Economic History of Europe ECON.3160

Introduction Claudia Rei

Introduction n  Classes meet: TR 2.35-3.50pm Calhoun 423

n  Instructor: Claudia Rei – OH: M 10-11.30am @CL405 claudia.rei@vanderbilt.edu 615-322-2482

n  TA: Christopher Cotter – OH: M 1-3p @FH 330 christopher.a.cotter@vanderbilt.edu

n  Course materials available from Dropbox (confirm email)

Introduction

n  Economics, History, Europe n  Combine E&H, Europe (before the IR, rise of the west, IR and aftermath)

n  Opportunity to get familiar with the EH field n  Journals, work that has been done (recent or not), method, use of ecs tools

n  Upper level ECONOMICS course… n  No chronological order, no textbook n  Expect A LOT of reading (!) and some writing

n  Pre-requisites ECON-3010, ECON-3020 (Intermediate)

n  Course Expectations and Objectives

n  What I expect you to have: n  Basic knowledge of western geography n  Basic knowledge of western historical events n  Knowledge of economics concepts and tools

n  Objectives: n  Read, understand, and interpret academic papers n  Summarize, explain and present the material in class n  Work individually and in groups n  Commit to deadlines, manage your workload n  Participate in the discussion of the material n  Develop your own take on the covered topics n  Think and reason like an economic historian

Introduction

n  Course Framework

n  Lectures covering all topics of the syllabus n  Prior readings are expected – academic papers and news pieces

Introduction

Introduction GUIDELINE FOR PAPER ANALYSIS

n  What’s the main question – purpose of the study n  Where does it fit in the literature (or class material) n  Methodology: what’s the author’s proposed analysis? n  If there’s data, how is it tested? n  Results – Findings n  Conclusions n  Are you convinced? n  Would you suggest an alternative story?

n  Course Framework

n  Lectures covering all topics of the syllabus n  Prior readings are expected – academic papers and news pieces n  Slides will be online after the topics are covered in class, take notes! n  Computer policy in the classroom

Introduction

n  Course Framework (cont.)

n  5 projects: n  4 individual projects – project reports due in class (no email submissions!) n  The best 3 are counted on the course grade, the first 2 are mandatory

Introduction

Introduction GUIDELINE FOR PROJECT REPORTS

n  Report rules & tips n  Show knowledge of the material n  Be sure to address all issues raised in the project guideline… n  … but the optimal report does not necessarily follow the project order n  Connections with class material or other projects are welcome n  Be careful to cite the work of others (check syllabus), wikipedia NOT a source! n  5p limit (2s), make sure you use your space wisely! à break @your own cost

Introduction GUIDELINE FOR PROJECT REPORTS

n  Report rules & tips n  Show knowledge of the material n  Be sure to address all issues raised in the project guideline… n  … but the optimal report does not necessarily follow the project order n  Connections with class material or other projects are welcome n  Be careful to cite the work of others (check syllabus), wikipedia NOT a source! n  5p limit (2s), make sure you use your space wisely! à break @your own cost

n  Report components n  Data handling & paper analysis are devices to attain the goals of the project n  Research question (~ ½ a page à precision is key!)

n  Any issue deserving further analysis within the topic n  Each paper addresses a question; briefly put yourself in the shoes of a researcher n  Check the abstracts of the papers covered in each topic to have a sense of it

n  Course Framework (cont.)

n  5 projects: n  4 individual projects – project reports due in class (no email submissions!) n  The best 3 are counted on the course grade, the first 4 are mandatory

n  1 group project – in class presentation n  Presenting groups are expected to stimulate class discussion n  Active participation is expected, non-presenting students are supposed

to show they worked on the project too

Introduction

Introduction GUIDELINE FOR PROJECT PRESENTATIONS

n  Presentation tips n  Prepare to talk for 45-50m – presentation & discussion should cover 75m n  Spend ~2 minutes per slide (target # of slides), allow for questions n  Ask questions – your classmates have worked on the same project! n  Motivate the topic – why should the audience care to listen? n  Make sure the audience distinguishes your opinion from the work of others n  Research question: discussion or regular presentation à be creative

Introduction GUIDELINE FOR PROJECT PRESENTATIONS

n  Presentation tips n  Prepare to talk for 45-50m – presentation & discussion should cover 75m n  Spend ~2 minutes per slide (target # of slides), allow for questions n  Ask questions – your classmates have worked on the same project! n  Motivate the topic – why should the audience care to listen? n  Make sure the audience distinguishes your opinion from the work of others n  Research question: discussion or regular presentation à be creative

n  Use slides to guide (not distract) the audience n  An outline of the talk may be useful n  Do not crowd slides (e.g. long sentences, 10 bullet points, large tables…) n  The optimal presentation does not necessarily follow the order of the

project guideline à be creative!

n  Course Framework (cont.)

n  5 projects: n  4 individual projects – project reports due in class (no email submissions!) n  The best 3 are counted on the course grade, the first 4 are mandatory

n  1 group project – in class presentation n  Components: data handling, paper analysis, and a research question n  Presenting groups are expected to stimulate class discussion n  Active participation is expected, non-presenting students are supposed

to show they worked on the project too

à random team assignments in class on 9/1

à mandatory attendance in presentations (grading by faculty & students) à each missed presentation erases one project grade

Introduction

Introduction n  Grading – presentations

Introduction n  Grading – presentations (cont.)

Introduction n  Grading – presentations (cont.)

à Faculty will also evaluate content, correctness, subject knowledge à Grades may differ across group members

Introduction n  Grading – reports (TA, with professor Rei’s criteria)

n  If you do what you’re asked you get a B n  If you do it in “laundry list” style you get a C

n  If you do/write it well/careful/creative enough you may aspire to more

n  Grades are NOT negotiable!

n  Graduating students, athletes…

Introduction COURSE REQUIREMENTS – GRADING

n  Midterm (Oct. 6 in class) 15%

n  Reports 30% = 3 x 10% n  Presentation 15% (incl. participation in presentations)

n  Final (Dec. 12 @3pm) 30% n  Participation 10% (in class, quizzes, etc.)

à  Reports, presentations, quizzes, and exams are subject to the University’s honor code

à  Exam & project deadlines are NOT to be postponed à  Missing deadlines, problems, emails… à  There will be NO opportunities for extra credit

à  Without projects (reports, presentation, participation) your maximum grade is 45% (~D-) à and you have to excel!!

Introduction QUIZZES

n  7 throughout the semester @ the start of each topic

n  1 multiple choice question on each paper covered in a given topic

n  When: beginning of each class à be punctual!

n  Objective: keep up with the material à read papers before coming to class

n  Why you should do it: improve the corresponding report grade, participation

Introduction n  Lecture topics – Course Outline

n  The field of EH

n  Convergence/Divergence

n  Pre-Industrial Europe – European Expansion

n  Pre-Industrial Europe – Institutions and Property Rights

n  The Industrial Revolution and the Rise of the West

n  Prices and Wages

n  Population and Economic Growth

n  Inequality and Living Standards