While the following syllabus was filed with the Harvard economics syllabi for 1951-52, Seymour Harris’ course on the economics of social security was actually not offered that year. It was offered during the spring term of 1950-51 for which there is a final exam to be found. Both the course reading list and the exam are transcribed below.
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Course Announcement
Economics 186 (formerly Economics 86a). Economics of Social Security
Half-course (spring term). Mon., Wed., and (at the pleasure of the instructor) Fri., at 12. Professor Harris.
Economics 286 (formerly Economics 186b). Social Security and its Relation to Fiscal and Cycle Problems
Half-course (spring term). Mon., Wed., and (at the pleasure of the instructor) Fri., at 12. Professor Harris.
This course treats of the United States Social Security programs primarily, and foreign areas secondarily. Unemployment, health, old age insurance, education receive much attention; also assistance programs. Methods of finance, relations to economic activity, effects on income distribution are also considered.
Source: Harvard University Archives. Courses of Instruction, Box 6. Official Register of Harvard University vol. 47, no. 23 (September, 1950). Final Announcement of the Courses of Instruction offered by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences during 1950-51, pp. 82-83, 89.
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Prof. S. E. Harris
Economics 186 and 286
1951
I. Social Security and the National Economy—Four weeks
Philosophy; problems of distribution; monetary, financial and cyclical aspects; broad outlines of the American and British systems.
Assignment:
E. Burns: The American Social Security System, Chs. 1-3
Haber and Cohen: Readings in Social Security, Chs. 1-3
Suggested readings:
*The Beveridge Report (Social Insurance and Allied Problems)
+*W.R. Robson (Ed.): Social Security
R.C. Davison: The Unemployed
*R.C. Davison: British Unemployment Policy
S.E. Harris: Economics of Social Security, pp. 1-161
A.H. Hansen: Full Recovery or Stagnation? pp. 137-192
III. Attacks on Insecurity
The Old Age Problem—Two weeks
Assignment: Burns, Chs. 4,5; Haber-Cohen, pp. 249-322
Assistance—One week
Assignment: Burns, Chs. 11, 12
Unemployment—Two weeks
Assignment: Burns, Chs. 6,7; Haber-Cohen, Ch. 4
Sickness and Health Insurance—Two weeks
Assignment: The Practitioner, pp. 1-61; Haber-Cohen, Ch. 6
Veterans
Assignment: Burns, Ch. 10
Suggested Readings:
H.M. Stationary Office: Social Insurance, Part I, 1944
The Final Report of the Committee on the Costs of Medical Care, 1932
Backman and Meriam: The Issue of Compulsory Health Insurance (The Brookings Institution)
+S.E. Harris: Economics of Social Security, pp. 162-443
*Recommendations for Social Security Legislation: Reports of the Advisory Council on Social Security to the Senate Committee on Finance, 1949.
The Nation’s Health: A Ten Years Program
+Millis and Montgomery: Labor’s Risk and Social Insurance
*Report to the President of the Committee on Economic Security, 1935
*Reading period: Any one of these items.
+Graduate students: Read 300 pages additional from one of these three items (but exclusive of your reading period choice) and write a 2500-word comment on the additional reading.
Source: Harvard University Archives, Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in Economics, 1895-2003, Box 5, Folder “Economics, 1951-1952 (2 of 2)”.
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1950-51
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
ECONOMICS 186 AND 286
[Final Examination. June, 1951]
Economics 186: Answer five questions, including number 6.
Economics 286: Answer four questions, including numbers 5 and 6.
Indicate Class next to your name.
- “Under the British National Health Service Act, the relative position of practitioners, nurses, specialists, dentists, obstetricians, and the relative outlays on various services have been affected.” Discuss this quotation on the basis of your reading in The Practitioner and lectures.
- Compare the present status of British and American programs of social security.
- Give the main provisions, major weaknesses, and suggest methods of improvement of the U.S. Unemployment Insurance Program.
- Under Old Age Insurance (U.S.A.), the problem of appropriate benefits is a difficult one. Consider some of the crucial problems raised in developing appropriate benefits.
- Relate the problem of economic fluctuations to the American Social Security program.
- Summarize and comment on the reading period assignment. (30 Minutes.)
Source: Harvard University Archives. Final Examinations, 1853-2001. Box 27. Papers Printed for Final Examinations [in] History, History of Religions,…,Economics,…, Air Sciences, Naval Science. June, 1951.
Image Source: Seymour Harris in the Harvard Class Album 1957.