Economic History

Summary module description:
This module explains how the world economy got to be where it is today focusing on the first globalisation and economic crises. The long-run approach is instructive as it covers a period where the first truly global integration occurred, followed by the disintegration after the First World War and the global Great Depression emanating from the US in the 1930s, and the post-war reconstruction and resurgence punctuated by the Oil Crises of the 1970s.

Aims:
By the end of the module students should be able to:
Describe and analyse the evolution of the first globalisation;
Distinguish between elements of the industrial and industrious revolutions;
Have a sophisticated knowledge of the causes and consequences of the Great Depression;
Appraise critically the principal interpretations of globalisation in an international context;
Organise their material and articulate their arguments effectively in writing both under timed conditions and in assessed essays.

Assessable learning outcomes:
An understanding of evolution of the world economy particularly over the last two centuries and a specialist knowledge the first globalisation and the Great Depression.

Additional outcomes:
Student will learn to summarise and convey the core information from scholarly journal articles.

Outline content:
The syllabus is wide ranging. By the end of the module students will have acquired a broad understanding of the evolution of the world economy particularly over the last two centuries and a specialist knowledge the first globalisation and the Great Depression. You will have been introduced to growth theory, the theory of international trade and money, and long-run institutional development.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
The module will be made up of ten two-hour lectures and four one-hour tutorials. The tutorials will involve the examination of "key" articles. Students hand in summaries of these articles at the beginning of the session. These article summaries will constitute 15% of the grade.

Summative Assessment Methods:
Written exam 50%
Written assignment including essay 25%
Oral assessment and presentation 10%
Set exercise 15%

Other information on summative assessment:
Ten article reviews (2 pages per article) - 1.5% each, total weight 15%
One presentation - weight 10%
One essay (2,000 words) - weight 25%

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:
The Module Convener will apply the following penalties for work submitted late, in accordance with the University policy.
where the piece of work is submitted up to one calendar week after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for the piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Length of examination:
One 2-hour unseen written paper.
Part 2 examinations are held in the Summer term.

Requirements for a pass:
A minimum overall mark of 40%.