History of economic thought
(Economic theories development)
Basic information about the subject,
the exam, literature and so on
Petr Wawosz
Some useful information about the
subject
The aim of the subject
• - to acquaint with the topics of economic
thinking and different views on them
• - to discus some economic problems
• - to learn to read, understand and to be able
to analyze and discuss economic texts (videos,
interview form TV, radio ….)
• - to get information what economic as the
science is solving and how it contributes to
the development of the world
Prerequisites
• Knowledge of
- bachelor microeconomics and
macroeconomics
- basic economics terms
• Willingness to take interest in topics of
economics
Lectures
• Every Monday
8.45-10.15, Estonska building, E127,
• First lecture: 3th October 2016
• Last lecture: 19th December 2016
• Participation on the lectures is voluntary, there is
no obligation to attend lectures, no presence list.
• I would like sometimes to discuss during lectures,
show some movies, videos, analyzes articles ….
Contact:
• E-mail:
[email protected]
• Monday: 10.30 - 11.30,
Estonská building, E322
Monday odd weeks_ 15.30
- 16.10, Vltavská building,
S15
• Tuesday even weeks 15.40 16.10, Most, M01
• It is necessary to write me
before your coming, E-mail:
[email protected].
The different time is
possible after agreement.
Finishing of the course
Exam
• The course is finished by the exam.
• Exam = written analysis of some economic
text.
• Exam is only written and it is not made in the
school.
Exam – how to start and proceed
• You choose some economic text (book, article
and so on) and analyze it.
• You can choose more than one text (if you want).
• When you choose the text, send me e-mail.
• Structure of your email: title of the text that you
want to analyze, internet link to the text (if it is
possible)
• I answer you, if I agree (approve the text), you
can start the analysis.
Details to exam analysis
• Analysis should contain:
- main ideas (what the text tells)
- evaluation of the text: why it is important,
why do you choose it
- your opinion: what do you agree/disagree
with the text
• Lengths of the analysis: at least 5 pages.
Structure of exam analysis
• Introduction:
Introduction of the text: what is the text about, main
ideas.
• Evaluation:
- The importance of the text, its connection to the
other texts.
- How it contributes to the development of economic
(or other) theory or practice.
• Your ideas to the text:
- what do you agree/disagree with
• Conclusion:
Summarization main points.
What to do with finished analysis
• Add to Information system (IS):
• Way:
Subject: Economic Theories Development
Study Materials
Homework vaults
Vault for exam
Mark from the exam
• I read your analysis (I open it in Homework
vaults) and evaluate it (including mark F = fail).
• I write the mark to the evaluation in the IS.
• If you disagree, contact me.
• If you fail, you have to choose another text or
rewrite your analysis.
Sense of the exam
• Exam is the proof you are able to:
- understand an economic text
- think about economic ideas
Sources for the exam
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
www.econlib.org
bookboon.com
rfe.org
https://www.ebscohost.com/academic/econlit
http://libguides.gwu.edu/economicsdatabases
http://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/reference
http://www.imf.org/external/publications/index.htm
http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/
https://www.marxists.org/subject/art/literature/
https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2015-02-18/econ-bloggers-take-to-internet-to-hashout-big-ideas-of-our-age
https://www.intelligenteconomist.com/top-economics-blogs-2016/
https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-best-economics-blogs-Why
https://growthecon.com/
http://www.economist.com/blogs/freeexchange
https://economicsone.com/
https://www.aeaweb.org/rfe/showCat.php?cat_id=96
• Most sources contain links to other pages.
When the exam can be passed?
• It is up to you = anywhere during academic year
(from October 2016 till August 2017).
• It is no necessity to pass exam till the end of the
winter term exam period.
• You can anywhere choose the text that you want
to analyze.
• However: do not attach your analysis too late
(end of August 2017). I need time for evaluation.
Some remarks to the
History of economic thought
Abbreviation
• ETH = Economic Theories Development
• HET = History of Economic Thought
• Both titles mean the same subject! The term
„HET“ is used more often (in English).
Why to study the subject that
concerns history?
• If we do not understand the past times we are
not able to understand the present times.
• It is not necessary to discover something what
had already discovered.
• It is not necessary to develop theories and
opinions that had already developed.
• Past theories give us inspiration for future
research. Our ideas (thinking) are very often
influenced by previous ones.
• It can be funny, fascinating and adventurous.
Why to study the subject that
concerns history?
• A man who does not know what has been
thought by those who have gone before him is
sure to set an undue value upon his own
ideas.
• A study of the history of opinion is a necessary
preliminary to the emancipation of the mind.
This subject and history
• Are we going to learn about economic
development from its beginning (some point
of time) till todays?
• No!!
• We rather concentrates on some economic
topics (and are going to learn how it was
analyzed during history).
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCRNI04t
nN8
Literature about history of economic
thought and other sources
Recommend literature
• Sandmo, Agnar 2011. Economics Evolving: a
History of Economic Thought. Princeton
University Press.
• Taylor, Overton H. 2011. A History Of
Economic Thought . Literary Licensing.
• These books can be borrowed from library.
Other sources
• The books about history of economic thought
submitted in the learning materials of the
subject
• My presentation in the learning materials of
the subject
• Materials for the lectures presentation in the
learning materials of the subject