World Economic History
Code: 106184 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2504216 Contemporary History, Politics and Economics | FB | 1 | 2 |
Contact
- Name:
- Anna Maria Aubanell Jubany
- Email:
- Anna.Aubanell@uab.cat
Use of Languages
- Principal working language:
- english (eng)
- Some groups entirely in English:
- Yes
- Some groups entirely in Catalan:
- No
- Some groups entirely in Spanish:
- No
Teachers
- Roser Álvarez Klee
Prerequisites
A B2 level of English of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages is required, although no specific test of English proficiency level is held to access the degree.
There are no offcial prerequisits. However, it is recommended that students have a basic knowledge of Economics, History and Geography, in order to get the most out of the lectures, readings and exercises.
Objectives and Contextualisation
- Analyse the complexity and dynamics of economic processes.
- Identify and explain the main determinants that have made possible periods of growth, economic stability, recession and crisis, on a national and international scale.
- Establish the explanatory factors of the economic globalisation processes.
- Analyse the causes and consequences of inequality amongst countries and between individuals generated by capitalist economic development.
- Study technological revolutions and their impact on the economy and on business organisation.
- Assess and compare the sustainability of historical economic development models.
- Examine the differences between women and men (gender differences) in the labour market, in access to economic resources and in general welfare.
Competences
- Distinguish between and analyse the type of relations that have been established over the last century among the different social, political and economic agents on national, regional and international frameworks.
- Explain and summarise knowledge acquired in English language at an advanced level.
- Recognise and contextualise texts referring to recent contemporary history.
- Relate fundamental questions of the current economic situation with previous economic developments on the basis of the main elements of contemporary economic history.
- Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
Learning Outcomes
- Describe the evolution of the economic institutions and the variety of economic experiences in the past to understand the present.
- Express an opinion based on the nature, perspective and rigour of texts referring to the course content.
- Make a brief comparison of national and/or regional cases within the same international framework.
- Make a historical analysis of current economic problems to better assess the evolutionary possibilities of economic systems.
- Recognise and explain different national and regional cases of relations between different social agents in contemporary history.
- Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
- Write a review of a publication, documentary video or event (conference or seminar) in English adapted to the content of one or more subjects on this course.
Content
Topic 1. Industrial Revolution and Demographic Transition
1.1 Industrial Revolution and Demographic Transition
1.2 The diffusion of industrialisation: regional and national models
1.3 Industrial powers outside Europe: USA and Japan
Topic 2. The International Economy (1870 - 1913)
2.1 Transport and Communications Revolution
2.2 Regional and International Migrations
2.3 International Trade and Finance
2.4 The International Monetary System: the Gold Standard
2.5 The Great Divergence in Economic Development
Topic 3. The Crisis of Traditional Liberal Capitalism (1914 - 1945)
3.1 World War I and the economic consequences
3.2 The Great Depression: origins and development
3.3 Second World War II
3.4 American financial intervention and European and Japanese economic recovery
Topic 4. New World Order and Economic Growth (1945-1973)
4.1 The Bretton Woods agreement and the new international relations
4.2 Golden Age of Capitalism
4.3 Centralised planned economies
4.4 Decolonisation and the Third World
Topic 5. Structural Change and Second Globalisation (from 1973)
5.1 The 1973-84 crisis and the responses
5.2 New actors in the new growth model
5.3 The Third Technological Revolution and Globalisation
Methodology
1. Lectures
The professor will develop an analytical conceptualisation and a synthesis for every topic in the programme. The aim is to facilitate the transmission of knowledge and to motivate the student in historical analysis.
2. Exercise sessions
The aim of the exercise sessions is to help students to achieve the specific knowledge of the subject and acquire transferable skills. There will be questions set for each topic and it is expected that students will work on them before class with the help of the lectures and reading material.
3. Studying from lectures and readings
The work done in class has to be complemented by the student individually or in-group work. The student should gain independence in the learning process and in the process attain the analytical tools to develop the critical thinking. This work should amount to hundred hours in addition to lectures and tutorials.
4. Tutorship
Students can use the professor's office hours to solve specific questions. Office hours will be announced in Campus virtual.
5. Campus Virtual
Campus Virtual is a useful tool to help students to get easy information about the logistics of the course and the basic materials that the professor considers essential for learning.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Activities
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Exercise sessions | 17 | 0.68 | 4, 3, 1, 7, 2, 6, 5 |
| Lectures | 33 | 1.32 | 4, 3, 1, 2, 6, 5 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Tutorship | 10.5 | 0.42 | 4, 3, 1, 2, 6, 5 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Preparation of exercises | 28 | 1.12 | 4, 3, 1, 2, 6, 5 |
| Reading and independent study | 58 | 2.32 | 4, 3, 1, 7, 2, 6, 5 |
Assessment
The evaluation will consist of:
- 4 exercises.
