The course will study history through an economic lens. The course will chronologically move through time, starting with the Neolithic Revolution and ending with inequality in the modern age. The course will, in addition to time periods, cover topics in economic history such as city development and how culture plays into development. By the end of the course students should have a firm grasp of how research is conducted in economic history, topics being covered in economic history, and how economic history can be applied to understand the world around them. The course will broadly cover important questions such as why Western Europe took off compared to the rest of the world, and why some countries are now rich while others are poor. 

Syllabus

The course aims to introduce students to economic ways of thinking as applied in trade theory, international finance, and development. The goal is to equip students with both the tools of economic analysis and a deeper understanding of the global economy. Economists across the political spectrum broadly agree on trade policy, yet there remains significant political polarization on issues like work visas, tariffs, and international tax policy. Over the course of this semester, we will explore the reasons why public opinion, government policies, and economists' proclamations are often at odds. By the end of this class, you should be able to read a news article on topics like globalization or foreign aid, understand the players and their incentives, and make sound economic judgments regarding the issues at hand.

Note: This course is designed to be taken by non-economics majors at GMU

Syllabus