Registry

Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2012 - 2013
Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title	History of Economic Thought
Module Code	EF320
School	DCUBS
Online Module Resources
Module Teacher	Siobhan McGovern
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

Description

INACTIVE - This module aims to give participants an overview of the main developments in the history of economic thought from the medieval period to the mid twentieth century. As the subject matter is vast, the module must be necessarily selective. Because the primary intellectual interaction between political economy, law and politics occurred in the nineteenth century, this is where the syllabus focuses most attention. However, the module is designed to give students the necessary tools of historiography to enable them to explore topics not covered in the module.

Learning Outcomes

1. Desribe the main movements in economic thought from the scholastic period to the end of the nineteenth century
2. Critique the theoretical ideas, theories and intellectual frameworks of preclassical economics, classical political economy and the early origins of neoclassical economics
3. Situate these theoretical frameworks within a relevant historical context
4. Analyse the implications of particular theoretical developments for the study of contemporary economic issues

Workload	Full-time hours per semester
*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Independent learning time	10	Library Database Search to Compile Bibliography
Independent learning time	10	Reading Compiled Bibliography
Independent learning time	46	Analysis of Compiled Bibliography
Assignment	20	Writing up Essays
Assignment	15	Editing Essays
Total Workload: 101

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

An overview of the principles of modern economic theory.
The schools of thought that dominate economic thought today.

The origins of economic thought.
Thomas Aquinas and the concept of the "just price"; scholasticism.

Early protectionism.
Mercantilism; Bullionism; a nineteenth century bullionist debate; lessons for contemporary trade policy?.

Liberalism and the principle of self-interest.
Jeremy Bentham and the ideals of utilitarianism; Adam Smith and the origins of a theory of value and division of labour; Robert Malthus and the population growth controversy.

The Ricardian System.
The labour theory of value; the concept of comparative advantage.

Socialist Thought.
Robert Owen and the chartist movement; the early French socialists; Karl Marx and the labour theory of value.

The origins of the contemporary theory of price.
The demise of the labour theory of value; the development of demand and supply analysis and the role of Alfred Marshall; the marginalist revolution.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Course Work Breakdown
Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Essay	Essay One: Students are asked to choose an essay from a list of eight topics.	50%	Week 8
Essay	Essay Two: Students are asked to choose an essay from a list of eight essays, excluding the topic they selected for their first essay.	50%	Sem 1 End

Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Blaug, Mark: 1992, Economic Theory in Retrospect, 4th edition, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,
Roll, Eric: 1992, A History of Economic Thought, 5th edition, Faber and Faber, London,
Screpanti, E & S. Zagmani: 2005, An Outline of the History of Economic Thought, 2nd edition, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,
Charbit, Yves: 2009, Economic, Social and Demographic Thought in the XIXth century, Springer,
Samuels, W, J. Biddle & J. Davis: 2006, A Companion to the History of Economic Thought, Oxford University Press, Oxford,

Other Resources

None

Array

Programme or List of Programmes

Bachelor of Business Studies

BSI

Business Studies ( with INTRA )

BSSAO

Study Abroad (DCU Business School)

EPL

BA in Economics, Politics and Law

EPLYA