Harvard. Applied Economic Analysis, Readings and Exams. Smithies and Baldwin, 1956-57

For a course that promises applied economic analysis, the content  for the 1956-57 course taught by Arthur Smithies and  Robert Baldwin appears to have been about 2/3 analysis and 1/3 “application”.

The course materials from the previous year (taught by James Duesenberry) have been posted earlier at: 

Applied Economic Analysis, 1955-56.

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Course Enrollment

[Economics] 106. Applied Economic Analysis. Professor Smithies and Assistant Professor Baldwin. Full course.

(F) Total 45: 2 Other Graduates, 36 Seniors, 6 Juniors, 1 Other.
(S) Total 43: 1 Other Graduate, 36 Seniors, 6 Juniors.

Source: Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College 1956-57, p. 68.

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HARVARD UNIVERSITY
Department of Economics

Economics 106
Reading List, Fall 1956

1. Economic Analysis and Public Policy

F. H. Knight, “Economic Objectives in a Changing World,” Economics and Public Policy, The Brookings Institution, 1955.

A. Smithies, “Economic Welfare and Policy,” Ibid.

2. The Ricardian System

David Ricardo, Principles of Political Economy, Chs. 2-6, 21.

W. J. Baumol, Economic Dynamics, Ch. 2.

Suggested:

Ricardo, Chs. 1, 31

G. J. Stigler, “The Ricardian Theory of Value and Distribution,” The Journal of Political Economy, LX, 3 (June 1952).

J. S. Mill, Principles of Political Economy, Bk. 3, Ch. 6 and 14;

Mimeographed paper on Smith and Ricardo*

3. Marxian Dynamics

Karl Marx, A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy, Preface.

M. M. Bober, Karl Marx’s Interpretation of History, Chs. 1-3, 9-13.

Suggested:

Joan Robinson, An Essay on Marxian Economics.

P. Sweezy, The Theory of Capitalist Development, Chs. 4-6, 8, 9,

J. A. Schumpeter, Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy, Part I.

Mimeographed paper on Marx*

4. The Neo-classical System

L. Walras, Elements of Pure Economics, Part I.

G. Cassel, The Theory of Social Economy, Ch. 4

W. S. Jevons, The Theory of Political Economy, Introduction.

Suggested:

E. Phelps Brown, Framework of the Pricing System

5. The Schumpeterian System

J. A. Schumpeter, Business Cycles, Vol. I, Chs. 3, 4.

J. A. Schumpeter, Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy, Part II

Suggested:

J. A. Schumpeter, The Theory of Economic Development.

Mimeographed paper on Schumpeter*.

6. Keynesian Economics

J. M. Keynes, The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money, Ch. 19.

D. Dillard, The Economics of J. M. Keynes, Chs. 2, 3.

A. Hansen, Business Cycles and National Income, Part II

Suggested:

A. Hansen, A Guide to Keynes

J. M. Keynes, The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money.

7. Post-Keynesian Growth Theorists

E. Domar, “Expansion and Employment,” American Economic Review, March 1947.

W. Baumol, op. cit., Ch. 4

Suggested:

R. Harrod, Towards a Dynamic Economics, Ch. 3.

D. Hamberg, Economic Growth and Instability, Ch. 2, 3

*Available in Lamont and Littauer Libraries.

Source: Harvard University Archives. Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in Economics, 1895-2003. Box 6, Folder: “Economics, 1956-1957 (2 of 2).

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1956-57
HARVARD UNIVERSITY

Economics 106
Fall 1956
Final Examination

Part I
(30 Minutes)
Answer the following question.

1. Discuss the concept of steady growth in the Post-Keynesian models. Do you consider that steady growth is attainable or desirable?

Part II
(One Hour)
Answer the following question.

2. Ricardo, Marx, Schumpeter and Keynes all predicted that the capitalist system would either break down or arrive at a stationary state. Compare and contrast these theories. What light does your answer to Question 1 throw on their validity?

Part III
(One Hour and A Half)
Answer TWO questions.

3. Is there an economic basis for the notion of an optimum distribution of income in (a) a stationary and (b) a developing economy. What economic factors would you consider in defining such a concept?
4. Keynes produced a theory of involuntary unemployment. How does involuntary unemployment occur in his system and to what extent does his theory constitute a revolution in economic thinking?
5. Discuss the concepts of profits in the various theories you have studied. In the light of these theories do you consider profits to be pure surpluses or rewards to factors of production?

