ECON2951 – Economic History and Inequality
Course description
Course content
This course covers central topics in the global economic history since 1500. The topics are chosen from the comparative history of the development of nations. The course emphasizes the dynamic process of historical change. The method is in part applied economics with a critical attitude towards timeless explanations of the wealth of nations.
The list of questions includes: Why and how has the world become increasingly unequal? Why did some countries industrialize before others? What was the role of income distribution, endowments and political institutions for economic progress? What role did high wages play to induce change? Why was it Europeans who conquered the world? How was the Americas incorporated into the global economy? Why has Africa remained the poorest region in the world?
This course addresses these and other similar questions using simple tools and by contrasting them to contemporary and modern economic theories for understanding the role of economic incentives, inequality and institutions for economic and social development.
Learning outcome
Students who complete this course will be able to:
- identify the main factors and stages of global economic development after 1500
- explain theories connecting economic growth, inequality and institutions
- understand how economic principles can explain global patterns of industrialization and the integration of the global economy
- discuss the relationships between economic growth, standards of living and inequality
Admission to the course
Students at UiO must apply for courses in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
You can not attend this course if you have already passed specific ECON-courses at a higher level.
Recommended previous knowledge
- The course is based on prior knowledge in microeconomics, macroeconomics and mathematics corresponding to ECON1210 – Mikro?konomi 1, ECON2220 – Mikro?konomi 2, ECON1310 – Makro?konomi 1 and ECON1100 – Matematikk I.?
- Students who do not have at least ECON1210 – Mikro?konomi 1 or equivalent and ECON1310 – Makro?konomi 1 or equivalent, are advised not to take this course.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with ECON4951 – Economic History and Inequality.
Teaching
The course is structured around lectures and seminar discussions. The lectures provide a broad overview over the topics both for students who take the course for the bachelor degree and for students who take the course for the master degree. There will be separate seminars for the two groups of students. The basic goal for both seminar series is to help students understand how one can bridge the gap between economics and economic history.
The bachelor seminars for ECON2951 supplement the lectures and go through parts that require more explanation. Students are supposed to discuss the most important issues. The exam in the end of the course is a take home exam. Parts of the seminars therefore discuss how to best compose an essay and how to develop critical writing.
Course responsible can at the beginning of the semester update the syllabus list by changing no more than three articles, though in a way that it will not change the overall scope or thematic content of the course.
The syllabus also includes any lecture notes that will be made available for the students in Canvas.
Examination
The examination will be a take home exam. You will have 3 days to write and deliver your exam paper.
Previous exams and grading guidelines
Exam papers with comments from examiner
Examination support material
All exam support materials are allowed during this exam. Generating all or part of the exam answer using AI tools such as Chat GPT or similar is not allowed.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English. You may write your examination paper in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
If you are sick or have another valid reason for not attending the regular exam, we offer a postponed exam later in the same semester.
See also our information about resitting an exam.
Students who wish to retake the exam in a later semester are not guaranteed that the course will be given with the same content and syllabus, or that the examination scheme will be the same.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- How to use AI as a student
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.