RFBerlin Podcast Series

In this podcast episode dedicated to the new edition of the Handbook of Labor Economics, Professor Suresh Naidu from Columbia University discusses the recent resurgence of union power, for example, in the context of the successful United Auto Workers (UAW) strike in 2023. The conversation highlights several key points with policy implications: Do unions affect inequality? How effective is union membership? Do they protect the rights and the benefits of union members, or do they have spillover effects in the rest of the labour market? Professor Naidu takes a historical perspective and discusses the shift in the balance of power between employers and workers over the 20th century, up to the post-COVID era, characterized by a tight labour market and high corporate profits. He argues that the spillover effects of union-negotiated contracts can raise wages even for non-union workers, suggesting that a stronger union presence could be a tool for addressing income inequality on a broader scale. Follow us and stay informed:

In this podcast episode dedicated to the new edition of the Handbook of Labor Economics, Professor Stephen Machin from the London School of Economics discusses the recent advances in the Economics of Crime. What are the economic consequences of crime on society? What is the impact of crime on victims? Professor Machin illustrates how better administrative data has helped quantify the labour market and psychological effects of crime and has shown how such effects are long-lasting. Improved estimates of the costs of crime can inform more effective policy decisions, potentially guiding the prioritization of resource allocation for crime reduction. Follow us and stay informed:

In this podcast episode dedicated to the new edition of the Handbook of Labor Economics, Professor Katherine Shaw from Stanford Graduate School of Business discusses the recent advances in Personnel Economics and, in particular, the role of managers. What do managers do, how do they do it, and what is their impact on workers' productivity? She explains that good managers can significantly boost team productivity, equivalent to adding an extra team member. Her research highlights that effective management is crucial for employee retention and satisfaction, especially during economic downturns.  Follow us and stay informed:

In this podcast episode dedicated to the new edition of the Handbook of Labor Economics, professors Barbara Petrongolo and Jessica Pan discuss the progress and ongoing challenges in achieving gender equality in the labor market. Which policies have been more effective in narrowing the gender gap over the last 50 years? They highlight the significant progress made in reducing the wage gap and increasing female participation. However, they point out persistent issues like the motherhood penalty, occupational segregation and barriers in the organization of work. Effective policies have included childcare support, although longer parental leaves have shown limited success. Both emphasize the role of Claudia Goldin's pioneering work to advance our understanding of the historical and economic factors driving gender convergence and the persistent inequalities that remain.  Follow us and stay informed:

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.   Follow us and stay informed:

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. Follow us and stay informed:

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. Follow us and stay informed:

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.  Follow us and stay informed:

 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.  Follow us and stay informed:

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.  Follow us and stay informed:

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. Follow us and stay informed:

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. Follow us and stay informed:

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. Follow us and stay informed:

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. Follow us and stay informed:

In this podcast, Project Leader Thomas Cornelissen, Professor of Economics from the University of Essex, discusses his research project funded by the ROCKWOOL Foundation. Thomas is motivated by the evolving nature of work and the increasing importance of peer effects and social interactions, especially in today's changing work environment, including remote work. He highlights the complex interplay between learning from co-workers and competition among colleagues and its implications for businesses seeking to harness these effects for workforce improvement. Follow us and stay informed:

In this podcast, we explore the research of Jérôme Adda, an Economics professor at Bocconi and Project Leader at RFBerlin. Jérôme discusses his ROCKWOOL Foundation-funded projects, combining his background in biology with economics. The first project tackles the pressing issue of antibiotics resistance, an extensively studied medical challenge that remains relatively unexplored in economics. The second project focuses on changes in population health as economies shift from manufacturing to service jobs. Tune in to gain insights into these thought-provoking studies at the intersection of economics, biology, and societal dynamics. Follow us and stay informed:

Tommaso Frattini is a Deputy Director of RFBerlin and a Professor of Economics at University of Milan. In this episode he introduces Global Migration Information Hub (GMIH), an initiative to disseminative knowledge on migration. By piecing together data and information from different sources, GMIH aims to bridge the gap between facts and perception. Tommaso talks about critical issues related to migration and refugees, and how GMIH strives to facilitate research on this topic. In addition, the interactive visualisation dashboard, available on the hub, provides a comprehensive picture to a wider audience, from journalists and policy makers to the general public. Join us on this episode to learn how GMIH intends to contribute to the heated debate on migration in a politically neutral way. Follow us and stay informed:

Alexandra Spitz-Oener, Deputy Director of RFBerlin, Professor of Economics at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and a research associate at the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) in Nuremberg, talks about her research on how machines and workers interact in the workplace from a long term perspective. From the introduction of computers in the late 1970s and the 1980s, robots in the 1990s, to artificial intelligence in more recent time, what implications technology adoption have on the nature of work: disappearing jobs and/or arrival of new jobs, changing quality of jobs and task contents over time? Alexandra's research aims to answer questions of this type and address (lack of evidence-based) concerns over displacement of workers. Join us on this episode to learn more about the data employed, the upside and downside of technological changes, as well as challenges faced by firms in order to fully reap the benefits of machines and technologies. Follow us and stay informed:

Christian Dustmann, Director of ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin Institute for the Economy and the Future of Work (RFBerlin), Professor of Economics at University College London, Director at Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM), opens our podcast series by introducing the Institute, its stellar team, its research focuses, and its mission on development of the next generation of scholars. Our series will then go on with interviews of our Project Leaders, who briefly talk about their own research and the projects they are currently working on at RFBerlin. Join us as we explore a diverse range of topics, including employment trends, wage dynamics, labor market inequalities, technological advances, migration, the gig economy, skills development, and the future of work. Follow us and stay informed: