History of Economic Theories

Teacher(s)

Pensieroso Luca; Rubin Goulven (compensates Pensieroso Luca);

Language

English

Prerequisites

The prerequisite(s) for this Teaching Unit (Unité d’enseignement – UE) for the programmes/courses that offer this Teaching Unit are specified at the end of this sheet.

Main themes

The course will examine: - the link between economic theory and liberalism - Marx's place in the history of economic theories - the relevance of the concept of scientific revolution - the mathematisation of the economy

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	This course on the History of Economic Theories has two objectives. On the one hand, it aims to give students a view of how economic theories have developed, from the birth of Political Economics up to modern times. This should enable students to situate what they have learnt in their foundation courses within a broader framework and to relate it to the questions put by economists from previous generations. This historical approach will also provide an occasion for students to reflect critically on Economic Science, its objectives, methods, etc. They will have, for example, to investigate whether criticisms of economic methods, which tend to criticize its high degree of abstraction and mathematisation, are relevant.

Content

This course focuses on the history of economic thought in the period between the XVIII and the XIX century. The aim is to provide students with a critical perspective on economics, by helping them developing a deeper understanding of economics, of its theoretical and methodological evolution over time, and of its policy implications.
Coverage will be selective and mainly focused on Classical Economists and the Marginalist revolution.

Teaching methods

Ex-cathedra lectures

Evaluation methods

Written or oral exam (depending on sanitary conditions).

Bibliography

A. Roncaglia, A Brief History of Economic Thought, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 2017.
R. Heilbroner, Teachings from the Wordly Philosophers, Norton, New York, 1996.
R. Heilbroner, The Worldy Philosophers, 7th edition, Touchstone, New York, 1999.
Additional readings
M. Blaug, Economic Theory in Retrospect, 5th edition, Cambridge University Press, 1996.
T. G. Buchholz, New Ideas from Dead Economists, Plume, New York, 2007.
J. K. Galbraith, Economics in Perspective: A Critical History, Houghton Mifflin, 1987.
A. Roncaglia, The Wealth of Ideas, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 2005.

Faculty or entity

ESPO