Today’s posting is a transcription of the “correlation examination” questions for the economic history of Western Europe since 1750 given at Harvard in May 1939.
Concentrators in Economics will have to pass in the spring their Junior year a general examination on the department of Economics, and in the spring of their Senior year an examination correlating Economics with either History or Government (this correlating exam may be abolished by 1942), and a third one on the student’s special field, which is chosen from a list of eleven, including economic theory, economic history, money and banking, industry, public utilities, public finance, labor problems, international economics, policies and agriculture.
Courses in allied fields, including Philosophy, Mathematics, History, Government, and Sociology, are suggested by the department for each of the special fields. In addition, Geography 1 is recommended in connection with international policies or agriculture.
[Source: Harvard Crimson, May 31, 1938]
A printed copy of questions for twelve A.B. examinations in economics at Harvard for the academic year 1938-39 can be found in the Lloyd A. Metzler papers at Duke’s Economists’ Papers Project.
- One Departmental Examination from the Department of Economics.
- Five Division Special Examinations.
Economic Theory,
Economic History Since 1750,
Money and Finance,
Market Organization and Control,
Labor Economics and Social Reform.
- Six Correlation Examinations given to Honors Candidates.
Economic History of Western Europe since 1750,
American Economic History,
History of Political and Economic Thought,
Public Administration and Finance,
Government Regulation of Industry,
Mathematical Economic Theory.
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If you find this posting interesting, here is the complete list of “artifacts” from the history of economics I have assembled. You can subscribe to Economics in the Rear-View Mirror below. There is also an opportunity for comment following each posting….
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DIVISION OF HISTORY, GOVERNMENT, AND ECONOMICS
CORRELATION EXAMINATION
Economic History of Western Europe since 1750
(Three hours)
Answer either FOUR or FIVE questions, including TWO from each group. If you answer FOUR questions, write about an hour on ONE of them and mark your answer “Essay.” This question will be given double weight.
A
Use a separate blue book for the questions in this part.
- Discuss the economic causes, or the economic effects, in France, of the French Revolution.
- Discuss the relationship between economic developments and changes in the English imperial policy during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
- Outline the history and discuss the economic importance of canals in any major European country.
- The beginnings of agricultural science.
- “If, under the surface of frequent political disturbances, France retained her social equilibrium throughout the nineteenth century, that was due in no small degree to the peculiarities of her economic development.”
- Economic factors in the unification of Germany.
- “In the middle of the nineteenth century England occupied a paradoxical position: she was the center of a world economy, and yet she was entirely dependent on the rest of the world.”
- Outline and discuss the movement towards federation and amalgamation among trade unions in England, France or
- Discuss the principal stages in the development of the Soviet agrarian policy.
B
Use a separate blue book for the questions in this part.
- “The ‘industrial revolution’ means the change from production with hand tools to production with power-driven machinery. It was brought about, first, in the textile industries, by a series of inventions made in England around the end of the eighteenth century, and gradually introduced, later on, into other countries.”
- “The free trade policy of nineteenth century England sacrificed her permanent, national interests to the temporary interests of her manufacturers, disguised at the time in the imaginary, permanent principles of her economists and pacifists; the result is the present economic and military weakness of England.”
- Discuss the reasons why France has remained so largely an agricultural country, attaining high industrial rank in only a few particular industries.
- Discuss the economic policies of Gladstone and his party affiliations.
- What economic and political interests did England have in the Suez Canal? By what means did she secure control of it?
- “The German cartel was not, as many observers predicted, a step on the road to great trusts.”
- What considerations have dominated British policy in respect of petroleum and petroleum resources, since 1914?
- Discuss the development of protection for agricultural products in France or Germany during the latter part of the 19th
- “It is paradoxical that a labor party appeared later in England, than in European countries where industrial capitalism was relatively less advanced throughout the nineteenth century.”
May 12, 1939.
Source: David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University. Lloyd A. Metzler Papers, Box 7; [Harvard University], Division of History, Government and Economics, Division Examinations for the Degree of A.B., 1938-39.