EH437     
History of Global Finance

This information is for the 2023/24 session.

Teacher responsible

Prof Olivier Accominotti

Availability

This course is compulsory on the MSc in Financial History. This course is not available as an outside option.

Course content

This course introduces students to the history of the global monetary and financial system. It examines the main changes in the architecture of global finance and in the governance of international monetary affairs from the very early times to the twenty-first century. The course explores the rise of international finance, the origins of financial globalization and de-globalization, and the causes and consequences of global financial instability for both advanced and emerging market economies. The course provides the necessary long-run, historical perspective to understand the most recent developments in the international monetary and financial system and the related policy debate. As part of this course, students will also design and conduct one research project in financial history drawing upon archival sources or historical data. The project will prepare students for their research dissertation.

Teaching

20 hours of seminars in the AT. 20 hours of seminars in the WT. 2 hours of seminars in the ST.

Formative coursework

Students will be expected to produce 2 essays in the AT and WT.

Indicative reading

  • Eichengreen, B. (2008). Globalizing Capital: A History of the International Monetary System. Princeton University Press.
  • Eichengreen, B., Mehl, A., & Chitu, L. (2018). How Global Currencies Work. Past, Present and Future. Princeton University Press.
  • Neal L. (2015). A concise history of international finance. Cambridge University Press.
  • Reinhart C. & Rogoff K. (2009). This Time is Different. Eight Centuries of Financial Folly. Princeton University Press.
  • Tooze, A. (2018). Crashed: how a decade of financial crises changed the world. Allen Lane.

Assessment

Exam (80%, duration: 2 hours) in the spring exam period.
Project (20%, 3500 words) in the WT.

Key facts

Department: Economic History

Total students 2022/23: 30

Average class size 2022/23: 30

Controlled access 2022/23: Yes

Value: One Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Course selection videos

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.

Personal development skills

  • Leadership
  • Self-management
  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills
  • Communication
  • Application of numeracy skills
  • Commercial awareness
  • Specialist skills