Type of Credit: Elective
Credit(s)
Number of Students
The Economics of Human Capital is a one-semester course at the senior-undergraduate or graduate level that offers a comprehensive examination of human capital accumulation. Topics include population dynamics, education and training, labor migration, entrepreneurship, nutrition and health, and gender. The course investigates the role of human capital in economic development by analyzing its properties and channels of accumulation through both theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence, with particular emphasis on economic reasoning and interpretation. Upon completion, students will understand the essence of human capital, its distinction from traditional physical capital, and its influence on labor market performance—both in terms of efficiency and equity—as well as on macroeconomic growth. Finally, the course addresses the effects of globalization and digitalization on human capital accumulation and income inequality.
能力項目說明
Over the course, students will be able to understand what is the essence of human capital, how different it is compared to traditional physical capital, and, more importantly, how it affects labor market performance in terms of efficiency and equality and a country’s economic growth from a macro perspective.
Course contents
0. The role of human capital in the labor market and economic development (week 1-2)
1. Population (week 3-4)
2. Labor employment and reallocation (week 5-6)
3. Education and Training (week 7-8)
4. Entrepreneurship (Week 9-10)
5. Nutrition and Health (Week 11-12)
6. Women (Week 13-14)
7. Migration (Week 15-16)
8. The impact of globalization and digitalization on human capital accumulation (Week 17-18)
|
週次 Week |
課程主題 Course Theme |
課程內容與指定閱讀 Content and Reading Assignment |
教學活動與作業 Activity and Homework |
學習投入時數 Estimated time devoted to coursework per week |
|
|
課堂講授 Lecture Hours |
課程前後 Preparation Time |
||||
|
1 |
The role of human resources in economic development |
See the corresponding reading list |
lectures, in-class discussions and presentation |
3.0 |
4.5 |
|
2 |
1. Population |
See the corresponding reading list |
lectures, in-class discussions and presentation |
3.0 |
4.5 |
|
3 |
1. Population |
See the corresponding reading list |
lectures, in-class discussions and presentation |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
4 |
2. Labor employment and reallocation |
See the corresponding reading list |
lectures, in-class discussions and presentation |
3.0 |
4.5 |
|
5 |
2. Labor employment and reallocation |
See the corresponding reading list |
lectures, in-class discussions and presentation |
3.0 |
4.5 |
|
6 |
3. Education and Training |
See the corresponding reading list |
lectures, in-class discussions and presentation |
3.0 |
4.5 |
|
7 |
3. Education and Training |
See the corresponding reading list |
lectures, in-class discussions and presentation |
3.0 |
4.5 |
|
8 |
Mid-term Project proposal |
Comments and guidance |
Proposal presentation |
3.0 |
4.5 |
|
9 |
4. Entrepreneurship |
See the corresponding reading list |
lectures, in-class discussions and presentation |
3.0 |
4.5 |
|
10 |
5. Nutrition and Health |
See the corresponding reading list |
lectures, in-class discussions and presentation |
3.0 |
4.5 |
|
11 |
6. Women & Gender Inequality |
See the corresponding reading list |
lectures, in-class discussions and presentation |
3.0 |
4.5 |
|
12 |
6. Women & Gender Inequality |
See the corresponding reading list |
lectures, in-class discussions and presentation |
3.0 |
4.5 |
|
13 |
7. Migration |
See the corresponding reading list |
lectures, in-class discussions and presentation |
3.0 |
4.5 |
|
14 |
8. The impact of technology & globalization on human capital accumulation |
See the corresponding reading list |
lectures, in-class discussions and presentation |
3.0 |
4.5 |
|
15 |
8.The impact of technology & globalization on human capital accumulation |
See the corresponding reading list |
lectures, in-class discussions and presentation |
3.0 |
4.5 |
|
16 |
Term paper writing |
instruction and guidance |
paper writing |
3.0 |
4.5 |
本課程授課老師將安排6小時自主學習課程進度，將於學期課堂公告
Course Requirements and Grading
Course Structure and Objectives
This course employs a problem-based and self-directed learning methodology. There are no prerequisites for registration. Students will engage in in-class presentations and discussions of scholarly articles, develop a mid-term project proposal, and submit a final term paper.
Assessment Components and Weighting
Students who contribute creatively to class discussions may receive a bonus. Unexcused absences will negatively impact the final grade.
Submission Guidelines for the Final Term Paper
The term paper is due on 26 December 2025. Submissions must be sent via email to ycchuang@nccu.edu.tw, with the student number as the file name. Late submissions will incur a significant grade penalty.
Guidelines for In-Class Article Presentations
經108.01.17(四)行管碩第100次學程委員會會議決議，「學程辦公室點名，四次缺席(含)以上者，本課程修業成績視為不及格」。
Suggested Textbooks
Becker, G. S. (1993). Human capital: A theoretical and empirical analysis, with special reference to education (3rd ed.). University of Chicago Press.
Burton-Jones, A., & Spender, J. C. (Eds.). (2011). The Oxford handbook of human capital. Oxford University Press.
Hartog, J., & Maassen van den Brink, H. (Eds.). (2007). Human capital: Advances in theory and evidence. Cambridge University Press.
Meier, G. M., & Rauch, J. E. (2000). Leading issues in economic development (7th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Mincer, J. (1974). Schooling, experience, and earnings. National Bureau of Economic Research.
Peña, P. A. (2025). Human capital for humans: An accessible introduction to the economic science of people. University of Chicago Press.
Perrotta, C., Rizzello, S., & Sunna, C. (2023). Human capital: The driving force for economic development. Palgrave Macmillan Cham.
| 書名 Book Title | 作者 Author | 出版年 Publish Year | 出版者 Publisher | ISBN | 館藏來源* | 備註 Note |
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