- The Midterm exam has two parts, each worth 50% of the exam mark. The first part consists of twenty multiple-choice questions each worth 0.5 points if the answer is correct, -0.125 if the answer is incorrect and 0 if the question is not answered. The second part consists of two essay questions worth 5 points each.
- The final exam has two parts, each worth 50% of the exam mark. The first part consists of twenty multiple-choice questions each worth 0.5 points if the answer is correct, -0.125 if the answer is incorrect and 0 if the question is not answered. The second part consists of two essay questions worth 5 points each.
The questions will be on the topics explained in the theory and practical sessions and on the content of the readings and teaching materials indicated by the professor.
Calendar of assessment activities
The dates of the partial and final exams will be announced at the beginning of the course in the Campus Virtual.
The retake exam will be scheduled by the Dean's Office.
"The scheduling of assessment tests may not be modified, unless there is an exceptional and duly justified reason why an assessment event cannot take place. In this case, the persons responsible for the degree programmes, after consulting the teaching staff and students affected, shall propose a new schedule within the corresponding academic period. "Article 115.1. Calendar of assessment activities (UAB Academic Regulations)
Marks revision process
On carrying out each evaluation activity, lecturers will inform students (on Campus Virtual) of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded, and the date on which such a review will take place.
After all grading activities have ended, students will be informed of the date and way in which the course marks will be published. Students will also be informed of the procedure, place, date and time of the revision of exams following University regulations.
Retake Process
"To be eligible to participate in the retake process, it is required for students tohave been previously been evaluated for at least two thirds ofthe total evaluation activities of the subject. "Section 3 of Article 112 ter. The recovery (UAB Academic Regulations). Additionally, it is required that the student to have achieved an average grade of the subject between 3.5 and 4.9.
The retake exam has two parts, each worth 50% of the exam mark. The first part consists of twenty multiple-choice questions each worth 0.5 points if the answer is correct, -0.125 if the answer is incorrect and 0 if the question is not answered. The second part consists of two essay questions worth 5 points each.
Students who take this exam and pass, will get a mark of 5 for the subject. If the student does not pass the retake, the mark will remain unchanged, and hence, student will fail the course.
Students will obtain a “Not assessed/Not submitted” course grade unless they have done evaluation activities that count for more than 20% of the course mark.
Irregularities in evaluation activities
Without prejudice to other disciplinary measures that may be deemed appropriate, and in accordance with current academic regulations, "in the event that the student carries out any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade of an evaluation activity, this evaluation activity will be marked with a 0, regardless of the disciplinary process that may be instructed. In the event of several irregularities in the evaluation activities of the same subject, the final grade of this subject will be 0". Section 10 of Article 116. Results of the evaluation. (UAB Academic Regulations)
Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excercise 1 | 8% of the final mark | 0 | 0 | 4, 3, 7, 2, 6, 5 |
| Excercise 2 | 4% of the final mark | 0 | 0 | 4, 3, 1, 2, 5 |
| Excercise 3 | 4% of the final mark | 0 | 0 | 4, 3, 1, 2, 6, 5 |
| Excercise 4 | 4% of the final mark | 0 | 0 | 4, 3, 1, 6, 5 |
| Final exam | 40% of the final mark | 2 | 0.08 | 4, 3, 1, 2, 6, 5 |
| Midterm exam | 40% of the final mark | 1.5 | 0.06 | 4, 3, 1, 2, 6, 5 |
Bibliography
Aldcroft, Derek and Morewood, Steven (2013) The European Economy since 1914, London: Routledge. https://login.are.uab.cat/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsebk&AN=512379&site=eds-live
Allen, Robert (2011) Global Economic History. A very short Introduction, Oxford: OUP.
Broadberry, Stephen & O’Rourke, Kevin (eds.)(2010) The Cambridge Economic History of Modern Europe. Cambridge:Cambridge University Press.
Di Vittorio, Antonio (ed.) (2006) An Economic History of Europe. London: Routledge. https://login.are.uab.cat/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsebk&AN=171273&site=eds-live
Feinstein, Charles.; Temin, Peter & Toniolo, Gianni (2008) The World Economy Between the World Wars. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Livi Bacci, Massimo (2017) A Concise history of world population. Malden: Blackwell. https://login.are.uab.cat/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsebk&AN=1453379&site=eds-live
O’Rourke, Kevin & Williamson, Jeffrey G. (1999) Globalization and history: the evolution of a nineteenth-century Atlantic economy. Cambridge: The MIT Press.
Persson, Karl Gunnar (2010) An Economic History of Europe. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://login.are.uab.cat/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsebk&AN=313317&site=eds-live
Temin, Peter (1989) Lessons from the Great Depression. Cambridge: The MIT Press.
Zamagni, Vera (2018) An Economic History of Europe since 1700, Agenda Publishing.
Software
Excel, Word and PowerPoint.