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Economics 375Economics 375
American Economic HistoryAmerican Economic History
Prof. Kenneth NgProf. Kenneth Ng
ng.csun.edung.csun.edu
[email protected]@csun.edu
Books to buyBooks to buy
• Textbook--Attack and Passel, A New Economic View Textbook--Attack and Passel, A New Economic View of American Economic History.of American Economic History.
• Paul Johnson, A History of the American People.Paul Johnson, A History of the American People.• Thomas Sowell, Thomas Sowell, Ethnic America.Ethnic America.• Robert Fogel, Robert Fogel, Without Consent or Contract.Without Consent or Contract.• William McNeil, Plagues and Peoples. William McNeil, Plagues and Peoples. • Other readings available online at ng.csun.edu or in Other readings available online at ng.csun.edu or in
the Reserve Book Room of Oviatt Library.the Reserve Book Room of Oviatt Library.
Administrative Details Administrative Details
• Class website: ng.csun.edu.Class website: ng.csun.edu.– Reading List.Reading List.– Exam Archive.Exam Archive.– Assignments.Assignments.– Slides from lectures.Slides from lectures.
• Slides will be updated immediately following Slides will be updated immediately following class. class.
– Grade Roster. Grade Roster. • Listserv: Listserv: [email protected]@yahoogroups.com
– Register email address at Register email address at groups.yahoo.com/group/groups.yahoo.com/group/ngeconomicsngeconomics
– Use the listserv to contact other class members.Use the listserv to contact other class members.
GradingGrading
• Grades will be based on series (4 or 5) of exams and/or Grades will be based on series (4 or 5) of exams and/or take home writing assignments.take home writing assignments.– Samples on ng.csun.edu. Samples on ng.csun.edu.
• Each major section of the course will be followed by an Each major section of the course will be followed by an assignment. assignment.
• As an upper division elective, the grading scheme used As an upper division elective, the grading scheme used in business core classes will be abandoned.in business core classes will be abandoned.
• Anticipated grade distribution:Anticipated grade distribution:– 20% A’s20% A’s– 30% B’s30% B’s– 30% C’s30% C’s– 20%-D, F’s, failed to drop, did take exams or turn in 20%-D, F’s, failed to drop, did take exams or turn in
assignments, etc. assignments, etc.
Course ObjectivesCourse Objectives• Course mostly about the contributions of the “Course mostly about the contributions of the “New Economic HistoryNew Economic History” or ” or CliometricsCliometrics--
demonstration of the power of economic reasoning and statistics properly applied to demonstration of the power of economic reasoning and statistics properly applied to historical questions.historical questions.
• Actually not that new. Began in the late 1960’s w/economists applying economic Actually not that new. Began in the late 1960’s w/economists applying economic theory and modern statistical techniques to questions traditionally addressed solely theory and modern statistical techniques to questions traditionally addressed solely by historians.by historians.
• Rather than relying on traditional primary sources—journals, letters, and other Rather than relying on traditional primary sources—journals, letters, and other personal writings, the New Economic History relies on quantitative data-numbers. personal writings, the New Economic History relies on quantitative data-numbers.
• Dovetails with the Dovetails with the Social History MovementSocial History Movement in historical research. in historical research. • The Social History Movement attempted to understand the life of the common man. The Social History Movement attempted to understand the life of the common man.
Previously, historians had concentrated their efforts on understanding the lives and Previously, historians had concentrated their efforts on understanding the lives and decisions elites. decisions elites.
• Application of economic theory has overturned or substantially modified many dearly Application of economic theory has overturned or substantially modified many dearly held central tenets of traditional historians. held central tenets of traditional historians.
– Because of lag between research and dissemination and because many of the new findings Because of lag between research and dissemination and because many of the new findings are not politically correct, they have not filtered down to high school history classes. are not politically correct, they have not filtered down to high school history classes.
• Recently acknowledged by the award of the Nobel Prize to Robert Fogel and Recently acknowledged by the award of the Nobel Prize to Robert Fogel and Douglas North in 1993. Douglas North in 1993.
Course Objectives (2)Course Objectives (2)• Will seek answers to the following questions:
– Why are we rich? • The causes of economic growth in the United States.
– Why do we live so long?• The causes of extended life
– Why do people want to come here?• Causes of immigration. • Experience of immigrants in the U.S.
– Why has government become so large?• Show how the New Economic History has changed our
understanding of the past.– The Civil War, Slavery, and Race Relations.
• Possible Bonus Subject: The Changing Role of Women in the United States.
• How have the events above effected the life of women in the United States?
Course Objectives (3)Course Objectives (3)
• Introduction to graduate level economic researchIntroduction to graduate level economic research
– Will read a variety of professional journal articles. Will read a variety of professional journal articles.
– Will see how graduate level research is written and produced. Will see how graduate level research is written and produced.
• Teach how knowledge is produced through academic debateTeach how knowledge is produced through academic debate. .
– Tutorial on how science is conducted in the real world.Tutorial on how science is conducted in the real world.
– How the propagation of theories with testable hypotheses are put How the propagation of theories with testable hypotheses are put forward and tested using historical data.forward and tested using historical data.
– Examine how several debates in economic history have unfolded.Examine how several debates in economic history have unfolded.
– Interplay between ideology, theory, data, and debate.Interplay between ideology, theory, data, and debate.
– Just because ideology is involved does not mean that scientific Just because ideology is involved does not mean that scientific debate is just he said/she said. There is a difference between debate is just he said/she said. There is a difference between argument between your mom and intellectual debate.argument between your mom and intellectual debate.
