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Economists Harvard

Harvard. Annual report on the department of economics. Dunlop, 1961-1962

John T. Dunlop

An overview of the annual comings and goings of a department are typically chronicled in a report prepared by the department chair. Such low circulation documents are sometimes targeted to a specific readership, e.g. a visiting committee, a dean, the alumni, but the report transcribed in this post for the Harvard economics department in 1961-62 does not appear to have had a particular audience in mind.

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About  Chairman John T. Dunlop
(Harvard Album, 1960)

Sallying forth from an office in the farther reaches of Littauer to Washington, D.C., JOHN THOMAS DUNLOP, Professor of Economics and faculty member in the Graduate School of Public Administration, is certainly one of the university’s most travelled professors. Dunlop, a labor expert, teaches an undergraduate course on unionism and public policy applying to labor relations and problems; in the grad school he conducts two seminars, in one of which he had worked closely with the late Professor Slichter. But in addition to his teaching, Professor Dunlop is one of the country’s leading strike arbitrators, and he figures that he travels in the vicinity of 150,000 miles a year on this outside work. The occasion for a weekly trip to the nation’s capital is his post as the impartial chairman of a joint committee in the construction industry, comprising representatives of the eighteen major unions and contracting firms. In this position Professor Dunlop must mediate disputes between the union and management. He is also a permanent umpire for the women’s garment industry and in the past has served in similar capacities for the brass companies of Connecticut and the bituminous coal producers. The dispute in 1955 involving the complexities of the ratio of required conductors to the length of a freight train called him back to the role of mediator, following a long term with the Atomic Energy Labor panel. At present he edits the Wertheim series on the histories of various big corporations and unions, and he also administers a Ford Foundation grant to study the functionings of labor and management in the underdeveloped countries of Asia.

Professor Dunlop was born in the Forty-Niner gold region and graduated from the University of California in 1935. He has been with Harvard since 1938, when he joined the faculty as an instructor. He gets back to California at least once a year, and the last time he returned he did so by travelling eastward via Indonesia. Professor Dunlop lives in Belmont, and, when not compiling mileage, he devotes his time to his wife and three children, and concentrates on his tennis game.

Source: The Harvard Album, 1960, p. 29.

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Previously posted departmental reports

Department Reports to the Dean (1932-41)
Department Reports to the Dean (1942-1946)
Department Reports to the Dean (1947-1950)
Department Report to the Dean (1955-56)
Department Newsletter (June 1960)

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June 26, 1962

Report
Department of Economics, 1961-1962

1. Staff

Professor Gerschenkron was Taussig Research Professor for the year, and Professor Albert J. Meyer, lecturer in the Department, was also on leave. Professor Galbraith and Kaysen continued on leave in government appointments. During the spring term Professor Harris was on sabbatical leave; Professor Bergson held a Ford Faculty Research Fellowship, and Professor Leontief was Visiting Professor at the College du France, Paris. Assistant Professors Gill and Vanek were also on leave throughout the year.

As a consequence of the number of senior members on leave, the Department included this year a relatively large number of visiting professors and lecturers. Professor Jesse Markham of Princeton University taught the courses in industrial organization; Dr. Frank Spooner was in charge of economic history; Professor William H. Nicholls of Vanderbilt instructed in agriculture and economic development. Professor Jacob Viner was Taussig Research Professor, and while he taught no courses, we were delighted to have him with us for the year. Professor Schmookler of Minnesota was associated with the science and public policy seminar of the Littauer School, and was a visiting lecturer in the Department. In addition, Professor Domar of M.I.T. taught a course in the Soviet economy in the spring term. Mr. Langley gave courses ordinarily taught by Professor A.J. Meyer, and Professor Caleb Smith of Brown University continued to teach the accounting course.

2. New Appointments

       The Executive Committee unanimously recommended the appointment of Professor Richard Caves as a permanent addition to the Department. Following the established procedures, the governing boards on May 14, 1962 voted his appointment as Professor of Economics effective July 1, 1962. Professor Caves completed his Ph.D. degree in the Department in 1958 and has been on the staff at the University of California (Berkeley) since 1957. He has been vice-chairman of the Berkeley Department. The appointment of Professor Caves will materially strengthen the Harvard Department, particularly in the fields of international trade and industrial organization. Moreover, he is regarded as an excellent undergraduate teacher.

       The Department unanimously recommended and the President and governing boards approved the appointment of four new assistant professors starting July 1, 1962: Clopper Almon, Jr., Elliot Berg, Phoebus Dhrymes, and Thomas Wilson. It is planned that these assistant professors in the Department will devote part time to research and be paid in part from research budgets. Such arrangements, combined with the higher salary scales starting July 1, 1962, should facilitate the recruitment of first rate assistant professors; it has often been difficult in the past to fill this rank in this Department.

       In approving these four appointments on March 5, 1962, President Pusey stated:

“It is my understanding that these four new Assistant Professors will devote part of their five-year tenure to special research projects and that an appropriate fraction of their salaries during these periods will be charged against the project budgets. I approve in principle the idea of experimenting in this way with charging portions of the salaries of assistant professors to grants or contracts, provided these grants or contracts are of sufficient duration to avoid the danger of funds running out when there are still large salary commitments in excess of our normal academic salary budget. Thus I feel that we should move with caution in this direction, treating the above appointments as experimental, and waiting for the results to become apparent before venturing further along this road.”

3. Chair in Modern China Studies and Economics

       The primary responsibility for filling this chair has now been placed in the Department of Economics. After a series of conferences with the East Asia Research Center of Harvard University, President Pusey approved the arrangements under which the Department will seek a permanent appointment competent in Economics and with a command of the Chinese language. In the meanwhile, the Department is to be responsible for providing some instruction on term appointments in the field and is to have the use of the income of the endowment for such instruction and to develop promising scholars in this field.

       Professor Kuznets is to be Chairman of the Committee of the Department to seek appropriate appointments. It is expected that Mr. Dwight Perkins, a graduate student in the Department, will provide a half course of instruction on the Economy of China in the spring term, 1963.

4. Undergraduate Program

       The enrollment in the undergraduate courses in the Department has grown in the last several years. The aggregate enrollment in undergraduate courses was 926 in the fall of 1959 and 1375 in the fall of 1961; the aggregate enrollment was 1080 in the spring term of 1960 and 1281 in the spring of 1962. These figures include the enrollment in Economics 1 which averaged 540 in 1959 and 628 in 1962. It is thought that these increases in part reflect the reorganization of the undergraduate program placed into effect in the fall of 1960 following several years of work on the part of the committee on undergraduate instruction. The division of full year courses into half year courses, the arrangement of courses into four groups according to prerequisites and level of difficulty, the lectures in Economics 1 and the addition to the curriculum of a few new courses is thought to have stimulated enrollment.

       Despite the increases in enrollment in undergraduate courses, the Department faces a serious continuing problem to maintain and to increase the number of concentrators in the field. The percentage of all concentrators who elect the field of Economics has declined from 7.7 percent in 1956-57 to 6.0 percent in 1960-61. The low concentration in Economics at Radcliffe is of particular concern to the Department, and conferences seeking to increase interest among the students have been held with President Bunting and other members of the Radcliffe staff.

       In order to improve the quality of our instruction, Economics 98 (junior tutorial) is to be reorganized. The adoption of the Gill plan by the Faculty materially increased the number of students in Economics 98 from 40 or 50 to more than 80. The instruction in economic theory by lectures has proven to be inappropriate with the larger group. Next year, 1962-63, it is planned to divide the group into three or four seminars, each of approximately 20 students; each seminar is to be under the direction of a senior member of the Department or an assistant professor. In addition, tutorial groups of four or five students will meet with individual tutors. Professor Caves has been given overall responsibility for this important part of the undergraduate program.

5. Graduate Instruction

       There was a total of 48 first year graduate students in the Department this year including 5 women and 3 enrolled through Littauer. There were 88 continuing graduate students including 6 women, 6 from Littauer, and 2 in joint degrees, for a total of 136 graduate students; in addition, the Department had 10 special students and 10 special auditors. A total of 21 Ph.D. degrees were awarded to students in the Department of Economics.

       The competition for places in the graduate schools for work in the Department of Economics has grown more severe in recent years. From the more than 260 applications for admission to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences received in the spring of 1962, there will only be about 45 new graduate students in the fall of 1962. Almost half of these students will be from outside the United States and Canada. For the fall of 1962 we have been able to obtain the admission of 8 out of the first 10 on our list, a considerably higher fraction than in recent years.

       The Department faces strong conflicting pressures in making decisions on the number of new graduate students to be admitted. On the one hand, the Department is anxious to provide individual instruction particularly after the first year of graduate study for the highest quality students. A greater enrollment would also complicate materially the teaching of the required graduate courses in economic history, statistics and theory, and after a point would require further manpower so that two senior members of the Department might give parallel courses or sections. On the other hand, the Department is anxious to make its contribution to the increased demands for economists particularly for developing countries. Moreover the quality of a number of the students rejected for admission (perhaps as many as 15 to 20) appears to be very good. In the selection of students from abroad it is particularly difficult to know whether one has made the best selections. When students are admitted whose records turn out to be poor, there are often many complications for both the student and the University. The Department has spent considerable energy in reviewing the records of students admitted during the past decade; a careful statistical study was made under the direction of Professor Houthakker. The Department is continuing to seek to improve admission procedures.

         Financial resources available to the Department for its own use for scholarships and fellowships is a serious problem since the money made available by the generous gift of Mr. Roger Kyes has now been exhausted.

6. Organization of the Department

The Department now performs much of its routine business through committees. The two major committees are on Undergraduate Instruction under Professor Eckstein and on Graduate Instruction under Professor Dorfman.

7. Research

         A very large amount of research activity is carried out by members of the Department of Economics. In addition to individual research by senior members, an increasing number of research projects which employ a number of graduate students and junior staff are being conducted under the direction of senior members. These research projects often provide opportunities for training of graduate students in research methods and afford topics and financing for Ph.D. dissertations.

         Among these research projects with financial support are the following:

Professor Leontief Harvard Economic Research Project which has recently been refinanced for a period of years.
Professor Mason The relations of government and business in economic development.
Professor Mason and Dr. Papanek Overseas operations and training
(Center for International Affairs)
Professor Kuznets Economic growth
Professor Eckstein Economics of public expenditures
Professor Houthakker Forecasting consumers’ expenditures
Professor Harris Education and Public Policy
Professor Schelling Defense studies and Experimental Study of Bargaining
Professor Dunlop Labor-Management History and Economics of Medical Care
Professor Duesenberry Capital Markets
Professor Meyer Business Decisions
Professor Bergson Soviet Economics
Professor Gerschenkron Economic History Workshop

8. Public and Professional Activities

         A number of members of the Department were engaged in a wide variety of professional activities and public service during the year. A few instances may be of interest; no attempt is made for a complete listing.

         The president of the American Economic Association comes from this Department two years in a row. Professor Mason is president for 1962, and Professor Haberler is president-elect.

         Professor Leontief was chairman of the International Conference on Input-Output Techniques held in Geneva, Switzerland in September 1961 and sponsored by the Harvard Economic Research Project in association with the U.S.[sic] Secretariat. He was also a member of the Commission of Experts for the United Nations which reported on the Social and Economic Consequences of Disarmament.

         Professor Dorfman served as a member of the President’s Scientific Advisory Committee team on Waterlogging and Salinity in West Pakistan. He is also a member of the President’s Committee to Appraise Employment and Unemployment Statistics.

         Professor Harris is serving as Economic Advisor to the Secretary of the Treasury and is a member of the Public Advisory Board of the Area Redevelopment Program.

         Professor John R. Meyer served as a consultant in connection with the President’s message on Transportation Policy.

