In any case, the course will be held entirely in online / distance mode in the winter semester 2020/21. 

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.

These rules also apply to the courses taught exceptionally online in the winter semester 2020/21, but "synchronously" on the specified dates and time. Attendance is checked during the online sessions via participant lists.

1. Presentation: 35%
2. Summary notes: 20%
3. Final essay: 45%

In case when the grade calculated based on the components listed above is "in between" the grades, a student's contribution (quantity and quality) to the online discussions will be used to make a decision on the final grade. 

A prerequisite for successful completion of the course is the delivery of all three graded components. If the student fail to submit/present one of them, the course is not considered credited.

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