(Revised November 2002)
Code: UPEN4K-15-M Title: History
of Economic Thought Version: 1
Level: M UWE credit rating: 15 ECTS credit rating: 7.5
Module type: Standard
Owning Faculty: HLSS Field: Economics
Valid from: September 2004 Discontinued from:
Pre-requisites: None
Co-requisites: None
Excluded combinations: None
Learning outcomes:
Upon
successful completion of this module the student should be able to:
·
demonstrate an understanding of the historical and methodological bases
of economic theory (Component A, Element 1)
·
demonstrate
the capacity to differentiate between and analyses the subject matter adopted
by different schools of thought. (Component B, Element 1)
·
show a knowledge of the context within which different strands of
economic thought developed. (Component A, Element 1)
·
show an
appreciation of contemporary currents in economic thought and their historical
precedents. (Component B, Element 1)
·
demonstrate a familiarity with the original works of selected classical
and contemporary economists. (Component A, Element 1).
Syllabus outline:
·
Background, rationale, and origins of economic thought
·
The origins of political economy: links to pre-Enlightenment and Enlightenment
thought
·
Adam Smith and David Ricardo
·
Karl Marx
·
The Marginalist revolution
·
Twentieth century economic thought – issues and controversies
·
Women in/and economics
·
Progress in economics: explanation, theory choice and scientific status.
·
Current economic thought, directions and influences. The rhetoric
approach, postmodern
critiques, and new
alternative histories of economics.
Teaching and learning
methods:
There will be a number of teaching/learning
approaches used.
·
Lectures will be used to convey the core material, to explain the study
of the history of economic thought and how to analyse and evaluate theories.
Methodological and philosophical approaches will be introduced.
·
Seminars will employ readings as their focus and discussion will be guided
by questions of graded difficulty. Students will read to prepare answers to
these questions. At times students will work in small groups within seminars in
the discussion of readings and other set material.
·
Private study: students will pursue a set of guided readings and will
use monographs and economic journals.
Students will maintain and build a workbook/journal as part of their learning.
Indicative sources:
Amariglio, Jack, 1988, “An economists’
introduction to Foucault”, History of
Political Economy.
Blaug,
Mark, 2001, “No history of ideas please. We are economists”, Journal of Economic Perspectives.
Carr,
Edward, What is history?
Coleman,
William, 1995, Rationalism and
anti-rationalism in early economic thought.
Edward
Elgar’s, Encyclopaedia of women
economists.
Freedman,
Robert, 1961, Marx on Economics,
Harmondsworth: Penguin Books.
Klamer,
Arjo, Solow, Robert, and McCloskey, Deirdre, 1988, The consequences of economic rhetoric.
Klein,
Philip, 1994, The role of economic theory.
Marshall,
Alfred, 1920, Principles of Economics.
Mirowski,
Philip, 2001, Machine dreams,
Cambridge: Cambridge University press.
Mirowski,
Philip, 1989, More heat than light, Cambridge:
Cambridge University press.
Pheby,
John, 1998, Methodology and Economics.
Poovey,
Mary, 1998, A history of the modern fact, Chicago: University of Chicago press.
Smith,
Adam, 1970, Wealth of Nations,
Penguin.
Journals:
Cambridge Journal of Economics, The
European Journal of the History of Economic Thought, The History of Political
Economy.
Assessment
Weighting between
components A and B (standard modules only)
A: 25% B: 75%
ATTEMPT 1
First Assessment
Opportunity
Component A
Description of each element Element
weighting
1. Class
Presentation of 15 minutes 25%
Component B
Description of each element Element
weighting
1. Individual coursework assignment of up to 3000
words 75%
Second Assessment
Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes is not required)
Component A
Description of each element Element weighting
1. Viva voce
on a specified topic 25%
Component B
Description of each element Element
weighting
1. Individual coursework assignment of up to
3000 words 75%
SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT)
ATTEMPT: Attendance at taught classes is not required.
Specification confirmed
by …………………………………………………
Date ……………………………
(Associate Dean/Programme
Director)