Applying to the Graduate Program.
History of Political Economy is a field within the regular M.A. and Ph.D programs in the Economics Department. Prospective students must meet the admissions requirements. Election of fields and choice of thesis topics comes after the first year of core economics courses. Prospective students interested in history of economics are advised to contact a faculty member in the HOPE Group for answers to questions and to let us know when you apply.
The History of Political Economy Field. The graduate field in History of Political Economy consistents of two courses chosen from Economics 237, 246, 248, 264, 290, and 297, plus a paper with an oral examination on the topic of the paper and additional topics as agreed with the examiners.
Graduate students in the History of Political Economy field are expected to participate fully in the informal lunchtime HOPE Workshop and Seminar Series to present their own work and to learn from and about the work of other scholars.
Past Graduates and Initial Placements.
A listing of former graduate students in the history of political economy and related area -- their disseration titles and their initial and current placements -- is found under the People link on the HOPE homepage.
The Undergraduate Field. The Department of Economics is undertaking a major restructuring of our course offerings. Over the next four years we will offer more field courses, mid-sized courses that cover particular advanced topics within a specific field, and introduce research workshops that will allow undergraduates to participate in the research process within four general areas of research, one of which is the History and Philosophy of Economics. For more general information, consult see the Undergraduate Economics Major & Research Initiative.
The field in History of Economics/Economic History (including Philosophy of Economics) consists of two of three “core courses” (Econ 137, Econ 148, Econ 190S) plus any other two courses offered in the area (see the complete list) under Courses. Students interested in Economic History should choose their two electives from among Econ 132, 136, 138, and 291. See Honors below for further information about honors in this field.
Honors. General information on the honors program in Economics. The HOPE Group welcomes students interested in writing an honors thesis on a topic in the history of economics. There are three paths to honors. Students on path 1, in addition to the Undergraduate Field (see above), should take should take the Honors Junior Research Workshop in the Spring semester of their junior year (Econ 201S) and the Fall of their senior year (Econ 202S). These courses are offered cooperatively by members of the HOPE Group and aims to introduce students to research and research methods in the history of economics and to help them to develop a thesis topic. Students may also follow path 2, enrolling in an honors seminar in their senior year of path 3, working independently with a member of the HOPE Group. For further detals on these paths, consult the general information on honors in Economics.
132. Introduction to Economic History. CCI, CZ, SS A survey of Western economic history: population, production, exchange, and institutions; from antiquity to the present. Prerequisite: Economics 2, 2D, 52D or 55D. Instructor: Craig or staff. One course. C-L: History 130B
136. The International Economy Since 1800. CCI, CZ, SS "Modern economic growth" in international perspective. The history of international economic institutions, the economic causes and effects of wars, international financial instability, growth and globalization. Prerequisite: Economics 1, 1A, 1D or 51D; Economics 110 or 154 recommended. Instructor: Toniolo. One course.
137. (Same as Phil 145). The Philosophy and Methodology of Economics. EI, SS Economic methodology and the philosophy of science with a focus on its applications to economics. Includes classic contributions of economists and philosophers as well as a variety of recent topics at the intersection of philosophy and economics, such as models, causality, reductionism, and realism. Instructor: Hoover. One course.
138. History of Globalization in the Twentieth Century. (QID) CCI, CZ, SS The two major globalization drives that frame the twentieth century and in between them: two war economies, the great depression, autarky, postwar efforts to revive the international economy. Prerequisite: Economics 1, 1A, 1D or 51D; Economics 110 or 154 recommended. Instructor: Toniolo. One course. C-L: History 153B
146. Adam Smith and the System of Natural Liberty. SS, STS The writings of Adam Smith, including close readings of The Wealth of Nations and The Theory of Moral Sentiments, and selections from Mandeville, Hutcheson, Hume, Quesnay, Turgot, and Bentham. Focus on eighteenth-century views on the nature of society and the origins of prosperity, the luxury debate, and links between natural philosophy (including medical thought), and moral philosophy. Economics 148 desirable prior to taking this course. Prerequisites: Economics 1, 1A, 1D or 51D; and Economics 2, 2D, 52D, or 55D. Instructor: De Marchi. One course. C-L: History 146A, International Comparative Studies
148. History of Economic Thought. CCI, R, SS, W Approaches to economic problems from Aristotle to Keynes, emphasizing certain models and doctrines—their origins, relevance, and evolution. Readings from Mun, Quesnay, Adam Smith, Malthus, Ricardo, Marx, Walras, Veblen, and Keynes. Prerequisite: Economics 1, 1A, 1D or 51D; and Economics 2, 2D, 52D or 55D. Instructor: Goodwin. One course. C-L: History 141B, International Comparative Studies
150. The Uses of Economics. CZ, R, SS, STS, W The various ways economics is used in contemporary society: in the scholarly community, government, private sector, civil society, other disciplines, and popular culture. Readings in original texts and interpretative commentaries. Combined with Economics 148, this course may yield a written product suitable for submission for graduation with distinction. Prerequisites: Economics 1, 1A, 1D or 51D; and Economics 2, 2D, 52D or 55D. Instructor: Goodwin. One course.