         Professor Kuznets is Chairman of the Committee on the Economy of China of the Social Science Research Council.

         Professor Bergson is a member of this same Committee and chairman of the Joint Committee of Slavic Studies of the Social Science Research Council and the American Council of Learned Societies. His study, The Real National Income of Soviet Russia Since 1928, was published in 1961 by the Harvard University Press.

         Professor Mason is Chairman, Advisory Committee, A.I.D.

         Professors Duesenberry, Eckstein and Smithies have been consultants to the Council of Economic Advisors. Professor Duesenberry was on the staff of the Commission on Money and Credit and was chairman of the Joint Economic Committee’s Inventory Study Committee.

         Professor Schelling has been a consultant to the Department of Defense and to the Scientific Advisory Board of the Air Force. His study Strategy of Arms Control (with Morton J. Halperin), was published by the Twentieth Century Fund in 1961.

         Professor Houthakker has worked on revenue forecasting problems for the Department of the Treasury.

         Professor Dunlop was a member of the Presidential Railroad Commission (1960-1962), and is a member of the President’s Missile Sites Labor Commission. He was Chairman of the International Conference on Labor Productivity under the auspices of the International Economic Association held August-September 1961.

9. Visiting Committee

         A series of meetings this year with the Chairman of the Visiting Committee, and others of its members, have improved the relations between the Visiting Committee and the Department of Economics. I believe these new attitudes are reflected in the annual report of the Committee. There is a genuine desire on the part of both the Department and the Committee for a constructive relationship.

___________________
John T. Dunlop
Chairman

Source: Duke University. Economists’ Papers Archive. David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library. Edward H. Chamberlin Papers, Box 17, Folder “Economics Department 1960-62”.

Image Source: The Harvard Class Album 1960, p. 29.

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Economists Harvard Teaching Undergraduate

Harvard. Annual Economics Newsletter. 1 June 1960

This three page departmental newsletter for Harvard economics from the end of the academic year 1959-60 is found in Edward H. Chamberlin papers curated at the Economists’ Papers Archive at Duke University. Among other things we learn from this newsletter is that a year’s course “Mathematics for Economists” was able to satisfy the foreign language requirement, or expressed differently, the punishment for receiving a grade less than B in the first semester of the math course was being required to pass a rigorous foreign language examination. 

Of course, finding this I wonder where I can find the first four issues of the Harvard Economics Newsletter.

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ECONOMICS NEWSLETTER
Fifth Annual Issue, June 1, 1960

UNDERGRADUATE INSTRUCTION:

The Department has been engaged in a study of its undergraduate curriculum over the past year and has now adopted a substantial series of changes in concentration requirements and, more particularly, in the undergraduate course offerings. The basic principles underlying the revisions were set out in a report of the Committee on Undergraduate Instruction under the chairmanship of Professor John Dunlop. These principles, briefly, were that the undergraduate program is “part of a liberal education” and, except in very special cases, is “not designed as professional training in Economics”; that the undergraduate program should be “clearly differentiated” from the graduate program; that the undergraduate should have as much flexibility as possible in choosing courses of interest to him; that close attention should be given to the teaching of Economics courses and to the balance of analytic and institutional material in each.

These principles clearly indicate a concern on the part of the Department that the undergraduate program may tend to become subordinate to the graduate program unless specific attention is paid to the particular interests and objectives of the younger student. The revisions, therefore, are in the direction of making a greater number of courses (particularly half-courses) open to undergraduates; breaking the traditional parallelism between graduate and undergraduate courses; and emphasizing historical, institutional and policy questions which will be of interest not only to the Economics concentrator but to able concentrators in other fields. To make certain that this greater freedom of choice does not lead to a lack of coherence, a certain “progression” has been introduced in the course offering and Honors candidates are required to take at least one “advanced” course in the area of their choice.

The sum total of these changes gives us a field of concentration which we believe will better serve the purposes of a liberal arts college. So far as undergraduate reaction is concerned, it will not be until the changes have gone into effect next year that we will be able to judge the response effectively. It is of interest, however, that the Crimson, not an altogether silent critic in the past, has called the new program a “model” which other departments might wisely study.

MATHEMATICS- LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT:

Realizing that mathematical competence is growing more important in most branches of economic work than linguistic ability, the Department has revised the language requirement in the following manner:

A full course entitled “Mathematics for Economists” has been established. All graduate students are now required to take and pass the first half of this course or pass an equivalent mathematics examination. Those who pass with at least a B may take the second half of the course, and no language will be required.

Those students who desire fluency in a foreign language or who receive a grade less than B in the first half of the mathematics course must complete the mathematics-language requirement by passing a rigorous language examination.

THE ECONOMICS OF HIGHER EDUCATION:

Professor Seymour E. Harris has been on leave this year on a Ford Fellowship, to complete the study of the Economics of Higher Education. He has visited more than 100 colleges and universities, and has submitted the following report for inclusion in this year’s Newsletter:

There were three resultant manuscripts:

  1. More Resources for Education (John Dewey Lecture), Harpers, 1960
  2. Economics and Educational Value. Edited volume based on seminar in 1958-59 for College Administrators. (Assisted by Richard Cooper and Reginald Green). Harvard University Press, 1960.
  3. Economics of Higher Education, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1961.

A questionnaire sent to about 200 economists revealed attitudes towards higher education.  A considerable sentiment for:

    1. Higher tuition if accompanied by improved financing methods. But fear expressed of resultant excessive gains of enrollment for public institutions, increased recourse to colleges near home, a tendency to favor high income groups and endanger the position of many vulnerable private institutions.
    2. General agreement that much greater recourse to loans is practical. But some economists expressed dissatisfaction with the idea that young men and women should be encouraged to borrow. Furthermore, they are unaccustomed to seeking large credits.
    3. Economists generally envisaged the possibility of substantial economies — better use of plant, reduced number of courses, etc. But it was hoped that small discussion groups would not be eliminated.
PERSONNEL:

Professor Simon KUZNETS, now at Johns Hopkins, and Professor Hendrik HOUTHAKKER, now at Stanford, will join our staff next year.

Professor Otto ECKSTEIN has recently been promoted to Associate Professor of Economics. This fall he was in Washington, where he was Technical Director for the Douglas Committee investigating prices, wages, productivity, etc. Now he is in Europe working for the O.E.E.C. Professor GALBRAITH has been on leave in Switzerland for the spring term, working on a new book on corporation organization. Professor KAYSEN been working for Doxiadis Associates in Athens this year, making a study of Greek economy.

Professor James McKIE from Vanderbilt and Professor Henri THEIL from the Econometric Institute in the Netherlands have been visiting members of our staff this year.

Professor DUNLOP is President of the Industrial Relations Research Association for 1960. He has also been appointed to the President’s Committee investigating non-operating unions on the railroads.

Professor MASON has edited a book, Corporation and Modern Society. Professor DUESENBERRY has been working on his Capital Markets Project, supported by a grant from the Merrill Foundation to the Business School. Professor GERSCHENKRON’s Economic History Workshop, under a grant from the Ford Foundation, began operation in the fall of 1959.

Professor LEONTIEF gave three public lectures as Hitchcock Professor at the University of California in November 1959. Now he is in Argentina at the invitation of the University of Buenos Aires, where he is giving some lectures. He has been sent by ICA and will be there about two weeks. On the way back he will be stopping in Rio de Janeiro to give a lecture at the invitation of the Getulio Vergas Foundation.

Professor DORFMAN will be on leave next year, when he will be at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences in Stanford, California.

The Department was saddened by the deaths of Professor SLICHTER in September 1959 and of Mrs. John H. WILLIAMS and Professor BLACK in April 1960.

Source: Economists’ Papers Archive, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library. Edward H. Chamberlin Papers, Box 17, Folder “Economics Department 1960-62”.

Image Source: “Overhead of empty Harvard Sq.” (1961) Cambridge Historical Commission, Cambridge Photo Morgue Collection. Digital Commonwealth, Massachusetts Collections Online.

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Fields Harvard

Harvard. Report on Long-range Plans for the Department of Economics. 1948

The following transcribed report of a special committee regarding the future of the Harvard economics department looking forward from 1948 is fascinating. Eight senior professors would be retiring over the coming decade and there was a serious discussion of the economists needed to replace them. For my money the most interesting comparison is the one made between Arthur Smithies and Paul Samuelson. I’ll let you or your AI of choice fish that out of the report. But there is much more to be found.

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The Provost is not amused
[No letterhead, unsigned.
Apparently a copy.]

December 22, 1947

Dear Mr. Burbank:

I am not at all happy with the recommendation sent me by the Department of Economics and the School of Public Administration for the appointment at professorial rank of a man to serve jointly in the Department and in the School. As you realize, the five votes taken by the group reveal a confused picture in which no clear preference is indicated. Nor have I been successful in clarifying the situation by requesting from each member of the group a letter addressed to me in which he explained fully his vote. Hence I believe it necessary to suggest a different procedure from that which has been followed.

One source of the difficulty, it occurs to me, is that the recommendation for the joint appointment has not been studied sufficiently in relation to the other vacancies which are to be filled within the next year or two. As you know, the Department has, in addition to the joint professorship, a vacancy in the rank of full professorship created by the resignation of Professor Crum, and one in the rank of associate professorship. It also has due it in 1950-51 a second vacancy as associate professor. Hence it appears that within a short span, the Department has four major appointments to make. It goes without saying that those appointments will influence in great measure the future of economics at Harvard for many years to come. The importance of making wise selections cannot be lost sight of.

It seems to me that we must consider all these appointments as a related problem. Consequently I shall take no action on the recommendation for the joint appointment until the Department has thought through its entire slate. No evidence has been given me yet which suggests that the Department has worked out a consistent plan or program into which all these appointments can be fitted and which meets, within the resources available, the demands which the Faculty as a whole may properly make upon the Department of Economics.

I have no desire to lecture the Department as to its obligations, but I do have certain responsibilities to discharge as Dean of the Faculty. Hence I venture to suggest that there are certain questions which may reasonably and properly be directed to the Department for an answer. Among those questions are the following:

  1. What is your concept of teaching and research within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences?
  2. What fields will you cover, within the resources at your command, in carrying out the answer to the first question?
  3. Are you properly discharging your obligations to your sister departments of the Faculty and to the programs which the Faculty has legislated as common ventures?
  4. Do your specific recommendations harmonize with a general plan and program?

I understand fully that these are no easy questions to answer and that the difficulty of finding an answer is a prime factor in creating the present state of confusion. But I suspect that more preliminary efforts to answer the questions might have reduced the degree of confusion. Certainly so long as the basic issues are not clarified, the discussion of individuals to be appointed breaks down into fragmentary views.

I am also distressed by the fact that many of the professors in the Department have informed me that they do not consider themselves either willing or competent to serve as Chairman of the Department when your term expires in June. One conclusion which might be drawn from this situation is that the Department as now constituted needs some recruitment from men competent and willing to think of economics in general, and of the relation of economics to the faculty at large and to the world outside the university.

I must also report a sense of uneasiness among members of the Faculty in other Departments, that the Department of Economics is showing a tendency not to give due weight in the filling of its vacancies to common programs. If there is cause for this apprehension, I should be quite dismayed. At a time when the Faculty as a whole gives indication of the need in teaching and research for ever greater cooperation between disciplines of learning, it would be regrettable if the Department of Economics adhered to narrow and vertical procedures. To make the point quite specific, I might inquire what the Department of Economics plans to do in regard to Economic History and to the Area Program in Russian.

I also wonder whether in your immediate desire to fill the vacancies with men now available, you have given proper consideration to the range of younger men coming to maturity in your field. I have, for example, observed two young economists now in the Society of Fellows who seem to me to have ultimate promise of achievement greater than that of at least some of the men now available. There must be many other such men in the University and elsewhere. It would seen wise in any general approach to the problem to give assurance that proper consideration had been made in our appointment schedule for the generation of economists now coming to maturity.

