This course introduces basic concepts in microeconomics using the lens of human  resources to investigate and apply these concepts. The economics of human  resources, frequently called personnel economics, is concerned with improving the  outcomes of both employees and employers. The basic premise of the course is that  employees have skills and talents that are useful to firms in the labor market. When  employees are put to work as productively as possible, both the employee and the  employer benefit. The course predominately focuses on the perspective of the firm. It  addresses questions such as: Which workers should I hire? How should I train and  promote them? How should I structure compensation to motivate them? Although  economists tend to focus on for-profit firms, nonprofit organizations such as  foundations, governmental agencies, and institutions of higher education also serve as  instructive examples. The theories we examine and the lessons we learn can be widely  applied across any organization paying employees for labor whether that organization  is building houses, selling ice cream, writing policy briefs, or teaching students.