164. Formulating Macroeconomic Concerns, 1936-86. (QID) SS How social and political concerns, ideals of fairness, the availability of appropriate quantitative information, and modeling techniques shaped the way macroeconomic issues were perceived during this period, principally in the United States. Evolutionary case studies of selected issues including inflation/deflation, unemployment, the incentives-security complex, markets, and taxation, distribution, and growth to understand the changing contexts within which models have been conceived and considered applicable. Prerequisite: (or corequisite) Economics 110 or 154. Instructor: Hoover, or staff. One course.
190S. The Development of Modern Economic Thought. R, SS, STS, W Selective survey of the development of economic thinking in the twentieth century, with emphasis on the construction of economics as a science. Research papers required. Prerequisite: Economics 1, 1A, 1D or 51D; and Economics 2, 2D, 52D or 55D. Instructor: Weintraub. One course. C-L: History 199A
195S.06. Selected Topics in Economics: Economics and the Bloomsbury Group. Instructor: Goodwin. One course.
197S. Economic Science Studies. R, SS, STS, W Application of techniques of science and technology studies to problems in the history, philosophy, methodology, and sociology of economics. Addresses modern economics as an illustrative case of issues arising in Studies of Scientific Knowledge. What counts as ''fact'' in economics? Who decides, and by what processes of negotiation? Does accepting that knowledge in economics is a construct reduce the usefulness of that knowledge and affect the notion of progress in economic science? Why has mathematical economics enjoyed such success in recent decades? Close readings in texts across the sciences and in modern economics, and the history of mathematics, culminating in a research project. Prerequisites: Economics 1, 1A, 1D or 51D; and Economics 2, 2D, 52D or 55D. Instructor: Weintraub. One course. C-L: Sociology 187S
200CS. Economics, Society, and Morality in 18th Century Thought. Explorations of eighteenth-century topics with a modern counterpart, chiefly (a) self-interest, liberal society, and economic incentive; and (b) the passions, sociality, civic virtue, common moral sensibilities, and the formation of taste and opinion. Original texts: for example, Bacon, Newton, Shaftesbury, Mandeville, Hutcheson, Hume, Smith, Hogarth, Burke, Cato's Letters, Federalist Papers, Jane Austen. Stress on integrating economic and political science perspectives. Open only to seniors majoring in either economics or political science. Not open to students who have had Economics 146. Economics 105 or 149; and Economics 110 or 154. Instructors: De Marchi and Grant.
246. Adam Smith and the System of Natural Liberty. R, SS, STS Same as Economics 146, but requires an additional paper; not open to students who have taken Economics 146 or 151. Instructor: De Marchi. One course.
248. History of Economic Thought. CCI, R, SS Approaches to economic problems from Aristotle to Keynes, emphasizing certain models and doctrines—their origins, relevance, and evolution. Readings from Mun, Quesnay, Adam Smith, Malthus, Ricardo, Marx, Walras, Veblen, and Keynes. (Similar to Economics 148, but requires an additional assignment. Not open to students who have taken Economics 148.) Prerequisites: Economics 1, 1A, 1D or 51D; and Economics 2, 2D, 52D or 55D. Instructor: Goodwin. One course. C-L: International Comparative Studies
264. Formulating Macroeconomic Concerns, 1936-86. (QID) R, SS Same as Economics 164, but requires an additional paper; not open to students who have taken Economics 164. Prerequisite: (or corequisite) Economics 110 or 154. Instructor: Hoover, or staff. One course.
291. European Economic History. CCI, SS Covers period since the late eighteenth century. Topics include: modern economic growth in historical perspective, the industrial revolution, the standard-of-living debate, patterns of European growth (with case studies of France, Germany, Italy, and Russia), the classical gold standard, the economic consequences of World War II, the great depression, postwar reconstruction, and the European ''miracle'' of the 1950s and 1960s. Prerequisites: Economics 105 or 149; and Economics 110 or 154. Instructor: Toniolo. One course.
293. Research Independent Study. R Individual research in a field of special interest under the supervision of a faculty member, the central goal of which is a substantive paper or written report containing significant analysis and interpretation of a previously approved topic. Consent of instructor and director of undergraduate studies required. Instructor: Staff. One course.
297S. Economic Science Studies. R, SS, STS, W Same as Economics 197S, but requires an additional paper; not open to students who have taken Economics 197S. Prerequisites: Economics 1, 1A, 1D or 51D; and Economics 2, 2D, 52D or 55D. Instructor: Weintraub. One course. C-L: Sociology 187S