These are some of the matters I have in mind, both general and particular, which incline me to the decision that we should follow an approach in handling these appointments different from the one followed to date. I fear that the approach followed so far is leading into an impasse from which the only escape will be the making of something less than the wisest appointments. Hence I suggest a change of procedure and ask first that the Department present me, in advance of any specific recommendation, with a statement which deals with the questions raised earlier in this letter. Recommendations may accompany this document, but they will not be accepted without it and unless they are shown to have meaning in relation to it.

Finally, the time has come, I believe, when I must personally associate myself with the development of this program. I am therefore arranging a dinner and evening meeting in the rooms of the Society of Fellows on January 21 at 6:30 p.m. to which I shall invite each member of the Executive Committee (all Professors and Associate Professors) of the Department. I shall preside at this meeting, and we shall begin then discussion of the issues outlined in this letter. Needless to say that because of the urgency of the matter, I shall expect a full attendance of the Executive Committee at the dinner.

I am sending a copy of this letter to each Professor and Associate Professor of the Department.

Sincerely yours,
[Unsigned by Paul H. Buck]
Provost

Professor H. H. Burbank
Littauer Center

_____________________________

C O N F I D E N T I A L

REPORT ON LONG-RANGE PLANS
FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS
(REVISED EDITION)

February 25, 1948
  1. The Task of the Committee

In his letter of December 22, 1947, to the Chairman of the Department of Economics [Professor Harold H. Burbank], the Provost [Professor Paul H. Buck] raised a series of questions concerning the long-run plans for the growth and development of the Department. Any future appointments clearly ought to be related to a comprehensive study of the needs and objectives of the Department.

The questions posed by the Provost were as follows:

    1. What is your concept of teaching and research within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences?
    2. What fields will you cover, within the resources at your command, in carrying out the answer to the first question?
    3. Are you properly discharging your obligations to sister departments of the Faculty and to the programs which the Faculty has legislated as common ventures?
    4. Do your specific recommendations harmonize with a general plan and program?

Following an evening meeting on January 21, 1948, with the Executive Committee of the Department, the Provost appointed a committee of five to consider the above questions and to prepare a report on long-run plans for the Department. The Committee was also directed to recommend appointments for existing vacancies in the light of such a comprehensive survey of long-range problems. Four appointments are under consideration at this time: (1) a full professor replacement for Professor Crum, (2) a full professor to be appointed jointly in the Department and in the Littauer School of Public Administration, (3) an associate professor available July 1, 1948, and (4) an associate professor normally not available until July 1, 1951, but who might be appointed at an earlier date.

  1. The Prospective Situation in the Department

The growth of the Department in recent years is indicated in the following tabulation of the number of permanent positions and the number of undergraduate and graduate students for selected years since 1925.

Year

 Permanent Positions Undergraduate Concentrators

Graduate Students*

1925-26

10

 324

75

1930-31

14

 397

82

1935-36

13

 376

47

1940-41

 16 321

102

1947-48

 17 726

264

* Prior to 1940, graduate students with Corporation appointments were not required to register in the Graduate School. The graduate figures for 1940-41 and 1947-48 include Joint Degree and Littauer School candidates who take most of their work in Economics.
Radcliffe students are included in the figures only for 1947-48.

The Department of Economics may reasonably anticipate the retirement of one-half of its present permanent members by June 30, 1958. On the normal assumption that retirement takes place at age sixty-six, eight of the sixteen present permanent members may be expected to become emeritus during the next ten years. The members of the Department who are, and are not, expected to retire before 1958 are indicated in the following lists. (The dates of birth are given after each name.)

Expected Retirement by 1958

 Active Status Expected, Fall 1958
A.P. Usher January 13, 1883 E. Frickey

August 20, 1893

J.A. Schumpeter

 February 8, 1883 S.E. Harris September 8, 1897
J.D. Black June 6, 1883 O.H. Taylor

December 11, 1897

A.E. Monroe

 August 2, 1885 E.S. Mason February 22, 1899
J.H. Williams June 21, 1887 E.H. Chamberlin

May 18, 1899

H.H. Burbank

 July 3, 1887 G. Haberler July 20, 1900
A.H. Hansen August 23, 1887 W.W. Leontief

August 5, 1905

S.H. Slichter

 January 8, 1892 J.T. Dunlop

July 5, 1914

The Department can look forward, under the existing rules of the University, to a total of six new permanent appointments, including the four now under consideration during this ten-year period. The Department can also expect the appointment of an economist to the Lamont University Professorship upon the retirement of Professor Slichter. Accordingly, the Department can expect to retain a total of fifteen permanent appointments in the academic year 1958-59 in comparison with the seventeen permanent members during the current academic year (the above list plus Professor Crum). (The number of permanent members of the staff may at any given time be larger than retirement dates would indicate by reason of extension of normal term of service.)

These expected changes in the personnel of the Department over the next ten-year period indicate clearly the decisive nature of the appointments now under deliberation. Four of the six expected appointments are under study. The distinction and reputation of the Department for many years to come is at stake. It is imperative that every effort be made to appraise the needs and opportunities of the Department during the next decade and to canvass with insight all possible candidates.

  1. The Place of the Department in the Faculty

The first question posed by the Provost in his letter of December 22, 1947, was: “What is your concept of teaching and research within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences?” The Committee makes the following points in a re-examination of the role of the Department.

(a) The Faculty of Arts and Sciences has embarked on programs of General Education and Area Studies [e.g., Russian Studies]. The Department of Economics has a substantial and distinctive contribution to make to each of these experiments: the development of a common core of a liberal education and the integration of different disciplines around the problems of a significant geographical area.

 (b) The past twenty years have witnessed an unprecedented expansion in the need for economists in a variety of positions outside the academic world — government service, business concerns, research organizations, labor and farm groups, consulting practice and economic reporting. The Department of Economics needs to develop a more flexible graduate program to meet this more diversified demand in cooperation with other Departments in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and with various Graduate Schools in the University. The recognition of these broader objectives will supplement rather than detract from the training of economists for academic posts.

(c) The balance between graduate and undergraduate instruction in Economics is always a delicate adjustment. Indeed, the Provost has recently indicated that the strength and prestige of Harvard College lies in the fact that we are truly a “University College.” The Committee has analyzed the relative proportion of the time of its permanent members devoted to graduate and undergraduate course instruction for selected years since 1925. The permanent staff of the Department gave more courses for undergraduates in 1947-48 than in 1925-26. The proportion of all course time devoted to undergraduate instruction, however, has been reduced in this same period from a half to little more than a third. In other words, the increased permanent manpower of the Department over this period (permanent positions increased from ten to seventeen) has been devoted largely to graduate instruction.

The following table compares the number of courses “taught” or “supervised” by permanent members of the Department for undergraduates with the offering of courses for graduate students for selected dates. Comparative figures are also presented for the History and Government Departments.

Courses of Instruction by Permanent Staff
Economics History

Government
Dates Undergrad. Grad. Undergrad. Grad. Undergrad. Grad.

1925-26

8 ½

 8 ½ 14 12 6 ½

8

1930-31

 9 11 ¾ 14 22 ¾ 5

9 ½

1935-36

 8 ¾ 12 15 ¼ 31 5 ¼

10 ¼
1940-41 9 ¾ 19 ½ 14 13 ½ 7 ¼

19 ¾

1947-48

 12 ½ 22 15 10 ½ 9

9

These figures would appear to indicate that graduate course instruction has expanded in Economics relatively to undergraduate course instruction and also relative to the experience of graduate instruction in other departments. It should be noted, however, that the large increase in graduate courses after 1935/36 was associated with the establishment of the Graduate School of Public Administration which affected both the Department of Economics and the Department of Government.

These data on course offering need to be interpreted in terms of graduate enrollment and undergraduate concentration. The following table presents this information. The figures indicate the incidence of the postwar expansion in University enrolment upon the burden of instruction in Economics and allied departments.

Undergraduate Concentrators and Graduate Students

Economics History Government
Dates Undergrad. Grad. Undergrad. Grad. Undergrad.

Grad.

1925-26

 324 75 190 — 113 45
1930-31 397 82 254 138 130

56

1935-36

 376 47 283 104 292 38
1940-41 321 102 272 146 314

76

1947-48

 726 264 321 207 763

129

The Committee believes that undergraduate instruction in Economics in the past two years has suffered materially by the suspension of the tutorial system. The assistant professor rank in which there is normally considerable contact with undergraduates has not been fully manned in recent years. The Committee believes that undergraduate instruction needs to receive more attention in the Department, not so much by more courses given by permanent members but by rebuilding a strong group of younger teachers in the assistant professor and annual instructor rank.

Assuming the number of the permanent staff at present contemplated to be fixed, the size of the graduate student body in Economics must be reduced from its present size of more than 260 if members of the Department are to fulfill their total obligations to the University and if a more diversified graduate student body is to receive adequate instruction and supervision. The Committee suggests a figure of 200 graduate students — twice the pre-war level — as a normal standard for the period under review. The rate of admission planned for the Fall term, 1948, will eventually yield a student body close to this figure. It is impossible at this time to foresee whether the numbers of qualified graduate students seeking economic instruction at Harvard will substantially exceed 200 after the special circumstances accounting for the present large numbers have been eliminated. If, as may well happen, the demand on the part of first-rate men and women for graduate instruction in economics exceeds the capacity of the staff as at present planned, it may indicate a need for revision of plans of instruction in economics.

(d) There is imperative need for more systematic development of research plans in Economics and for financial arrangements whereby permanent members may be relieved of all duties for periods of a term to pursue research on a full-time basis. Research grants should be used in part to secure substitute instruction. Several research projects which provide a practicable model for the expansion of research have recently been undertaken by members of the Department. Individual members of the Department should be encouraged to organize specific research projects and solicit support, in cooperation with the University administration. These projects should make provision for full-time leave for a term whenever possible. Such projects, moreover, may well become a training center for the most advanced students.

(e) The Department of Economics should expect a continuation of the distinguished tradition of participation by many of its members in wider forms of service to the community — government service, consultation to business and industry, private arbitration, private research organizations, etc. A danger exists, however, that these activities may consume too large a proportion of the time and energy of members of the staff. A devotion to productive scholarship should be an indispensable requirement of every appointee.

In making appointments the Department must be concerned to choose men with the energy and capacity for developing these outside interests and contacts. The Department has not only an obligation to the world of scholarship but also a unique responsibility for leadership at the many points where Economics has a contribution to make to the world of affairs.

  1. The Urgent Needs of the Department

The second question posed by the Provost in his letter of December 22, 1947, asked: “What fields will you cover, within the resources at your command, in carrying out the answer to the first question?” When the objectives for the Department outlined in the preceding section are considered in conjunction with the present personnel and the retirement pattern outlined in Section 2 above, the following needs of the Department appear to be the most urgent. (The listing of these requirements at this point does not imply any particular hierarchy of urgency.)

(a) Economic History. This field has been a required part of the graduate program in Economics for many years. Moreover, for over half a century instruction in this area has been located in the Economics Department. The retirement of Professor Usher requires that provision be made for this field in any comprehensive plan for the Department.

(b) Agriculture and Marketing. Professor Black has developed work in two fields: (1) The Economics of Agriculture and Land Use Planning, and (2) Marketing and Distribution. Ideally two men would be required to carry on this work.

(1) Agriculture. The Committee is of the opinion that work in the Economics of Agriculture and Land Use Planning is indispensable. Research and training in this field have constituted a major contribution of the Department. Moreover, the agricultural field is of particular concern in the School of Public Administration.

