AØKK08341U Summerschool 2016: Seminar: Study a Classical Writer

Volume 2015/2016
Education

M.Sc. of Economics
The seminar is primarily for students at the MSc of Economics. The seminar is taken as a summerschool.

Content

In economics we often refer to specific writers when characterizing economic theory i.e. ”this is a model where Ricardian equivalence applies”, ”typically Austrian”, and “Nash equilibrium”, “Piketty is a typical Marxist ”or“ Keynesian model.

For most, this makes things more or less clear. One can certainly become an excellent economist without knowing what Ricardo himself thoughts about debt vs tax financed public expenditure or whether Keynes, himself was “Keynesian” in the sense of modern textbooks.

When you learn how the ideas are construed, you should obtain a better and deeper understanding of the concepts. You can of course learn what “external effects” are by reading a text of public or environmental economics, however when you see how Marshall and Pigou struggled, you get something extra.

In the course on “History of Economic Thought” we read (a very good) text on the development of economic ideas. In this seminar, we do the opposite – you select a writer (typically pre 1970) and/or a text and write a seminar about your findings. “Why do we have unemployment in Keynes’ model?” or “why did Marx believe that capitalists would destruct themselves?”

You are welcome to consult all kinds of texts but it is essential that you try to get to grips with the original stuff.

Learning Outcome

Having completed the seminar you will obtain some ideas about the scientific value added one gets from reading the original sources.

A possible starting point is a textbook on the history of economic thought.

Agnar Sandmo: Economics Evolving; Princeton 2011

Mark Blaug: Economic Theory in Retrospect, 5th ed, Cambridge 1999

Roger E. Backhouse: The Penguin History of Economics, Penguin 2002

Lionel Robbins: A History of Economic Thought, The LSE Lectures, Princeton 1998

B.Sc. of Economics. It is recommended that the course History of Economic Thought have been followed.
This is a seminar scheduled in the summer period of 2016.

Participating students meet at the first meeting to discuss topics, literature, schedule etc. Then students write and discuss with instructor over the summer. Finally, the students submit their papers mid-August. In late August, over three full days (depending on number of participating students), all papers are presented.

Schedule:
First meeting: 21. of June 2016 10-12
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 1
  • Preparation
  • 159
  • Seminar
  • 46
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Oral examination, 90 min under invigilation
A written seminar paper and a oral presentation for the others participans at the seminar.
Participating students may write and present individually or in groups of two. A seminar paper cannot exceed 12 – 24 pages when two authors.
The presenting student opens the debate with an introduction (approx. 15 minutes), the moderator comments upon the interesting points ((approx. 15 minutes), finally a general debate (approx. 1 hr.)
Exam registration requirements

Attendance on the seminar. The mandatory commitment paper and seminar paper have been handed in at deadline.

Aid

Al aids for the written seminarpaper.

For the oral presentation the slices for the presentation. The teather can specifiy what els is allowed.

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
up to 20 % censorship at the seminarpaper
Exam period

Deadline handing in Commitment paper: August 1, 2016

Deadline handing in final seminar paper: August 22, 2016 

Presentations: 3 days in week 35, 2016. Exact date will be made in agreement at the first meeting

For enrolled students more information about examination, exam/re-sit, rules etc. is available at the student intranet for Examination (English) and student intranet for Examination (KA-Danish).

Re-exam

Submission of a written assignment and an oral exam in which you may be examined in the presentations of the other students participating in the seminar during the enrolment period in question.

Criteria for exam assesment

The student must in a satisfactory way demonstrate that he/she has mastered the learning outcome of the course.