Economics explains discrimination in the labour market

Introduction

This unit will give you a stimulating and insightful account of the ways in which economists have tried to understand what labour market discrimination is and what its sources are. Notice the reference to the ‘ways [plural] … economists have tried to understand’. The most basic message of this unit is that economics is not a subject in which there is one single correct answer.

This unit will also assist you in developing your ability to use and evaluate economic theory, and help you build or improve other academic skills. The evaluative skills developed will help you to begin to form a properly considered view about the merits of the alternative theoretical approaches.

This material is from our archive and is an adapted extract from Understanding economic behaviour (D319) which is no longer taught by The Open University. If you want to study formally with us, you may wish to explore other courses we offer in this subject area [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] .