Why should we study economic history? This course argues that economic history is relevant for economists, managers, and policy-makers for at least three reasons. First, events that happened in the past may harbor important lessons for the design of economic policy and thus the organization/allocation of resources in a firm, a country, a region or even on a global level (c.f. for example Sessions 2, 3, 6 and 7 below). Second, we often observe that events in the past have long-lasting persistent effects that continue to play a large role today: a solid understanding of the channels behind this persistence is thus crucial to understand our current world (c.f. for example Sessions 1, 4 and 5 below). Third, economic history provides a huge arsenal of events and policies that researchers in economics, business, and management can draw upon to test modern theory with regard to its empirical validity (this applies to some extent to all sessions below).

By the end of the course, students will have gained an informed and critical view of the role and importance of economic history for their discipline and for their understanding of current world economic affairs/relations. Students will have been exposed to the major events and questions which shaped the world economy since 1800. Students will also have an understanding of the technicalities of and approaches to modern empirical research in economic history.

Continuous assessment courses (PI) are high-interactive courses. Students must attend at least 80% of all sessions. Should there be an important reason for a student's absence during a session of the course, a maximum of 20% of the entire course duration can be missed. For cumulative absences of more than 20%, the course must be repeated. A confirmation/justification (eg. a medical certificate) must be provided for the absence.

According to the examination regulations of the WU, important reasons are those which are outside the disposition of the student (illness, accident, death of a close relative). Professional obligations are not considered as an important reason within the meaning of the examination regulations, because they are in the disposition of the students.

1. Presentation: 30%
2. Summary notes: 20%
3. Participation in class: 10%
4. Final essay: 40%

Institute for Economic and Social History, Department of Economics
E-Mail: Marina Chuchko