(2) Marketing. The Committee reluctantly concludes that, under present prospects and despite the importance of work in marketing and distribution, it is unlikely that one of the few appointments available can be allocated in this field. It may be that the field of Business Organization can be reorganized to permit the inclusion of some portion of the work in the present field of Marketing and Distribution.

(c) General Education and the Area Program. It is imperative that the Department take an active part in the formulation and development of these new programs. The availability of half-time appointments from the General Education and Area budgets would permit the Department of Economics to make two appointments (of half-time each) for one budget vacancy. That is, the appointment of two men, a half time of one in an Area and of the other in General Education, might fill one of the vacancies in the Economics Department.

(d) Business Organization. The resignation of Professor Crum and the administrative responsibilities of Professor Mason make an appointment in this area urgent. Moreover, the field constitutes one of the largest areas of undergraduate and graduate concentration.

(e) Public Policy. The systematic development of the field of the Economic Aspects of Public Policy is essential to the growth of the Graduate School of Public Administration. One of the appointments available at this time has been explicitly earmarked for this purpose.

(f) Public Finance. The retirement of Professor Burbank in the period indicates the necessity for providing for work in this area. The field is indispensable both to the Economics Department and the Graduate School of Public Administration.

(g) Statistics. The burden of instruction in the field of Statistics is heavier than one man should be asked to assume. In addition to undergraduate and graduate courses, this required field involves participation in virtually all general examinations. Ideally instruction should be provided in the field of national income and mathematical statistics. If an additional appointment is not devoted exclusively to this field, consideration should be given to the recruitment of men able to develop such statistical instruction as a part of their program.

(h) Department Chairman. The Department is required to give serious weight in making appointments to qualities which make for a successful Chairman. The Department is so large as to place very heavy administrative responsibilities on its Chairman. The Department should have in its ranks a number of persons qualified to perform the duties of Chairman so that the burden on one individual over the years is not unreasonable.

The Committee believes that the Department should examine its internal operations to determine whether an administrative reorganization might not facilitate the effectiveness of the work of the Department. A systematic survey could be made of such duties as: counselling graduate students, placement, recruitment of superior students, and the supervision of Economics A and the junior teaching staff. Careful study should be given to the possibility of delegating more responsibility to standing committees of the Department.

While the Committee has emphasized, and it believes properly, certain specific needs of the Department, the overriding need, which should take precedence in all appointments, is for able men. If a first-rate man cannot be found in a specific field, it is better either to neglect the field or to divert the attention of existing personnel to this field than to fill the vacancy with second-rate material.

The Committee believes that the answer to the Provost’s third question, “Are you properly discharging your obligations to sister departments of the Faculty and to the programs which the Faculty has legislated as common ventures?”, must, at present, be “no.” It considers, however, that the addition of the personnel suggested below will, together with some reallocation of the time of present officers, enable the Department to meet these obligations.

A consideration of the Provost’s fourth question, “Do your specific recommendations harmonize with a general plan and program?” leads directly to a discussion of the proposed appointments.

  1. Recommendations

(a) The Committee recommends that one appointment at the associate professorship level be utilized in the following manner: that Alexander Gerschenkron be invited on the understanding that the Department assume the responsibility for half his salary, the Russian area assuming responsibility for the other half; that John Sawyer, now a Junior Fellow, be appointed to an assistant professorship at the end of 1948-49, on the understanding that the responsibility for half his salary be assumed either by General Education or the Department of History.

Gerschenkron is one of the two best economists in the country now working on Russian problems, the other being Abram Bergson of Columbia University. Gerschenkron has the advantage of being an economic historian. Consequently, his appointment would enable the Department to take care not only of instruction and research in Russian economics but also to replace Professor Usher’s work in European economic history on his retirement.

Sawyer is an historian of an intellectual ability fully equal to that of our own Junior Fellows, Tobin and Kaysen. He has evinced an interest in cultivating the field of American economic history and also of working in General Education. Since Sawyer’s prospects in the History Department are extremely good, it would be necessary to assure him, on appointment as an assistant professor, that a clear road to advancement exists in the Department, if he shows the competence the Department expects of him.

These two appointments, which would fill one vacancy, would go far towards meeting the Department’s obligations toward the Russian area and toward General Education as well as taking care of economic history.

(b) The Committee feels that the vacancy left by the resignation of Professor Crum must be filled and that the best candidate available is Sidney Alexander, now an assistant professor. Although Alexander’s publication to date does not justify promotion, he has an impressive series of contributions due for publication during the next year which will make him an eminently qualified candidate for promotion by the end of the academic year 1948-49. The Committee therefore believes that one of the vacancies at the associate professorship level should be reserved for the advancement of Professor Alexander.

(c) In many ways the most serious and difficult problem confronting the Committee concerns the replacement of the work now carried on by Professor Black. The research and training program in agricultural economics and land use is an asset of great worth both to the Department of Economics and to the Graduate School of Public Administration.

The Committee understands that before the date set for Professor Black’s retirement the Administration will request him to continue his services to the University for a number of years. It therefore believes that some four to five years are available in which to select a man fully capable of carrying on Professor Black’s work. The Committee believes that there are a number of able young men in the field of agricultural economics who might be secured at the assistant professorship level. The Committee therefore recommends that one or more of these candidates be brought to Harvard and that the next two or three years be utilized to survey the field, including such men as are brought here at lower than permanent rank, to assure the selection of the best possible man.

(d) If one position is filled by Gerschenkron and Sawyer, and another is reserved for Alexander, there remain two positions at the professorial level. These positions might be treated in any one of the following ways:

(1) Both positions could be filled at once;

(2) One position could be filled now and the other held vacant for Professor Black’s successor;

(3)  One position could be filled, the other held vacant pending the appearance of a suitable candidate not necessarily in the field of agricultural economics. In this case it must be assumed that the vacancy caused by Professor Black’s retirement would be filled from the appointment accruing to the Department in 1954, which appointment might be advanced in time. It should also be recognized that this appointment might have to be at the professorial level which would involve a departure from present University policy.

In considering the possibility of filling both vacancies now, the Committee was heavily influenced by the desirability of maintaining balance in the Department not only as among various fields of interest but as among types of mind and of methodological approaches to economic problems. In this connection the Committee considered carefully the qualifications of both Smithies and Samuelson. While of the opinion that each of these men might individually be considered intellectually superior to the rest of the field, the Committee feels strongly that the addition of both would give a particular stamp to the Department that should, if possible, be avoided. Both of these men are, in a sense, system builders, concerned with the logical and mathematical interrelations of the elements of their systems. Neither has done much empirical work. Smithies has shown recently a concern for, and an interest in, institutional developments and public policy. Moreover, he has had extensive experience in government service. The Committee believes that while each of these men is pre-eminent in his type of work the two together do not make a satisfactory combination.

The problem then narrows down to the question of Samuelson or Smithies and someone else. The Committee considers that the interests and type of mind represented either by Richard Bissel or Colin Clark would effectively supplement the Smithies-Samuelson characteristics. No effective way of communicating with Clark suggested itself to the Committee, and there is certain evidence to support the view that he would not be available. It appears that Bissel may not be available at this time. If his views change in the near future, the Committee considers him its first choice.

Of other possibilities the Committee discussed at length the qualifications of Galbraith, Yntema, David Wright, Albert Hart, Donald Wallace, and others. For various reasons, too lengthy here to enumerate, none of these candidates seemed first-rate possibilities.

The Committee therefore recommends that one of the professorial positions be held vacant for the time being pending the appearance of a satisfactory candidate. As to the relative merits of Smithies and Samuelson, the Committee, after deliberating at length, favors Smithies. While recognizing that Samuelson has in his field of activity a better record than anyone near his age in any field, the Committee was heavily influenced by the probability that Smithies’ contribution to the needs of the Department would be substantially greater. He appears to be an ideal man to develop the work in the School of Public Administration on Economic Analysis and Public Policy; he appears to be an eminently satisfactory man to take over the work in Public Finance on Professor Burbank’s retirement; he is clearly a man who would make an able Departmental Chairman. In addition he is competent to develop work in advanced statistics should the Department consider this desirable. For these reasons, and others, the Committee recommends the appointment of Smithies.

Paul H. Buck, Chairman
John T. Dunlop
Wassily Leontief
Edward S. Mason
John H. Williams

Source: Duke University, Economists’ Papers Archive, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library. Edward H. Chamberlin Papers. Box 17, Folder “Economics Department Faculty, 1944-47.”

Image Source:  Harvard Seal detail from the cover of the Harvard Law School Yearbook 1949.

Categories
Business Cycles Exam Questions Harvard Money and Banking Syllabus

Harvard. Exams and assigned reading for money, banking, commercial crises. Williams and Harris, 1938-1939

 

In the previous post, Economics 41, 938-39 (Paper topics), historians of modern economics will find a transcription of 31 typed pages of paper topics with suggested references for the Harvard undergraduate course “Money, Banking and Commercial Crises” taught by Professor John H. Williams and Associate Professor Seymour E. Harris in 1938-39.

Today’s post adds enrollment figures, course reading assignments (when found) and the final exams for that course.

_________________________

Course Material from a Few Other Years

1937-38
1940-41
1941-42

_________________________

Course Announcement

Economics 41. Money, Banking, and Commercial Crises

Mon., Wed., and (at the pleasure of the instructor) Fri., at 2. Professor Williams and Associate Professor Harris

Source: Harvard University Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Announcement of the Courses of Instruction during 1938-39 (second edition), p. 148.

_________________________

Course Enrollment

[Economics] 41. Professor Williams and Associate Professor Harris. — Money, Banking, and Commercial Crises.

Total 181: 1 Graduate, 37 Seniors, 106 Juniors, 32 Sophomores, 1 Freshman, 4 Others.

Source: Harvard University. Annual Report of the President of Harvard College, 1938-39, p. 98.

_________________________

First Term Reading List
[Note: First term reading list is identical to that for 1937-38]

ECONOMICS 41
Readings: First Term

  1. The Nature and Functions of Banking
    1. Dunbar, “Theory and History of Banking”, Chs. 1, 2, 3, 4, pp. 1-60
    2. White, “Money and Banking”, Ch. 16, pp. 349-372
  2. The Creation of Deposits
    1. Phillips, “Bank Credit”, Ch. 3, pp. 32-77
    2. Currie, “Supply and Control of Money in the U.S.” Chs. 5, 6, 7, pp. 46-63.
  3.  Note Issue
    1.  Dunbar, “Theory and History of Banking”, Ch. 5, pp. 60-81
    2. Currie, “Supply and Control”, Ch. 10, pp. 110-115
  1. Commercial Loan Theory
    1. Robertson, “Money”, Ch. 5, рр. 92-117
    2. Currie, “Supply and Control”, Ch. 4, pp. 34-46
  2. U.S. Banking History
    1. White, “Money and Banking”, Chs. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, pp. 387-529
  3. The Federal Reserve System
    1. Dunbar, “Theory and History”, Ch. 6, pp. 81-110
    2. Burgess, “Federal Reserve Banks and the Money Market”, pp. 1-327
    3. Federal Reserve Bulletin, July, 1935: “Supply and Use of Member Bank Reserve Funds”, pp. 419-428
    4. Currie, “Supply and Control”, etc., Chs. 8, 9, pp. 83-110
    5. Hardy, “Credit Policies of the Federal Reserve System”, Chs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, рр. 34-243
  4.  Recent Banking Changes
    1. White, “Banking”, Chs. 29, 30, pp. 670-738.
  5. Foreign Banking Systems
    1. Dunbar, “Theory and History”, Chs, 8, 9, 10, pp. 139-235
Reading Period
January 5-18, 1939

Economics 41: Read one of the following:

Hardy, Federal Reserve Policy.
Hawtrey, Art of Central Banking, pp. 116-303.
Keynes, Treatise on Money, Vol. II, Book VII.

