DE / EN

Fall Semester 2022

Blockseminar “The Economic System of Nazi Germany” (Bachelor)
Course language is German.
Please use the German website for more information on this seminar.

Type	Lecture
Course Title	Topics in Economic History
Lecturer	Dr. Alexander Donges
Semester	Fall Semester
Start	tba
Time	tba
Teaching method (hours per week)	4 SWS (2 SWS Lecture + 2 SWS Exercise)
Place	tba
Level	Master / PhD
Course Language	English
Prerequisites	E601-E603 (or equivalent)
Grading	Written exam (100 min, 70%), presentation (20%), discussion participation (10%). Additional requirements for PhD students: In addition to the regular course work, PhD students have to write a short empirical research paper on a topic that will be developed together with the course instructor (potential data sets are also provided by the course instructor); the regular course work (exam, presentation, and discussion participation) and the research paper account for 50% of the overall grade, respectively.
ECTS	9
Course Description	Goals and contents of the module: Economic history is important to understand long-run economic development, in particular to study the question why some countries are rich and others remain poor. In this course, we focus on selected topics of quantitative economic history that applied economists and economic historians explored in recent years. Topics include trade, the importance of institutions for economic development, religion, human capital, innovation, market integration, financial development, inequality, migration, and epidemics. The weekly lecture (2 hours) gives you an overview on recent empirical research on each topic. In the weekly exercise sessions (2 hours), we then discuss important research papers in more depth. It is required that every course participant presents a critical discussion of one research paper. Expected competences acquired after completion of the module: Students will acquire thorough knowledge of empirical methods used in modern applied economics and quantitative economic history. They will be able to apply their knowledge of econometrics in analyzing research questions in economic history and discuss potential policy implications, for example with respect to development policies. The course also aims at enabling students to critically evaluate empirical research designs that may encounter in their future career.
Literature	Please see the course syllabus.