Background and Course Requirements
COURSE PURPOSE
Economics 210a is required of Ph.D. students in Economics. It is recommended that students enroll in the first year of the graduate program. Graduate students in other degree programs may enroll subject to the availability of space and with the instructors' approval. The course is designed to introduce a selection of themes from the contemporary economic history literature. While themes are presented chronologically, the purpose of the course is not to present a narrative account of world economic history. Instead, emphasis is placed on the uses of economic theory and quantitative methods in history and on the insights that a knowledge of history can give to the practicing economist.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Class meetings will consist of a mixture of lecture and discussion. Because discussion will focus on the issues raised, resolved, and left unanswered by the assigned readings, readings should be completed before class (except, of course for January 22). An informed contribution to the discussion will count toward a student's grade.
A research paper is also required. This paper should go beyond summarizing or synthesizing some subliterature of economic history: students should use the tools of economic theory and empirical analysis to pose and answer an historical question. The paper should have historical substance; this is not a requirement in applied economics or econometrics that can be satisfied by relabeling the variables in theoretical models
taught elsewhere in the program or by mechanically applying modern statistical techniques to old data. More on the paper guidelines can be found below.
Suggested topics and guidelines will be handed out early in the semester. A ten-page review of the literature surrounding the paper topic and sketch of hypotheses is due on Friday, March 16. The final paper is due Wednesday, May 14. There will also be a final exam in the course during the regularly-scheduled exam period.
FACULTY CONTACTS
Barry Eichengreen's office is Evans 603, 3-9044, email eichengr@econ.berkeley.edu. Brad DeLong's office is Evans 601, 3-4027, email delong@econ.berkeley.edu. Making appointments in advance often makes life easier. For appointments with Barry
Eichengreen please contact Sibani Bose at smbose@econ.berkeley.edu or
642-0926.
Posted by DeLong at January 22, 2003 01:19 PM | Trackback