Students will learn what economic and social history actually is, how historical insights can inform 'present-biased' research in economic and social sciences and how the use of frameworks from economic and social sciences does inform and shape historical research. Insights into the peculiarities of historical sources and how to work with them are given. Knowledge is transmitted on inequalities in history, their causes and consequences - and on ways to mitigate them.

Presentations of current research projects by researchers from inside and outside this university are combined with the in-depth study of published research papers through reading, oral presentation, discussion and critical written assessment.

Active participation in class and discussions (20%), presentation of a current research paper as assigned by the instructor (35%) and written ('referee report' style) assignment contrasting a research paper to the wider literature and the theories and methods of economic and social sciences (45%)