Source: Harvard University Archives. Final examinations, 1853-2001. Box 25, Volume: Papers Printed for Final Examinations [in] History, History of Religions, …, Economics, …, Naval Science, Air Science, January 1957.

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Harvard University
Department of Economics

Economics 106
[Spring term, 1956-57]

Part I Aggregative Theories (continued from 1^st term)

1. Post-Keynesian Growth Theorists

Domar, E., “Expansion and Employment,” American Economic Review, March 1947.

W. Baumol, Economic Dynamics, Ch. 4

Suggested:

R. Harrod, Towards a Dynamic Economics, Ch. 3.

D. Hamberg, Economic Growth and Instability, Ch. 2, 3

Smithies, A., “Economic Fluctuations and Growth,” Econometrica, January 1957.

Part II Public Policy and Economic Goals

1. Full Employment and Price Level Stability

   1. General

Maxwell, Fiscal Policy

1. 2. Policy Approaches

Simons, Economic Policy for a Free Society, Ch. 7.

Committee for Economic Development, “Taxes and the Budget: A Program for Prosperity in a Free Economy,” Readings in Fiscal Policy, Number 23, American Economic Association.

United Nations, National and International Measures for Full Employment, 73-87.

Beveridge, Full Employment in a Free Society, Part IV.

Lerner, Economics of Control, Ch. 24.

Clark, “Criteria of Sound Wage Adjustment, with Emphasis on the Question of Inflationary Effects,” Impact of the Union, Ch. 1, Wright (ed.)

[Note: page 2 of the syllabus is missing, cf. Baldwin’s Spring Term 1956, Economics 206. Missing part B almost certainly included “Equitable Income Distribution” and “Efficient Resource Allocation”]

3. Continued Growth

Fellner, Trends and Cycles in Economic Activity, Chapters 8 and 9.

Davis, “Economic Potentials of the United States,” Lekachman (ed.), National Policy for Economic Welfare at Home and Abroad.

Wright, Democracy and Progress, Chapters 5-7 and 12.

Hansen, “Growth or Stagnation in the American Economy,” Review of Economics and Statistics, November 1954.

Slichter, “How Big in 1980?” Atlantic Monthly, November 1949.

Hennipman, “Monopoly: Impediment or Stimulus to Economic Progress,” Monopoly and Competition and Their Regulation, Chamberlin (ed.).

Lange, On the Economic Theory of Socialism, 98-120.

4. International Equilibrium

Snider, Introduction to International Economics, Ch. 11.

Thorp, Trade, Aid, or What?, Chapters 1 and 2.

Humphrey, American Imports, Chapter 24.

5. General

Tinbergen, J., Economic Policy: Principles and Design.

Source: Harvard University Archives. Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in Economics, 1895-2003. Box 6, Folder: “Economics, 1956-1957 (2 of 2).

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1956-57
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
Department of Economics

Economics 106
Applied Economic Analysis
Final Examination

ANSWER FIVE (5) OF THE FOLLOWING SIX QUESTIONS.

1. Contrast the Domar-Harrod and neo-classical analyses of the problem of maintaining full-employment growth.
2. What policy tools are available to control the level of aggregate demand in the American economy? Outline the policy program you would recommend in a depression.
3. “There has recently been a tendency, I believe, to exaggerate the effectiveness of monetary policy and to gloss over its weaknesses.” Discuss.
4. Discuss the policy proposals of the “dynamic competition” group (Schumpeterians) and the “guided capitalism” group (Keynesians) with regard to the problem of maintaining satisfactory growth.
5. What were the major causes of the post-war balance of payments difficulties for Europe? What measures were taken in an effort to cure the problem?
6. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the “structure” versus the “performance” criteria of anti-trust policy.

Source: Harvard University Archives. Final examinations, 1853-2001. Volume 113 (HUC 7000.28) Final Exams—Social Sciences—June 1957: Papers Printed for Final Examinations [in] History, History of Religions, …, Economics, …, Naval Science, Air Science, June 1957.

Image Sources:  (Left) John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation website. Arthur Smithies (1955 Fellow); (Right) Robert Baldwin from Selection from photograph (ca. 1975) of Robert E. Baldwin from the University of Wisconsin Archives/The University of Wisconsin Collection/The UW-Madison Collection/UW-Madison Archives Images.