As we move into the second decade of the twentieth century we can see the field structure of the Harvard economics department crystallizing both with respect to the fields and the faculty covering the courses. William Zebina Ripley was responsible for courses in statistics, industrial organization and industrial relations.
Of note is the application of Engel’s law seen in the last question of the year-end examination below.
Note: For the academic year 1911-12 I have been unable to find a mid-year examination for Ripley’s statistics course.
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Statistics (Econ 4), previous years
1896-1900, John Cummings.
1900-01 [omitted]
1901-02, Ripley.
1902-03, Ripley.
1903-04, Ripley. [only mid-year exam found]
1904-05, Ripley.
1905-06 [omitted]
1906-07. [offered but no printed exam found]
1907-08, Ripley. [only mid-year exam found]
1908-09, Ripley.
1909-10, Ripley.
1910-11, Young.
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Course Description
1911-12
[Economics] 4. Statistics. — Theory, Method, and Practice. Tu., Th., at 11.Professor Ripley.
This course is intended rather as an analysis of methods of research and sources of information than as embodying mere results. A brief history of statistics will be followed by an account of census and other statistical methods in the United States and abroad, with the scientific use and interpretation of results. The main divisions of vital statistics, relating to birth, marriage, morbidity and mortality, life tables, etc.; the statistics of trade and commerce, such as price indexes, etc.; industrial statistics relating to labor, wages, and employment; statistics of agriculture, manufactures, and transportation, will be then considered in order. Laboratory work, amounting to not less than two hours per week, in the preparation of charts, maps, and diagrams from original material, will be required. Course 4 is open to students who have taken Economics 1.
Source: Division of History, Government, and Economics: 1911-12 (1st ed.). Official Register of Harvard University, Vol. VIII, No. 23 (June 15, 1911), pp. 588-59.
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Course Enrollment
1911-12
Economics 4. Professor Ripley. — Statistics. Theory, method, and practice.
Total 20: 4 Graduates, 6 Seniors, 9 Juniors, 1 Other
Source: Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College, 1911-1912, p. 63.
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ECONOMICS 4
Year-end Examination, 1911-12
- Define the following: —
Skewness.
Quet.
Fecundity (as applied to population).
- Standardize and compare the following: —
|
|
Population A. Number. | Population A. Death Rate. | Population B. Number. | Population B. Death Rate. |
|
|
44,000 | 16.4 | 44,000 | 16.2 |
| Components: | ||||
| Under 5 | 4,000 | 25.5 | 1,000 | 26. |
| Over 5 | 40,000 | 15.5 | 43,000 | 16. |
- Discuss the following statistics. What do they show?
Cost of Product Valued at $100.
|
|
Materials. | Wages. | Misc. Exp. | Total. |
| U. S. All industries, 1890 | $55.08 | $24.36 | $6.73 | $86.17 |
- Work up and draw conclusions from the following figures of incomes of a college class: —
| Incomes. | Number. | Incomes. | Number. | |
| $1,000 to $1,499 | 5 | $7,500 to $7,999 | 5 | |
| 1,500 to 1,999 | 15 | 8,000 to 8,499 | 2 | |
| 2,000 to 2,499 | 22 | 8,500 to 8,999 | 0 | |
| 2,500 to 2,999 | 25 | 9,000 to 9,499 | 1 | |
| 3,000 to 3,499 | 11 | 9,500 to 9,999 | 0 | |
| 3,500 to 3,999 | 10 | 10,000 to 14,999 | 6 | |
| 4,000 to 4,499 | 9 | 15,000 to 19,999 | 4 | |
| 4,500 to 4,999 | 8 | 20,000 to 29,999 | 2 | |
| 5,000 to 5,499 | 7 | 30,000 to 39,999 | 1 | |
| 5,500 to 5,999 | 3 | 40,000 to 49,999 | 1 | |
| 6,000 to 6,499 | 5 | 50,000 and above | 2 | |
| 6,500 to 6,999 | 3 | — | ||
| 7,000 to 7,499 | 5 |
- What is the corollary according to Mayo-Smith from Engel’s law as to just methods of taxation applied to the masses of the people?
Source: Harvard University Archives. Harvard University — Examination papers, 1873-1915. Box 6. Bound volume, Examination Papers, 1912. Harvard University Examinations. Papers Set For Examinations in History, History of Science, Government, Economics […], pp. 48-49.
Image Source: Lambert Adolphe Jacques Quetelet. From the Royal Collection Trust, acquired by Prince Albert.