Comprehensively surveying the field of labor economics, this market-leading textbook showcases both current and classic research. The authors develop the modern theory of labor market behavior, summarize empirical evidence supporting or contradicting each hypothesis, and illustrate the usefulness of various theories for public policy analysis. In addition to the policy examples woven throughout the narrative, each chapter offers two or more cases that illustrate the application of theory in a nontraditional, business, historical, or cross-cultural context. The Eighth Edition provides updated coverage and references to the professional literature throughout, as well as many new boxed policy examples and new end-of-chapter numerical problems.