Reading Period
May 8-31, 1939

Economics 41: Read one of the following:

  1. a. Robertson and Pigou, Economic Essays and Addresses, pp. 95-138.
    b. Robertson, Banking Policy and Price Level.
  2. Durbin, Problems of Credit Policy.
  3. Keynes, Tract on Monetary Reform.
  4. Keynes, Treatise on Money, Ch. 30 and Book VII.
  5. Committee on Finance and Industry (Macmillan Report), Report and Addenda 1 and 3.
  6. Wicksell, Interest and Prices.
  7. Hawtrey, Capital and Employment, Chs. 7-11 inclusive.
  8. Harrod, Trade Cycle.
  9. Marget, Theory of Prices, Chs. XI-XVI.

Source: Harvard University Archives. Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in Economics, 1895-2003.Box 2, Folder “Economics 1938-1939”.

_________________________

1938-39
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
ECONOMICS 41
Money and Banking
[Mid-Year Examination]

  1. (One hour.) The Supply and Use of Member Bank Reserve Funds.
(In millions of dollars)
From June 1927
to Dec. 1927		 From Dec. 1927
to June 1928
Bills discounted +132 +423
Bills bought +170 –163
U.S. Government securities +227 –391
Other Reserve Bank credit –11 –14
Monetary gold stock –204 –282
Treasury currency +3 +1
Money in circulation +238 –345
Treasury cash and deposits with Federal Reserve banks –12 –14
Non-member deposits –6 +1
Other Federal Reserve accounts +6 +21
Member Bank reserve balances +91 –89

(a) What is the meaning of each of the above items?

(b) Present, in the form of a balance, a statement indicating the effects of changes in the above items on member bank reserve balances for each of the two periods.

(c) What conclusions do you draw regarding (1) the condition of the money market, (2) member bank policy, (3) Federal Reserve policy?

  1. Write on one of the following questions.

(a) What is the “Commercial Loan Theory” of bank assets? Would banking policy, based on this theory, provide the right quality of bank assets? the right quantity of money?

(b) Discuss the functions of reserves in a modern banking system, distinguishing the case of member banks from that of central banks, and give your views on the various solutions that have been proposed for the reserve problem.

(c) What are the attributes of a good bank note? Give your critical opinion of the following: the national bank note, the Bank of England note, the Bank of France note, the Federal Reserve note.

  1. Trace

(a) the evolution of Federal Reserve objectives since the establishment of the system and indicate to what extent you think these objectives have been attained;

or

(b) the development of instruments of control of the Federal Reserve system, and evaluate their effectiveness.

  1. Discuss the banking weaknesses in the U.S. revealed by crises in the period (a) before the war, or (b) after the war.
  2. Write on one of the following: (Reading period.)

(a) Keynes: Compare the effectiveness of central bank control over the supply of money in England and the U.S.

(b) Hardy: Discuss Federal Reserve policy and speculation, 1927 to 1929.

(c) Hawtrey: Using historical illustrations, discuss the effect of the experience of the Bank of England on current central bank theory and practice.

Source: Harvard University Archives. Harvard University, Mid-year Examinations 1852-1943. Box 12.  Papers Printed for Mid-Year Examinations [in] History, History of Religions, … , Government, Economics, … , Naval Science (January-February, 1939) in the bound volume Mid-Year Examinations—1939.

1938-39
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
ECONOMICS 41
[Year-end Examination]

Answer Question 1 and two others.

  1. Reading Period
    Present and comment upon the views expressed in the reading period assignment on the relation between (a) money and prices or (b) money and economic fluctuations.
  2. Monetary authorities try increasingly to influence the rate of interest. Are they likely to be reasonably successful? If they are successful in controlling the rate of interest, are they likely to attain what you consider the proper objectives of monetary policy?
  3. Answer (a) or (b).
    1. Is it your view that the recent breakdown of the gold standard is to be explained by poor management or by fundamental economic factors?
    2. What advantages over the gold standard has a system of free or variable exchanges?
  4. Discuss one of the following:
    1. Under-consumption theories of the trade cycle
    2. Investment theories of the trade cycle
    3. Monetary theories of the trade cycle
  5. Compare the treatment of velocity in the Fisher and the Cambridge versions of the quantity theory.
  6. “Nowhere do conservative notions consider themselves more in place than in currency; yet nowhere is the need of innovation more urgent.” Discuss.

Source: Harvard University Archives. Harvard University. Final Examinations, 1853-2001. Box 4: Papers Printed for Final Examinations [in] History, History of Religions, … , Government, Economics, … , Naval Science (June, 1939).

Image Source: 1935 one U.S. dollar silver certificates.  From the United States Paper Money Currency webpage at the U.S. Paper Money website.

Categories
Business Cycles Harvard Macroeconomics Money and Banking Paper Topics Suggested Reading

Harvard. Suggested paper topics and references for money and banking. Williams and Harris, 1938-1939

Economics in the Rear-view Mirror is extremely proud to provide a comprehensive, granular set of references suggested for 137 possible topics for papers to be written in the undergraduate course “Money, Banking, and Commercial Crises” jointly taught by Professor John Henry Williams and Associate Professor Seymour Edwin Harris during the 1938-39 academic year at Harvard College. We have before us the vista of the breaking dawn of Keynesian macroeconomics as experienced by Harvard undergraduates(!).

Warning: I have encountered numerous misprints and I have corrected/edited when noticed. I have tried to transcribe accurately but the devil of typos is unlikely to be contained over 30 pages. Nonetheless I believe the value of the material transcribed below is hardly diminished by cooking and serving this document on the rare side. Certain items are included in many topics, giving an indication of their scope but also an indication of their importance in the eyes of the instructors.

_________________________

Course Material from the Other Years

1937-38
1940-41
1941-42

_________________________

Source: Harvard University Archives.

_________________________

Suggested Topics for Theses
in Economics 41
1938-39

I. COMMERCIAL BANKING AND THE MONEY MARKET [General References]

  1. Creation of Bank Deposits
  2. Growth of Bank Deposits since the War
  3. Guarantee of Bank Deposits
  4. Principles of Bank Note Regulation
  5. Role of Bank Notes in the U.S.
  6. Systems of Note Issue
  7. Velocity of Circulation
  8. Bank Assets from a Banker’s Viewpoint
  9. Bank Expenses
  10. Bank Failures
  11. Excess Reserves
  12. Member Bank Reserve Requirements
  13. 100% Reserve Plan
  14. The Banking Principle vs. the Currency Principle
  15. Competition of State and National Banks
  16. New York as International Financial Center
  17. Money Market in some one Year
  18. American Discount Market
  19. Agricultural Credit
  20. Eligible Paper
  21. Brokers’ Loans
  22. Collateral Loans vs. One Name Paper
  23. Interrelation of Rates of Interest
  24. Causes of Stock Market Crash
  25. Causes and Results of Bank Holiday
  26. Causes of Decline of Commercial Loans
  27. Banks and the Public Debt
  28. Federal Credit Agencies
  29. Bank Reform
  30. Nationalization of Banking
  31. Branch and Chain Banking
  32. Branch Banking in Britain
  33. Branch Banking in Canada
  34. Branch Banking in Russia
  35. Cunliffe Report on British Currency
  36. Monetary Developments in Some Countries Since the War

II. CENTRAL BANKING [General References]

  1. Development of Central Banking Functions
  2. Organization of Federal Reserve System
  3. Bank Act of 1933
  4. Bank Act of 1935
  5. Review of Federal Reserve Policy for Some Period
  6. Open Market Operations
  7. Varying Reserve Requirements
  8. Acceptance Market and the Federal Reserve System
  9. Industrial Advances of the Federal Reserve Banks
  10. Criteria of Monetary Policy
  11. Criteria of Federal Reserve Policy
  12. Neutral Money
  13. Price Stabilization: The Strong Bills
  14. Price vs. Economic Stabilization
  15. Qualitative vs. Quantitative Credit Control
  16. Central Bank Policy and Speculation
  17. Central Bank Policy and Agriculture
  18. Fiscal Function of Federal Reserve Board
  19. Bank Correspondent Relationship under Federal Reserve System
  20. Effectiveness of Central Bank Control
  21. Treasury Control of Monetary Policy
  22. Bank of England and London Money Market
  23. Central Banking in France
  24. Central Banking in Canada
  25. Cooperation of Central Banks

III. THE BUSINESS CYCLE — Analysis and Policy [General References]

  1. Causes of the Depression
  2. Critical Discussion of One Theory of the Business Cycle: Pigou / Robertson / Keynes / Hayek / Hawtrey / Mitchell
    Foster and Catchings / Schumpeter / Harrod
  3. Monetary Theory of the Trade Cycle
  4. Review of Warren and Person: Prices
  5. Period of Production and the Trade Cycle
  6. Review of Hayek: Prices and Production
  7. Theory of Forced Savings
  8. Theory of Bank Rates
  9. Installment Selling and the Business Cycle
  10. Underconsumption Theory of the Trade Cycle
  11. The Dilemma of Thrift
  12. Major Douglas’ Social Credit
  13. Fisher’s Compensated Dollar (Commodity Dollar)
  14. 100% Reserve Plan
  15. Public Expenditure and Prices
  16. The Theory of Public Works
  17. The Multiplier

78a Durable Consumer Goods and the Business Cycle
79b Construction and the Business Cycle
78c The Acceleration Principle
78d The Theory of the Long Waves

IV. MONETARY THEORY [General References]

  1. English Monetary Theory during the Napoleonic Wars
  2. Nominalistic vs. Metallistic Conception of Money
  3. Transaction vs. Cash Balances Approach to the Quantity Theory of Money
  4. Keynes’ Theory of Money
  5. Marshall as a Monetary Theorist
  6. Cannan as a Monetary Theorist
  7. Robertson’s Theory of Money
  8. Hawtrey’s Theory of Money
  9. Knapp’s Theory of Money
  10. Fisher’s Theory of Money
  11. Nature of Credit

V. INTERNATIONAL MONETARY RELATIONS AND POLICY [General References]

  1. Pre-War and Post-War Gold Standards
  2. Great Britain’s Return to the Gold Standard in 1925
  3. Stabilization of the Lira
  4. France and the Gold Standard
  5. The Gold Bloc
  6. Causes and Consequences of England’s Departure from Gold
  7. Methods of Return to the Gold Standard
  8. Present Outlook for the Gold Standard
  9. Gold Exchange Standard
  10. Gold Movements since the War
  11. Gold Distribution and the Depression
  12. Is there a Gold Shortage?
  13. Methods to economize Gold
  14. Exchange Depreciation and World Recovery
  15. Exchange Depreciation Experience of Japan
  16. Exchange Depreciation Experience of Sweden
  17. Exchange Depreciation Experience of Britain
  18. Exchange Depreciation Experience of Australia
  19. Exchange Depreciation Experience of U.S.
  20. Exchange Central
  21. Sterling-Dollar-Franc Triangle
  22. The “Gentlemen’s Agreement”
  23. British Equalization Fund
  24. Gold Buying Policy and Devaluation
  25. Recent Silver Policy of the United States
  26. Monetary Consequences of the Fall in the Price of Silver
  27. Flexible Parities
  28. Hot Money
  29. Exchange Rates Under Incontrovertible Paper
  30. Purchasing Power Parity vs. Balance of Payment Theory of the Determination of Exchange Rates
  31. International vs. National Objectives of Monetary Policy
  32. Measures of Over-valuation
  33. The International Transfer of Purchasing Power
  34. The Forward Exchange Market
  35. Spreading the Gold Points and Short Term Capital Movements
  36. American Export of Capital since the War
  37. International Short Term Balances and the Depression
  38. Tariff Policy and the Depression
  39. Bank of International Settlement

VI. MISCELLANEOUS [No General References]

  1. War Finance
  2. The Reparations Controversy
  3. War Debts
  4. Fall of Prices: 1873-96
  5. Rise of Prices: 1896-1913
  6. Price Movement since the War
  7. Probable Future Trend of Prices
  8. Changes in the Value of Money and the Distribution of Wealth
  9. Monetary and Financial Questions Raised by the Social Security Program

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

SUGGESTED TOPICS AND BIBLIOGRAPHY
FOR COURSE THESES
IN ECONOMICS 41

I. COMMERCIAL BANKING AND THE MONEY MARKET

General References [Return]

Allen, A. M., et al. – Commercial Banking Legislation and Control

Westerfield, R. B. – Money, Credit and Banking

Thomas, R. G. – Modern Banking

Willis, H.P. and Chapman, J.M. – the Banking Situation: American Post-War Problems

Willis, H.P., Chapman, J.M., and Robey, R.W. – Contemporary Banking

Bogin, J.I., Foster, M.B., Nadler, M. – Money and Banking

  1. Creation of Bank Deposits [Return]

Phillips, C.A. – Bank Credit

  1. Growth of Bank Deposits since the War [Return]

Mills, F. C. – Economic Tendencies

– Memoranda on Commercial Banks

– Annual Publications

Goldschmidt, R.W. – The Changing Structure of American Banking

Phillips, C.A., McManus, T.F., – Banking and the Business Cycle

Currie, L. – The Economic Distribution of Demand Deposits – Journ. Amer. Stat. Assn., June 1938

Hartzel, E. – Time Deposits – Harvard Bus. Rev., October 1934

  1. Guarantee of Bank Deposits [Return]

Robb, T. B. – Guarantee of Bank Deposits (1921)

Blocker, J.G. – Guarantee of State Bank Deposits – Univ. of Kansas, Bur. of Bus. Research, Bull. 11, July 1929.

