) and David Dorn (UBS Foundation Professor of Globalization and Labor Markets at the University of Zurich) discuss the current state of globalization and its impact on the labor market. 

The speakers debate the effectiveness of tariffs and protectionism, suggesting that they often fail to create jobs and can lead to retaliatory measures, exacerbating job losses. They conclude with a call for policymakers to consider the evidence against protectionist policies and to focus on strategies that genuinely support workers and promote innovation in the face of economic changes.

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In this episode of our podcast series dedicated to the new editions of the Handbook of Labor Economics, Arindrajit Dube, Provost Professor of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, tackles the contentious issue of raising the minimum wage. 

While some advocate the minimum wage as an effective tool to combat poverty, others have argued that it could destroy jobs and increase prices. Who’s right? Prof. Dube addresses this question my summarizing what economists have learned about the impacts of minimum wages in the labor market over the last 25 years. He explains how higher minimum wages do not necessarily lead to job losses, but they could instead help firms reduce turnover and retain workers, as well as increase family incomes and reduce reliance on social assistance.  

Arindrajit Dube is the Provost Professor of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), and a Research Fellow at the Institue of Labor Economics (IZA). Professor Dube is considered a world-leading expert on the economic effects of minimum wage policies. His current areas of research include wage inequality, the importance of labor market competition, the effects of minimum wages on employment and inequality, the role of fairness concerns at the workplace and the role of firm wage policies in explaining the growth in inequality.

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🐦 X/Twitter: @RF_Berlin
🎥 YouTube: youtube.com/@RFBerlin

How will the rise of AI change our jobs? Should workers have a say in how and when AI is deployed? 
In this episode of our podcast series, dedicated to the new editions of the Handbook of Labor Economics, Professor Daron Acemoglu clarifies the nuances of these ongoing trends.

Daron Acemoglu, a renowned economist and Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is a leading researcher in macroeconomics, political economy, and labor economics. Based on his extensive work on technical change, AI and innovation, his insights are both influential and timely.

In this episode, Professor Acemoglu emphasizes that technological progress does not automatically lead to better jobs or higher wages. There is no disagreement that the current generation of AI technologies is pretty impressive, as they are doing things that many people thought impossible.  He argues that there is a feasible and socially desirable pro-human, pro-worker direction of AI. At the same time, he warns us about the current direction of technological development which may hinder human agency. 

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 Labor earnings for college-educated workers are about 65-70% higher than for workers without college education. Why do college graduates earn more? How will the emergence of AI shape the college wage premium and college education in the years to come? 

David J. Deming, Isabelle and Scott Black Professor of Political Economy at Harvard University, opens our podcast series dedicated to the new edition of the Handbook of Labor Economics with his work on education, skills, inequality, and the future of work. In this episode, he discusses the college wage premium and the impact of AI on college education. Prof. Deming sheds light on how college education enhances the productivity and value of individuals in the labor market and shares insights into the future of work and education. He argues that while AI may change the nature of work, it will not diminish the importance of education, but rather shift the focus towards higher-order skills and competencies. 

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Project leader Andrea Weber, a professor of economics at the Central European University in Vienna, brings the first season of RFBerlin Talks to a close with her work on intra-European Union migration, specifically between Austria and Germany. Andrea highlights the lack of comprehensive data on these movements, emphasizing the importance of understanding their effects and policy implications. Her research aims to explore how labor mobility aligns with the European Union's principles while addressing the challenges stemmed from institutional differences across member countries. 

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🎥 YouTube: youtube.com/@RFBerlin

Project leader Jan Nimczik, an assistant professor of economics at the European School of Management Technology (ESMT) in Berlin, discusses his research on labor markets and migration. How did the German reunification, a major shock to the East German labor market, influence migration decisions? How personal connections act as a driver of mobility, especially in times of rapid changes? Join us in this episode to learn more about network effects and migration responses.

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🌐 Online: rfberlin.com
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/rockwool-foundation-berlin
🐦 X/Twitter: @RF_Berlin
🎥 YouTube: youtube.com/@RFBerlin

In this podcast, project leader Albrecht Glitz, an associate professor at the University Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, shares his journey as a labor economist with a unique twist: a research interest in espionage. Albrecht's research is based on a remarkable data set from the East German secret service during the Cold War, offering unprecedented insights into espionage activities. How did they get access to such data? What is the connection between economic espionage, globalisation, and welfare? Join us in this episode to find out more.

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🌐 Online: rfberlin.com
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/rockwool-foundation-berlin
🐦 X/Twitter: @RF_Berlin
🎥 YouTube: youtube.com/@RFBerlin

Project Leader Guido Friebel, professor of human resources at Goethe University in Frankfurt,  discusses his research on co-determination within firms with a focus on Denmark's model of worker committees. These committees, distinct from traditional worker councils, emphasize cooperation and trust between management and employees.  Tune in to explore the complex relationship between workers and firms in Europe, and the impact of co-determination on profitability, worker well-being and workplace quality.

 Stay connected:
🌐 Online: rfberlin.com
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/rockwool-foundation-berlin
🐦 X/Twitter: @RF_Berlin
🎥 YouTube: youtube.com/@RFBerlin

Project Leader Sascha Becker is a professor of economics and Xiaokai Yang Chair of Business and Economics at Monash University, Melbourne and part-time professor at the University of Warwick in England. In this podcast, Sascha discusses project at RFBerlin, which aims to unravel the historic roots of regional disparities, tracing economic development over 150 years in Germany. To find out how this fascinating study is carried out and its implications, join us in this episode.

 Stay connected:
🌐 Online: rfberlin.com
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/rockwool-foundation-berlin
🐦 X/Twitter: @RF_Berlin
🎥 YouTube: youtube.com/@RFBerlin