AØKA08030U History of Economic Thought

Volume 2022/2023
Education

MSc programme in Economics – elective course

 

Bacheloruddannelsen i økonomi – valgfag på 3. år

The Danish BSc programme in Economics - elective at the 3rd year.

Content

The course gives an overview of the development of economic theory from the forerunners of Adam Smith to our time. Although our main attention will be given to the major writers and to the economic issues, which were central to the development of economic theory, we shall occasionally consider also some less spectacular contributions. Much of what will be discussed are early formulations of what today is considered as standard economic theory,

 

Most writers in the history of economic thought emphasize that economics is a science in evolution, and that the development of economic theory has been fostered by the debate on the main economic issues in that period of time, so that concepts have been suggested, constructed, further developed, and possibly abandoned, as a responce to economic reality. 

Learning Outcome

After completing the course the student is expected to be able to:

 

Knowledge:

  • Identify and give an overview over economic thinking and how economic theory has evolved over time.

  • Account for the historical and theoretical preconditions for contemporary economic theory.

  • Reflect on the power and coherence of economics and thereby realizing the said science’s limitations as well as strengths when working with real life issues.


Skills:

  • Analyze historical texts and the process that creates economic theory.

  • Assess and discuss issues in the history of economic thought based on knowledge of basic economic theory.

  • Critically read and discuss selected works in the history of economic thought.


Competencies:

  • Complement and apply the learned knowledge and skills of economic thinking in other economics courses, papers and later on in the professionel world.
  • Implement new economic solutions with a deeper and more critical approach seen in relation to the development of economic theories.
  • Work with economics in a humbler, more critical and therefore safer way!

  • G.Vaggi, P.Gronewegen: A Concise History of Economic Thought, Palgrave Macmillan London, 2003, ISBN 978-1-137-37245-1

  • Michel Beaud, Economic Thought Since Keynes, Routledge, London, 1997, ISBN 0-203-98179-0

To be able to participate in and understand the course's discussion of economic thinkers' ideas and texts, it is necessary to have followed the first two years of the Bachelor of Economics or equivalent studies.

General knowledge about economic theory equivalent to "Microeconomics II" and "Macroeconomics II" in the Bachelor of Economics program, University of Copenhagen.
Lectures, discussions, supervision and paper writing.

We use the textbook indicated above, examples of original texts and occasionally other viewpoints will be introduced in the discussions. The course includes the writing of a voluntary midterm paper, and this will give the participants a possibility for selecting specific writers or ideas for a futher treatment on an individual basis.


Changes to teaching methods due to a pandemic crisis:
The teaching in this course might be changed to either fully or partly online due to a pandemic crisis. If changes are implemented please read the study messages at KUnet or the announcements in the virtual course room on Absalon (for enrolled students).
Schedule:
2 hours lectures 1 to 2 times a week from week 36 to 50 (except week 42).

Timetable and venue:
To see the time and location of lectures please press the link under "Timetable"/​"Se skema" at the right side of this page (E means Autumn).

You can find the similar information partly in English at
https:/​/​skema.ku.dk/​ku2223/​uk/​module.htm
-Select Department: “2200-Økonomisk Institut” (and wait for respond)
-Select Module:: “2200-E22; [Name of course]”
-Select Report Type: “List – Weekdays”
-Select Period: “Efterår/Autumn”
Press: “ View Timetable”

Please be aware:
- The schedule of the lectures can change without the participants´ acceptance. If this occur, you can see the new schedule in your personal timetable at KUnet, in the app myUCPH and through the links in the right side of this course description and at the link above.
- It is the students´s own responsibility continuously throughout the study to stay informed about their study, their teaching, their schedule, their exams etc. through the curriculum of the study programme, the study pages at KUnet, student messages, the course description, the Digital Exam portal, Absalon, the personal schema at KUnet and myUCPH app etc.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 42
  • Preparation
  • 144
  • Exam
  • 20
  • Total
  • 206
Written
Oral
Individual
Collective

 

Feedback will be given in connection with a voluntary written assignment during the semester.

Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Type of assessment details
Individual take-home exam. It takes approximately up to 20 timer to solve the assignment.
The exam assignment is in English and must be answered in English.

The students are not allowed to communicate about the given problem-set or collaborate on the assignment with anyone. If done so, it will be regarded as cheating.

Regarding the exam period and deadline:
Due to other exams and holidays in the same period of the exam, the student have a period of two weeks to solve the assignment. The student decides when to solve and upload the exam assignment within the period. See "Exam period" for period and deadline.
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Exam registration requirements

There are no requirements during the course that the student has to fulfill to be able to sit the exam.

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Aid

All aids allowed at the written exams.

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Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
for the written exam.
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Exam period

The regular exam takes place within the period:

16 December 2022 from 9 AM to 2 January 2023 at 9 AM

 

Exam information:

More information is available in Digital Exam from the middle of the semester. In special cases decided by the Department, the exam can change to another day and/or time than announced. 

 

More information about examination, rules, aids etc. at Master(UK), Master(DK) and Bachelor(DK).

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Re-exam

The written reexam takes place within the period:

10 February from 9 AM to 24 February 2023, 9 AM

 

Reexam info:

More information is available in Digital Exam in February. In special cases decided by the Department, the re-exam can change to another day and/or time than announced.

 

More information about examination, rules, aids etc. at Master(UK), Master(DK) and Bachelor(DK).

Criteria for exam assesment

Students are assessed on the extent to which they master the learning outcome for the course.

 

In order to obtain the top grade, the student must with no or only a few minor weaknesses be able to demonstrate an excellent performance displaying a high level of command of all aspects of the relevant material and can make use of the knowledge, skills and competencies listed in the learning outcomes.

 

In order to obtain the passing grade “02”, the student must in a satisfactory way be able to demonstrate a minimal acceptable level of  the knowledge, skills and competencies listed in the learning outcomes.