Emerson, Guy – Guarantee of Deposits under Banking Act of 1933, Quart. Journ. Econ., Feb. 1934

Association of Reserve City Bankers – Guarantee of Bank Deposits, 1933

American Banker’s Assn. – Economic Policy Committee – Guarantee or Bank Deposits 1933

Federal Reserve Bulletin – Oct., 1933

Business Week – April 1933

Bankers Magazine – June 1933

Hodgson, J. G. – Federal Control of Banking

Faust, M. L. – The Security of Public Deposits

Crowley, L. T. – Has Federal Deposit Insurance Strengthened the Banking System? – Banker’s Mag., Jan. 1938

Wilcox, V. – Vast Powers of the FDIC – Annalist Nov. 8,1935

Bradford, F. A. – Angell, The Behavior of Money, Quart. Journ. Econ., Feb. 1937

FDIC – Federal Reserve Bulletin – Oct., 1936

Woolsey, J. B. – The Permanent Plan for the Insurance of Bank Deposits, South. Econ. Jour. Apr. 1936

Fox, M.J. – Deposit Insurance as an Influence for Stabilizing the Banking Structure – Jour. Amer. Stat. Assn., Mar. 1936

Hoffman, C. W. – Federal Insurance of Deposits: The New Law and How it Works – Jour. of Ann. Ins. Assn., Nov. 1934

Kimmel, L.H. – Federal Deposit Insurance – Conf. Board Bull, July 10, 1934

Smith, A. A. – Guaranty of Bank Deposits – Social Science Quarterly, July 1934

Toggert, J.H. and Jennings, L.D. – The Insurance of Bank Deposits – Jour. Pol. Econ. August 1934

Emerson, G.– Guaranty of Deposits Under the Banking Act of 1933 – Quart. Journl. Econ., Feb.1934

  1. Principles of Bank Note Regulation [Return]

Simmons, E.C. – The Concept of Lawful Money – Journ. Pol. Econ. Feb. 1938

  1. Role of Bank Notes in the U. S. [Return]

Steiner, W. H. – Money and Banking

Conant, C. A. – History of Modern Banks of Issue

Dunbar, C. F. – History of National Bank Currency

Folwell, W.W. – Evolution of Paper Money in U.S.

Hepburn, A. B. – History of Currency in U.S.

Rawie, H. L. – Fed. Res. Notes

Sumner, A. B. – History of American Currency

Simmons, E. C. – Elasticity of Fed. Res. Note – Amer. Econ. Rev., Dec. 1936

Simmons, E. C. – The Concept of Lawful Money – Jour. Pol. Econ. Feb. 1938

Brinton, C. – History of Paper Money to the War – Journ. of Modern History, Sept. 1934

  1. Systems of Note Issue [Return]

Simmons, E.C. – The Concept of Lawful Money – Journ. Pol.Econ. Feb. 1938

  1. Velocity of Circulation [Return]

Steinar, W. H. – Money and Banking

Keynes, J.M – Treatise on Money

Hawtrey, R. G. – Art of Central Banking

Hawtrey, R. G. – Currency and Credit

Anderson, – Value of Money

Laughlin, J. L. – Principles of Money

Fisher, I. – Purchasing Power of Money

Robertson, D. H. – Money

Foster, W.F. and Catchings, W., – Money

Foster, W.F. and Catchings, W., – Profits

Marshall, A. – Money, Credit and Commerce

Burgess, W. R. – Jour. Am. Statis. Ass., Vol. 18, #2

Lounsbery, A. W. – Quart. Jour. Econ., Nov. 1931

Lounsbery, A. W. – Quart. Jour. Econ., May 1933

Marget, A. W. – Jour. Pol. Econ., June and Aug. 1932

Marget, A. W. – Quart. Jour. Econ., Nov. 1932

Marget, A. W. – Theory of Prices

Marget, A. W. – The Velocity of Circulation – Quart. Journ. Econ. May 1934

Working, H. – Quart. Jour. Econ., 1923

Ellis, H. S. – German Monetary Theory

Ellis, H. S. – Some Fundamentals in the Theory of Velocity – Quart. Jour. Econ., May 1938

Dahlberg, Arthur – When Capital Goes on Strike: How to Speed up Spending

Angell, J. W. – The Behavior of Money

Angell, J. W. – Components of the Circular Velocity of Money, Quart. Journ. Econ., Feb. 1937

Bradford, F. A. – Angell, The Behavior of Money – Quart. Jour. Econ., Feb. 1937

King, W. I. – Recent Monetary Experiments and Their Effect on the Theory of Money and Prices – Jour. Amer. Stat. Assn., Aug. 1935

Gilbert, J. C. – A Note in Banking Policy and the Income-Velocity of Circulation of Money – Economica, May 1934

  1. Bank Assets from a Banker’s Viewpoint [Return]

Natl. Indus. Conf. Board – Banking Situation in the U.S.

Mitchell, W. F. – Uses of Bank Funds

Ostrolenk, B. and Massie – How Banks Buy Bonds

Atkins, P. M. – Banks’ Secondary Reserves and Investment Policies

Bradford, F. A. – Banking

Moulton, H. G. – Financial Organization of Society

Langston and Whitney – Banking Practice

Goldschmidt, R. W. – The Changing Structure of American Banking

Foulke, R. A. – Commercial Paper in the Banking System – Banking, Feb. 1935

Carson, W. J. – Trends of Principal Earning Assets – Amer. Stat. Assn., June 1938

  1. Bank Expenses [Return]

Bradford, F. A. – Banking

Fed. Res. Bank – Annual Reports

Secrist, H. – Banking Ratios

Powlison, K. – Profits of Natl. Banks

Natl. Indus. Conf. Board – Banking Situation in the U.S.

Stark, W. L. – Bank Expenses

Thompson, D. S. – Trends of Bank Earnings and Expenses – Am Stat. Assn., June 1938

  1. Bank Failures [Return]

Steiner, W. H. – Money and Banking

Spahr, W. – Bank Failures in U.S.– Am. Econ. Rev. Suppl. 1932

Tebbutt, A. R. – Bank Failures in Natl. Banking System

Annals of Amer. Acad. Pol. and Soc. Science – Jan. 1933 – Bank Failures

Industrial Arts Index, 1935 and 1934

Goldschmidt, R. M. – The Changing Structure of American Banking

Anderson, T. J. – Federal and State Control of Banking

  1. Excess Reserves [Return]

Edie, L. D. – Easy Money

Guaranty Survey, Jan. 1936 – Problem of Excess Reserves and Business Recovery

  1. Member Bank Reserve Requirements [Return]

Report of Committee on Bank Reserves of Fed. Res. System

Currie, L. B. – Supply and Control of Money

Rodkey, R. G. – Legal Reserves in American Banking – Michigan Bus. Studies, Vol. VI, No. 5

Watkins, L. L. – The Variable Reserve Ratio – Journ. Pol. Econ., June 1936

  1. 100% Reserve Plan [Return]

Fisher, I. – 100% Money

Fisher, I. – 100% Money and Branch Banking – Northwestern Banker, March 1937

Fisher, I. – The Banker’s Interest in 100% Money – Banker’s Mag., Oct. 1936

Fisher, I. – 100% Money and the Public Debt – Econ. Forum, Apr., June, 1936

Robinson, G. B. – 100% Bank Reserves – Harv. Bus. Rev. Summer 1937

Neuman, A. M. – 100% Money – Manchester School, Vol. VIII, No. 1, 1937

Angell, J. W. – The 100% Reserve Plan – Quart. Jour. Ec. Nov. 1935.

Spahr, W.E. – Fallacies of Professor Irving Fisher’s 100% Money Proposal

Graham, F. D. – Reserve Money and the 100% Proposal – Amer. Econ. Rev., Sept. 1936

Lehmann, F. – 100% Money – Social Research, Feb. 1936

  1. The Banking Principle vs. the Currency Principle [Return]

Andreades, A. M. – History of Bank of England

Feaveryear, A. E. – The British Pound

Steiner, W. H. – Money and Banking, pp. 706-10

Keynes, J.M. – Treatise on Money p. 195

Laughlin, J.L.– Principles of Money

Levinsky, Money, Credit, and Prices

Viner, Jacob – Studies in the Theory of International Trade

Harris, S. E. – The Commercial Theory of Credit – Journ. Pol. Econ. Feb.1936

  1. Competition of State and National Banks [Return]

Hilderman, L. C. – National and State Banks

Tippetts, C. S. – State Banks and Federal Reserve System

Federal Reserve Bulletin – 1933, pp. 166-86

Pole, J. W. – Barrons, Sept. 19, 1932

Pole, J. W. – Proposed Unification of Banking, Bankers Mag. May 1932

Pole, J. W. – Washington Looks at State Banks, Am. Banker’s Assn. Journ., May 1932

Pole, J. W. – Symposium on Proposed Unification of Banking under Fed. Supervision: Trust Companies, Apr. and May 1932

Natl. Indus. Conf. Board – The Banking Situation in the U.S.

Barnett, – State Banks and Trust Companies since Natl. Banking Act – Nat. Monetary Comm.

Hammond, E. – Banks, States and Fed. Govt. – Am. Econ. Rev., Dec. 1933

  1. New York as International Financial Center [Return]

Steiner, W. H. – Money und Banking

Einzig, P. – Fight for Financial Supremacy

Harris, B.D.– Branch Banks und Foreign Trade

Madden, J. T. und Nadler, M. – International Money Markets

Phelps, C. W. – Foreign Expansion of American Banks

  1. Money Market in some one Year [Return]

Statistical Sources – Reserve Bank and Board Bulletins

  1. American Discount Market [Return]

Foulke, R. A. – Commercial Paper Market

Reade, L. M. – Story of Commercial Paper Market

Steiner, W. H. – Money and Banking

Phillips, C. A. – Bank Credit

Balubanis, H. P. – The American Discount Market

  1. Agricultural Credit [Return]

Steiner, W. H. – Money and Banking

Sparks, E. S. – History and Theory of Agricultural Credit in the U.S.

