Skip to main content
Unit of study_

ECON4913: Topics in Economic History

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

The unit studies selected topics in economic history, with an emphasis on the history of economic development over the last 300 years since the advent of capitalism. Topics may include the commercial revolution and expansion of international trade in the 17th and 18th centuries; the role of the slave trade; the industrial revolution; the evolution of international economic relations in the 19th and 20th centuries; the Great Depression; post-World War II recovery and the growth 'Golden Age' of 1950-1973.

Unit details and rules

Unit code ECON4913
Academic unit Economics
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Jordi Vidal-Robert, jordi.vidal-robert@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Final report
Students are required to complete an essay on a given topic.
35% -
Due date: 09 Jun 2023 at 23:59
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Participation Participation and Surveys
Participation in preparatory surveys and discussions either live or padlet
10% Ongoing 500-word equivalent
Outcomes assessed: LO5 LO6
Presentation Short presentation and weekly exercise
Lead weekly discussions and submission of weekly exercises
20% Ongoing n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO3
Assignment Reaction Report I
Students describe the historical context and related literature of a paper.
10% Week 05
Due date: 21 Mar 2023 at 23:59
500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO6
Assignment Reaction Report II
Students are required to submit a 1000-word essay on a given topic.
25% Week 09
Due date: 25 Apr 2023 at 23:59
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO4 LO3

Assessment summary

  • Final project: You will write a discussion essay related to one of the topics of the unit. In the first part you will discuss at least two contrasting articles. In the second part you will propose novel ideas for further research on the topic and ways to disentangle the existing debate. The essay will contain a visualization to illustrate your arguments.
  • Reaction report I: You will write an essay discussing the historical context and the related literature of an academic article. The essay may contain an original visualization.
  • Reaction report II: You will write a discussion essay related to an article from one of the topics. The essay may contain an original visualization.
  • Participation and surveys: These are an integral part of the learning and assessment processes. Students are required to participate in preparatory surveys and encouraged to participate in the padlet discussions about weekly topics.
  • Short presentation and weekly exercise: Each week one or more students will be required to prepare a summary of a reading and propose questions and suggestions to start a group discussion. Students will be evaluated on that short presentation of a paper. Moreover, all students will be required to hand in an exercise, visualisation or short comment on specific readings fortnightly. The submission of those exercises will count towards the final grade.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

Result Name Mark Range Description
Pass 50-64 A basic understanding of the material only generally directed to the question and with limited personal interpretation.
Credit 65-74 A solid understanding of the material well directed to the question with personal interpretation.
Distinction 75-84 A higher level of achievement than credit, but without being able to achieve sufficiently all three of the elements (command/insight/directed to question) required of HD.
High Distinction 85+ A detailed command of the material with a clear and insightful personal interpretation directed specifically to the question.

 

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 What is Economic History? Sources and methods Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5
Examples of economic history methods Disseminate ideas in economic history research Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 02 Early Civilisations Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO6
Exercise to visualise economic history research Did Rome escape the Malthusian trap? Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO6
Week 03 Commerce before the Industrial Revolution Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Do institutions lead to growth? Seminar (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 04 State Capacity Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO6
Building a "strong" state Seminar (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 05 Religion Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
Religion, state and economic performance Seminar (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 06 Colonisation and Slave Trade Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Discussion on the impact of colonisation Seminar (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 07 Colonisation and Slave Trade (cont.) Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
The impact of Slave Trade Seminar (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 08 Malthus and the demographic transition Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
Discussion on Demographic transitions Seminar (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 09 The Industrial Revolution Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
Discussion on the determinants of the Industrial Revolution Seminar (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 10 The Industrial Revolution II Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
Colonisation and the Industrial Revolution Seminar (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 11 Conflicts Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
Discussion on the impact of conflicts and persecution Seminar (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 12 Persistence Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
Discussion on persistence literature Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 13 Gold Standard and the Great Depression Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
What have we learnt? Seminar (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

There is no single textbook for this unit. A list of readings for each topic will be posted and the required weekly readings will be made available in Canvas.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Critically analyse academic research and media articles
  • LO2. Identify and understand the determinants of long-run growth
  • LO3. Apply core economic principles in historical context
  • LO4. Manage, analyse, evaluate and use research materials efficiently and effectively
  • LO5. Use economic theory and empirical analysis to create novel research ideas
  • LO6. Understand how historical events and economic policies shaped societies

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This unit was last taught 4 years ago and has been reshaped to showcase elected topics in Economic History. The assessments have been designed to emphasise the value and interaction of historical context and economic knowledge.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.