Dr Natacha Postel-Vinay

This course is available on the BA in History, BSc in Economic History, BSc in Economic History with Economics, BSc in Economics and Economic History and BSc in Economics with Economic History. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit and to General Course students.

This course presents and debates the key explanations for the origin of modern economic growth. Deep factors; geography, genetics,  life, love and death are considered before we examine closely the British Industrial Revolution – the key turning point in economic history. Social mobility, inequality and the effects of growth on living standards are discussed. EH238 focuses on the research frontier in economic history.

10 hours of lectures and 9 hours of classes in the MT. 10 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the LT. 1 hour of lectures and 1 hour of classes in the ST.

There will be a reading week in Week 6 of MT and LT.

During the course students are expected to write four essays or equivalent pieces of written work.

Mokyr, The British Industrial Revolution; Floud and Johnson, Cambridge Economic History of Modern Britain, vol I; Berg, Age of Manufactures; Allen, The British Industrial Revolution in Global Perspective; Crafts, British Economic Growth.

Exam (100%, duration: 3 hours) in the main exam period.