Holt, W. S. – Federal Farm Loan Bureau

Stockdyke, E. A. and West, C. H. – The Farm Board

Norman, J. B. – Farm Credits in U.S. and Canada

Benner, O. L. – Federal Intermediate Credit System

  1. Eligible Paper [Return]

Hardy, C. O. – Credit Policies of Federal Reserve System

Dowrie, G. W. – American Monetary and Banking Policies

Harris, S. E. – Twenty Years of Federal Reserve Policy

Steiner, W. H. – Money and Banking

Warburg, P. M. – Federal Res. System, Vol. I, p. 465

Goldenweisser, E. A. – Significance of the Lending Function of the Fed. Res. System – Journ. Amer. Stat. Assn. Mar. 1936

  1. Brokers’ Loans [Return]

Flynn, J. T. – Security Speculation

Hovey, L. H., Logan, L. S., and Gavens, H. S. – Brokers’ Loans

Rogers, J. H. – Stock Speculation and Money Market, Quart. Journ. Econ., May 1926

Eiteman, – Economics of Brokers’ Loans, Amer. Econ. Rev. March 1932

Eiteman, – Economic Significance of Brokers’ Loans and Bank Credit, Journ. Pol. Econ., Oct. 1932

Eiteman, – Regulation of Brokers’ Loans – Amer. Econ. Rev. Sept. 1933

Eiteman, – Speculation, Bank Liquidity, and Price – Amer. Econ. Rev., Dec. 1934

Hoover, C. B. – Bank Deposit and Brokers’ Loans, Jour. Pol. Econ. 1929

Anderson, B. M. – Brokers’ Loans and Bank Credit, Chase Econ. Bulletin, Oct. 1928

Thomas, W. – Credit in Security Speculation, Amer. Econ. Rev. Mar. 1933 and 1935

Harris, S. E. – Twenty Years of Federal Reserve Policy

Ellis, H. S. – German Monetary Theory

20th Century Fund – The Security Markets

  1. Collateral Loans vs. One Name Paper [Return]

Westerfield, R. B. – Trend of Secured Loans – Journ. of Bus., 1932

Steiner, W. H. – Money and Banking, pp. 212-19 (ref. & biblio.)

Greef, A. O. – The Commercial Paper House in the U.S.

  1. Interrelation of Rates of Interest [Return]

Riefler, W. – Money Rates and Money Markets

Beckhart, B. H. – The New York Money Market

Keynes, J. M. – Treatise on Money

Macauley, F. R. – Theoretical Problems Suggested by Movements of Interest Rates in U.S.

  1. Causes of Stock Market Crash [Return]

Fisher, I. – Stock Market Crash and After

Hawtrey, R. G.– Art of Central Banking

Cassel, (Univ. of Chicago, 1928)

Keynes, J.M. – Treatise on Money

Reed, H. L.– Fed. Res. Policy, 1921-1931

Hardy, C. O.– Credit Policy of the Fed. Res. System

Harris, S. E.– Twenty Years of Fed. Res. Policy

Ohlin, B. – Course and Phases of the World Econ. Depression

Robbins, L.– The Great Depression

Hayek, F. – Prices and Production

Hirst, T.M.– Wall St. and Lombard St.

McGregor, A. G. – Basic Cause of World Depression and Sound Remedy

Salter, Sir Arthur – Recovery, the Second Effort

  1. Causes and Results of Bank Holiday [Return]

Colt, C. O. and Keith – Twenty-eight Days, A History of Banking Crisis

Amer. Bankers’ Assn. – Econ. Pol. Assn. – Banking after the Crisis

Ayres – Lessons of Banking Disaster, Com. and Fin. Chronicle Mar. 15,1933

Economist, Mar. 4, 11, and 19, 1933, American Banking Crisis

  1. Causes of Decline of Commercial Loans [Return]

Currie, L. – Decline of Commercial Loan – Quart. Journ. Econ. Aug. 1931

Natl. Indus. Conf. Board – Availability of Bank Credit – 1933

Commercial Borrowing under Recovery Act – Am. Bankers’ Assn. Journal, Sept. 1933

Present Sources of Bank Income – Amer. Bankers’ Assn. Journ. May 1934

Why Banks Don’t Lend – Bankers’ Magazine, Feb. 1934

New Banking Problems – Amer. Banker’s Assn. Journ. Aug. 1934

What is a Sound Loan – Bankers’ Magazine, Nov. 1934

Stone, L. – Commercial Loans and Recovers – Barron’s Dec. 30, 1935

  1. Banks and the Public Debt [Return]

Willis, H. P. and Chapman, J. M. – The Banking Situation: American Post-War Problems

Cole, G. D. H. – What Everybody Wants to Know about Money

Smith, D. T. – Deficits and Depressions

Angell, J. W. – Fed. Finances and the Banking System, Amer. Stat. Suppl., March 1935

  1. Federal Credit Agencies [Return]

The Postal Savings System of the U.S. – Amer. Bankers’ Assn.

Survey of Government Banks – Banking, Jan. 1936

McDiarmid, J. – Govt. Corps and Federal Funds

Anderson, G. E. – Government Banking – Banking, Feb. 1936

  1. Bank Reform [Return]

Goldschmidt, R. W. – The Changing Structure of American Banking

Vanderlip, Frank A. – Tomorrow’s Money

Gephart, W. F. – Our Commercial Banking System – Am. Ec. Rev. Suppl. Mar. 1935

Hammond, R. – Long and Short Term Credit in Early Amer. Banking – Quart. Journ. Econ., Nov. 1934

Alling, N. D. – A Scientific Banking System – Bankers’ Mag. April 1935

Manuel, R. W. – Eliminating Bank Induced Inflation – Bankers’ Mag. Oct. 1937

Heilperin, M. A. – Economics of Banking Reform – Pol. Science Quarterly, Sept. 1935

  1. Nationalization of Banking [Return]

Currie, L. – Supply and Control of Money in the U.S.

Clark – Central Banking under Fed. Res. System

Sachse, O. – Socialization of Banking

White, A. B. – Nationalization of Banking (Eng.)

Proposal for Central Banking and Significance – Guaranty Survey, Sept. 1934

And Next – A Government Bank? – Rand McNally Bankers’ monthly, Nov. 1934

History Marks Boundary Between Govt. and Banking – Amer. Bankers’ Assn. Jour. May 1934

Essentials of American Banking Reform, etc. – Am. Bankers’ Assn. Journ., May 1933

Dodwell, D. W. – Treasuries and Central Banks

Goldschmidt, R. W. – Changing Structure of Amer. Banking

Moley, R. – Must Government Take over Banks? – Today, Feb. 3, 1934

Simons, H. C. – Positive Program for Laissez-Faire

Cole, G. D. H. – What Everybody Wants to Know about Money

Hubbard, Jos. B. – The Banks, The Budget, and Business

Govt. Ownership of the 12 Fed. Res. Banks – Ownership of the 12 Fed. Res. Banks – Hearings before the House Committee on Banking and Currency

Taylor, G. W. – The Case against the Nationalization of Banks – Journ. Canadian Bankers’ Assn., Oct. 1935

Rau, B. R. – The Nationalization of Money – Indian Jour. Econ., Oct. 1936

Paine, W. W. – Nationalizing the Bank – Bankers’ Ins. Manag. Mag., Sept. 1935

Socialization of the Banks – Bankers’ Ins. Manag. Mag., July 1934

Theodore, E. G. – Nationalization of Credit – Econ. Record, Dec. 1933

  1. Branch and Chain Banking [Return]

Annals of Am. Acad. Pol. And Soc. Science – Jan. 1934

Collins, C. W. – Branch Banking Question

Cartinhour, G. T. – Branch, Group and Chain Banking

Harr, L. A. – Branch Banking in England

Ostrolenk, B. – Economics of Branch Banking

Southworth, S. D. – Branch Banking in U.S.

Am. Bankers’ Assn. – A Study of Group and Chain Banking – Ec. Policy Com. 1929

Hearings on Branch, Group and Chain Banking – HR 141 – 1930

Chapman, J. M. – Concentration of Banking

Goldschmidt, R. W. – The Changing Structure of Am. Banking

Dowrie, G. W. – The Branch Banking Situation and Outlook – Harv. Bus. Rev., Summer 1938

Simpson, J. H. – Branch Banking in U.S. – Canadian Banker, Apr. 1938

Fisher, I. – 100% Money and Branch Banking – Northwestern Banker, Mar. 1937

Bradford, F. A. –Angell, The Behavior of Money – Quart. Jour. Econ. Feb. 1937

Galbraith, J. K. – Branch Banking and its Bearing on Agricultural Credit, Journ. Farm. Econ., April 1934

  1. Branch Banking in Britain [Return]

Steiner, W. H. – Money and Banking – 614-15 ref.

Sykes, J. – Amalgamation Movement in English Banking

Harr, L. A. – Branch Banking in England

Willis, H. P. and Beckhart – Foreign Banking Systems

Collins, C. W. – Branch Banking Question

  1. Branch Banking in Canada [Return]

Steiner, W. H. – Money and Banking, 614-15 ref.

Willis, H. P. and Beckhart, B. H. – Foreign Banking Systems

Collins, C. W. – Branch Banking Question

Holladay, J. – The Canadian Banking System

Dodds, J. – Banking in Canada – Jour. Canadian Bankers’ Assn., Jan. 1936

Addis, C. – Canada and Its Banks – Quart. Rev., July 1934

  1. Branch Banking in Russia [Return]

Arnold, A. Z. – Banks, Credit and Money in Modern Russia

Reddaway, W. B. – The Russian Financial System

Hubbard, L. E. – Soviet Money and Finance

Kellman, L. – Money and Banking in Russia – Harper’s Dec. 1936

Gourvitch, A. – Problem of Prices and Valuation in the Soviet System – Am. Econ. Rev. Suppl. [1936]

Nehru, S. S. – Controlled Currency and Credit – Some Russian Results – Indian Inst. Bankers’ Journ., Jan. 1935

  1. Cunliffe Report on British Currency [Return]

Cunliffe Report

War Period Literature

  1. Monetary Developments in Some Countries Since the War [Return]

Northrop, M. B. – Control Policies of the Reichsbank – 1924-33

Monetary Policy in the British Empire – Banker, Oct. 1935

League of Nations Reports

II. CENTRAL BANKING

General References [Return]

Westerfield, R. B. – Money, Credit and Banking

Thomas, R. G. – Modern Banking

Willis, H. P. and Chapman, J. H. – The Banking Situation: American Post-War Problems

Willis, H. P., Chapman, J. H. and Robey, R. W. – Contemporary Banking

Bogen, J. I., Foster, M. B., Nadler, M. – Money and Banking

  1. Development of Central Banking Functions [Return]

Smith, V. C. – The Rationale of Central Banking

Weyforth, W. O. – The Fed. Res. Board: A Study of Fed. Res. Structure and Credit Control

Dodwell, D. W. – Treasuries and Central Banks, Especially in England and the U.S.

Anderson, J. – The Philosophy of the Fed. Res. Act. – Bankers’ Mag. Sept. 1935

  1. Organization of Federal Reserve System [Return]

Willis, H. P. and Edwards – Banking and Business

Steiner, W. H. – Money and Banking

Clark – Central Banking under Fed. Res. System

Warburg, P. M. – Fed. Res. System, Vol. I

Harding – Formative Period of Fed. Res. System

Strong, Benj. – Addresses and Speeches

Nat. Ind. Conf. Board – Banking Situation in U.S.

