EH422
Topics in Quantitative Economic History
This information is for the 2013/14 session.
Teacher responsible
TBA
Availability
This course is compulsory on the MSc in Quantitative Economic History. This course is available on the MA Global Studies: A European Perspective, MSc in Economic History, MSc in Economic History (Research) and MSc in Global History. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.
The course is particularly appropriate for those students who are considering following a quantitative economic history PhD thesis in the future.
Pre-requisites
Students enrolled for this course are expected to have completed the equivalent of undergraduate courses in econometrics and intermediate economic theory.
Course content
The course is organised on a topic basis, with subjects chosen to illustrate particular theoretical, quantitative or methodological issues. Such topics could include: long run comparative economic growth; human capital issues in economic history; the macroeconomics of the inter-war years; the political economy of trade; industrial economic history; technological change; quantitative approaches to the evolution of markets; the new economic history of institutional change; analysing historical welfare issues. The aims are to: examine the techniques used by economic historians and to assess their validity and whether they help to further our understanding of the particular historical issue to which they have been applied; and to teach students how to evaluate the relevance of historical hypotheses and the historical applicability of models from economic and other social scientific theory. Students are able to investigate in detail the analysis contained in important journal articles using appropriate computer packages.
Teaching
20 hours of seminars in the MT. 20 hours of seminars in the LT.
20 two-hour lectures/ seminar in the MT and LT; some of this Teaching will take the form of computing workshops.
Formative coursework
Three or four papers or presentations during the session
Indicative reading
M Bordo, A Taylor, J Williamson (2003), Globalization in Historical Perspective; Y S Brenner, H Kaelble & M Thomas (eds) (1991), Income Distribution in Historical Perspective; Clark, G (2007), A Farewell to Alms; R Findlay, K O'Rourke (2009), Power and Plenty; N Ferguson (2009), The Ascent of Money; M Obstfeld, A Taylor (2004), Global Capital Markets; C Feinstein, P Temin, G Toniolo (1997), The European Economy Between the Wars; B van Ark & N Crafts (eds), Quantitative Aspects of Postwar European Economic (1996).
Assessment
Exam (70%, duration: 3 hours) in the main exam period.
Essay (30%, 3000 words).
The final examination mark is made up of two components: an assessed piece of work and a written examination. The format of both components and their weight within the final examination mark is dependent upon which masters programme the student is following. For Economic History students: a 3,000 word essay (30%) plus a three-hour written examination (70%); for Economics students: an extended essay of maximum length 6,000 words (50%) plus a two-hour written examination (50%).
Teachers' comment
Key facts
Department: Economic History
Total students 2012/13: 14
Average class size 2012/13: 8
Value: One Unit
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Team working
- Problem solving
- Application of information skills
- Communication
- Application of numeracy skills
- Specialist skills
Course survey results
(2010/11 - 2012/13 combined)
1 = "best" score, 5 = "worst" scoreThe scores below are average responses.
Response rate: 75.6%
Question |
Average | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reading list (Q2.1) |
1.9 | ||||||
Materials (Q2.3) |
2.1 | ||||||
Course satisfied (Q2.4) |
1.8 | ||||||
Lectures (Q2.5) |
1.8 | ||||||
Integration (Q2.6) |
1.8 | ||||||
Contact (Q2.7) |
2.1 | ||||||
Feedback (Q2.8) |
2.5 | ||||||
Recommend (Q2.9) |
|
Survey questions on feedback to students may be non-informative because assessed work comes later in the term than the survey.