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62658-01 - Lecture: Human Resources and Industrial Relations (3 CP)
| Semester | spring semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Every spring sem. |
| Lecturers | Thomas Zwick (thomas.zwick@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | This lecture focuses on the organization of decentralized structures using theoretical models, empirical applications, and econometric methods. In addition, the impact of institutional rules on problems of human resource management is discussed. The first part of the lecture provides introductions to human resource management and industrial relations as well as basic econometrics. Introduction 1: Human Resource Management & Industrial Relations Introduction 2: Some basic econometrics Chapter 1: The employment contract Chapter 2: Motivation Chapter 3: Employee resistance against reorganisations Chapter 4: The role of works councils Chapter 5: Works councils and the employer wage structure Chapter 6: The behaviour of labour unions Chapter 7: Credentials and signalling Chapter 8: Minimum wages and training |
| Learning objectives | Students gain in-depth knowledge on basic mechanisms of establishment organisation as well as the impact of important institutional rules in theory and empirical applications. |
| Bibliography | Chapters 1 and 2: Milgrom, Roberts (1992), Economics, Organization and Management, Prentice Hall Foster and Rosenzweig (1994), A test for moral hazard in the labor market: Contractual arrangements, effort, and health, The Review of Economics and Statistics 76(2), 213-227. Chapter 3: Zwick (2003), Empirische Determinanten des Widerstandes von Mitarbeitern gegen Innovationen, Schmalenbachs Zeitschrift für betriebswirtschaftliche Forschung 55, 45-59. Maenen, De Hauw (2013), Work Organisation and Innovation, Case Study: Bombardier Belgium, Eurofound, Dublin. Chapter 4: Freeman, Lazear (1995), An Economic Analysis of Works Councils, in Rogers, Streeck (eds.) Works Councils, Chicago, 27-50. Weiler (2006) EWC Case Studies, Volkswagen AG, Eurofound, Dublin. Chapter 5: Addison, Teixeira, Zwick (2010), Works Councils and the Anatomy of Wages, Industrial and Labor Relations Review 63 (2), 240-273. Chapter 6: Atherton (1973), Theory of Union Bargaining Goals, Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. Oesch (2011), Swiss trade unions and industrial relations after 1990: a history of decline and renewal, in: Trampusch, Mach (eds.) Switzerland in Europe, Routledge, 82-102. Chapter 7: Garibaldi (2006), Personnel Economics in Imperfect Labour Market, Oxford University Press, Oxford (chapter 6). Mohrenweiser, Wydra-Somaggio, Zwick (2020), Information advantages of training employers despite credible training certificates, Oxford Economic Papers 72(3), 651-671. Chapter 8: Zigova, Zwick (2025), Minimum wages and the structure of training, Swiss Leading House Working Paper 242, Zurich. Berger, Lanz (2022), Minimum wage regulation in Switzerland: Survey evidence for restaurants in the canton in Neuchâtel, Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics 156:20. Econometrics: Greene, W.H. (2003), Econometric Analysis, Upper Saddle River. Wooldridge, J. M. (2006), Introductory Econometrics. A modern approach, Mason. |
| Weblink | Weblink to ADAM |
| Admission requirements | none |
| Course application | Registration: Please enroll in the Online Services (services.unibas.ch); Eucor-Students and mobility students of other Swiss Universities or the FHNW first have to register at the University of Basel BEFORE the start of the course and receive their login data by post (e-mail address of the University of Basel). Processing time up to a week! Detailed information can be found here: https://www.unibas.ch/de/Studium/Mobilitaet.html After successful registration you can enroll for the course in the Online Services (services.unibas.ch). Applies to everyone: Enrolment = Registration for the course and the exam! A deregistration is possible by email to belegungstorno-wwz@unibas.ch by April 17, 2026, 8 pm at the latest, stating the course number, title and your matriculation number. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| unregelmässig | See individual dates | ||
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 17.04.2026 | 12.15-19.00 | Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät, Seminarraum S15 HG.31 |
| Saturday 18.04.2026 | 09.15-14.00 | Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät, Seminarraum S15 HG.31 |
| Friday 24.04.2026 | 12.15-19.00 | Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät, Seminarraum S15 HG.31 |
| Saturday 25.04.2026 | 09.15-14.00 | Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät, Seminarraum S15 HG.31 |
| Modules |
Module: Business Field: Human Resources (Master's Studies: Business and Technology) Module: Core Courses in Labor Economics, Human Resources and Organization (Master's Studies: Business and Economics) Module: Specific Electives in Business and Economics (Master's Studies: Business and Economics) Module: Specific Electives in Labor Economics, Human Resources and Organization (Master's Studies: Business and Economics) |
| Assessment format | record of achievement |
| Assessment details | Written examination: tbd |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registr.; dereg.: Office of the Dean of Studies |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | 1-6 0,1 |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Business and Economics , studiendekanat-wwz@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Faculty of Business and Economics |