Willis, H. P. – Federal Reserve System

Weissman, R. L. – The New Federal Reserve System: The Board Assumes Control

Bopp, K. –The Agencies of Federal Reserve Policy

Weyforth, W. O. – The Fed. Res. Board: A Study of Fed. Res. Structure and Credit Control

  1. Bank Act of 1933 [Return]

Fed. Res. Bulletin – June 1933

Brody – Act of 1933 and Emergency Act – Bankers’ Law Jour. 1933

Natl. City Bank Letter – July 1933

Steiner, W. H. – Money and Banking

Harris, S. E. – Twenty Years of Fed. Res. Policy

Goodbar, J. E. – Managing People’s Money

Willis, H. P. – Federal Reserve System

Preston, J. J. – The New Federal Reserve System: The Board Assumes Control

Westerfield, R. B. – The Fed. Res. Board: A Study of Fed. Res. Structure and Credit Control

  1. Bank Act of 1935 [Return]

Amer. Inst. of Banking – Banking Act of 1935

Goodbar, J. E. – Managing People’s Money

Bradford, F. A. – Banking Act of 1935 – Am. Ec. Rev., Dec. 1935

Gayer, A. D. – The Banking Act of 1935 – Quart. Jour. Econ., Nov. 1935

Gayer, A. D. – The U.S. Banking Act 1935 – Econ. Jour., Dec. 1935

Kress, H. J. – The Banking Act of 1935 – Michigan Law Rev. Dec. 1935

Preston, H. H. – Banking Act of 1935 – Jour. Pol. Econ. Dec. 1935

Crowder, W. F. – Evolution and Analysis of the Banking Act of 1935 – Journ. Bus. Univ. Chi., Jan 1936

Williams, J. H. – The Banking Act of 1935 – Am. Ec. Rev. Suppl. March 1936

Eccles, M. S. – The Banking Bill of 1935 – Barron’s May 27, 1935

  1. Review of Federal Reserve Policy for Some Period [Return]

Harris, S. E. – Twenty Years of Fed. Res. Policy

Hardy, C. O. – Credit Policies of Fed. Res. System

Dowrie, G. W. – American Monetary and Banking Policies

Goldenweiser, E. A. – Fed. Res. System in Operation

Reed, H. L. –Development of Fed. Res. Policy

Reed, H. L. – Fed. Res. Policy, 1921-1930

Currie, L. B. – Supply and Control of Money in U.S.

Annual Reports of Fed. Res. Board

Fed. Res. Bulletins

Paris, J. D. – Monetary Policies of the U.S. 1932-38

Willis, H. P. – The Theory and Practice of Central Banking

Clark, L. E. – Central Banking under the Fed. Res. System with special reference to the New York Fed. Res. Bank

Weyforth, W. O. – The Fed. Res. Board: A Study of Fed. Res. Structure and Credit Control

Fisher, I. and Cohrssen, H. R. L. – Stable Money: A History of the Movement

Cole, G. D. H. – What Everybody Wants to Know About Money

Whitney, Caroline – Experiment in Credit Control: The Fed. Res. Sys.

Weissman, R. L. – The New Fed. Res. System: The Board Assumes Control.

Villard, H. H. – The Fed. Res. System’s Monetary Policy in 1931 and 1932 – Jour. Pol. Econ., Dec. 1937

Fed. Res. Policy –Economist – London, Jan. 16, 1937

Miller, A. C. – Fed. Res. Policies, 1927-29, Am. Ec. Rev., Sept. 1935

  1. Open Market Operations [Return]

Weyforth, W. O. – The Fed. Res. Board: A Study of Fed. Res. Structure and Credit Control

Weissman, R. L. – The New Res. System: The Board Assumes Control

  1. Varying Reserve Requirements [Return]

[no references given for this item]

  1. Acceptance Market and the Federal Reserve System [Return]

Steiner, W. H. – Money and Banking, p. 309

Beckhart, B. H. – New York Money Market, Vol. III

Meech, S. P. – Journal of Business, Vol. II 1929

Riefler, W. – Money Rates and Money Markets

Hardy, C. O. – Credit Policies of the Fed. Res. System

Harris, S. E. – Twenty Years of Fed. Res. Policy

Jacobs – Bank Acceptances – Nat. Monetary Comm.

Whitney, Caroline – Experiment in Credit Control

  1. Industrial Advances of the Federal Reserve Banks [Return]

Hardy, C. O. and Viner, J. – Report on Availability of Bank Credit in 7th Fed. Res. District

Anderson, G. E. – Govt. Banking – Banking, Feb. 1936

Industrial Advances by Fed. Res. Banks – Fed. Res. Bull. April 1935

  1. Criteria of Monetary Policy [Return]

Gayer, A. D. – Monetary Policy and Econ. Stabilization. A Study of the Gold Standard

Slichter, S. H. – Towards Stability

Mills, R. C. and Walker, E. R. – Money

  1. Criteria of Federal Reserve Policy [Return]

Steiner, W. H. – Money and Banking

Harris, S. E. – Twenty Years of Fed. Res. Policy

Hardy, C. O. – Credit Policies of the Fed. Res. System

Willis, H. P. – The Theory and Practice of Central Banking

Fisher, I. and Cohrssen, H. R. L. – Stable Money: A History of the Movement

Whitney, Caroline –Experiments in Credit Control

Weissman, R. L. – The New Fed. Res. System: The Board Assumes Control

Cassel, G. – Guiding Principles of Monetary Policy – Mysore Econ. Journ., July 1938

Eccles, M. S. – Credit and Monetary Policies of the Fed. Res. – Bankers’ Magazine, April 1937

  1. Neutral Money [Return]

Gayer, A. D. – Monetary Policy and Econ. Stabilization: A Study of the Gold Standard

Armstrong, W. E. – Savings and Investment

Slichter, S. H. – Towards Stability

Barger, H. – Neutral Money and the Trade Cycle – Economica, Nov. 1935

Hayek, F. – Prices and Production

Hayek, F. – Monetary Theory and the Trade Cycle

Adarkar, B. P. – Hayek’s Neutral Money Doctrine – Ind. Jour. Econ. Jan. 1937

  1. Price Stabilization: The Strong Bills [Return]

Lawrence, – Stabilization of Prices

Keynes, J. M. – Monetary Reform

Keynes, J. M. – Treatise on Money

Robertson, D. H. – Banking Policy and Price Level

Hayek, F. – Prices and Production

Haberler, G. – Essay in Gold and Monetary Stabilization

Hardy, C. O. – Credit Policies of Fed. Res. System

Cassel, G. – Rate of Interest, Bank Rate, and Stabilization of Prices, Quart. Jour. Econ., Aug. 1928

Phillips, G. A., McManus, T. F., Nelson, W. – Banking and the Business Cycle

Commodity Prices and Stability – Economist, (London) Dec. 4, 1937

  1. Price vs. Economic Stabilization [Return]

Gayer, A. D. – Monetary Policy and Econ. Stabilization: A Study of the Gold Standard

Phillips, C. A., McManus, T. F., Nelson, R. W. – Banking and the Business Cycle

Harrod, R. F. – The Expansion of Credit in an Advancing Community – Economica, Aug. 1934

Ohlin, B. – The Inadequacy of Price Stabilization-Index Dec. 1933

Egle, W. – Monetary Conditions of Economic Stability – Am. Ec. Rev. Sept. 1938

  1. Qualitative vs. Quantitative Credit Control [Return]

Robey, R. W. – Purchasing Power: An Introduction to Qualitative Credit Control

Dunkman, W. E. – Qualitative Credit Control

  1. Central Bank Policy and Speculation [Return]

Hardy, C. O. – Credit Policies of the Fed. Res. System

Harris, S. E. – Twenty Years of Fed. Res. Policy, Vol. II

Currie, L. – Supply and Control of Money in the U.S.

Williams, J. H. – Review of Keynes, Quart. Journ. Econ., Aug. 1931

Keynes, J. M. – Treatise, Ch. 15

Reed, H. L. – Fed. Res. Policy 1921-1930, pg. 168

Annual Report of Fed. Res. Board (especially 1929 and 1930)

Rogers, J. H. – Stock Speculation and Money Market, Quart. Journ. Ec. 1926

Hearings on Strong Bills (Cassel)

Anderson, B. M. – Chase Ec. Bulletin, May 1929 and Oct. 1928

Balogh, – Am. Ec. Rev., 1930

Hawtrey, R. G. – Stock Speculation and Wall St., Art of Central Banking

Machlup, F. – Boersenkredit, Industrielle Kredit und Kapitalbildung

Ohlin B. – Index #31, July 1928, Central Banking Policy and Prices

Burgess, W. R. – R.E.S. 1930

Hayek, F. – Economica, 1932, p. 38

Hoover, C. B. – Journ. Pol. Econ. 1929 – Brokers’ Loans and Bank Deposits

Eiteman, W. J. – Economics of Brokers’ Loans – Am. Ec. Rev., 1932, pp. 69-71

Hearings, –  Operation of Banking Systems 1931, p. 1024

Goodbar, J. E. – Managing People’s Money

Whitney, Caroline – Experiments in Credit Control: The Fed. Res. Sys.

Smith, D. T. – Deficits and Depressions

Thomas, W. – Credit in Security Speculation – Am. Ec. Rev. – Mar. 1935

The Banks and the Stock Market, Journ. Pol. Econ. – Dec. 1935

  1. Central Bank Policy and Agriculture [Return]

Black, J. – Provision of Agricultural Credit in the U.S. – Quart. Journ. Econ. 1928

Annual Reports of Fed. Farm Board

Lee, V. P – Principles of Agricultural Credit

James, F. C. – Economics of Money, Credit and Banking, ch. 25

Sparks, E. S. – History and Theory of Agricultural Credit in U.S.

  1. Fiscal Function of Federal Reserve Board [Return]

Chapman, J. M. – Fiscal Functions of Fed. Res. Banks

Harris, S. E. – Twenty Years of Fed. Res. Policy

Clark, L. E. – Central Banking Function under the Fed. Res. System

Smith, D. T. – Deficits and Depressions

  1. Bank Correspondent Relationship under Federal Reserve System [Return]

Clark, L. E. – Central Banking under fed. Res. System

Watkins, L. R. –  Bankers’ Balances

Steiner, W. H. – Money and Banking – p. 660

Hearings on Branch, Group and Chain Banking – 71st Congress

  1. Effectiveness of Central Bank Control [Return]

Hardy, D. O. – Credit Policy of Fed. Res. System

Harris, S. E. – Twenty Years of Fed. Res. Policy

Hawtrey, R. G. – Art of Central Banking

Keynes, J. M. – Treatise on Money – Book VII

Robertson, D. H. – Banking Policy and Price Level

Currie, L. – Supply and Control of Money in the U.S.

Reed, H. L. – Fed. Res. Policy 1921-1931

Zorn, E. C. – Why our Easy Money Policy has Failed – Bankers’ Mag. July 1938

Alling, N. D. – Fed. Res. Sys. And Low Int. Rates – Bankers’ Mag. May 1937

Burgess, W. R. – Limitations of Fed. Res. Policy – Bankers’ Mag. Nov. 1936

Platt, E. –  The Limitations of Central Banking – Bankers’ Mag. Nov. 1936

Collins, E. H. – The Reserve Board Tests the Brakes – Banking Dec. 1935

Currie, L. – The Failure of Monetary Policy to Prevent the Depression of 1929-33, Jour. Pol. Econ., April 1934

Holladay, J. A. – Can Credit be Controlled? – Bankers Mag., May 1936

  1. Treasury Control of Monetary Policy [Return]

Harris, S. E. – Twenty Years of Fed. Res. Policy

Harding, W. P. G. – Formative Period of Fed. Res. System

Reed, H. L. – Fed. Res. Policy 1921-31

U.S. Chamber of Commerce – Banking and Currency Comm. Report & Suppl.

Dodwell, D.W. – Treasuries and Central Banks, Especially in England and the U.S.

Govts. And Central Banks – Economist, London, Mar. 28, 1936

Anderson, T. J. – Currency Powers of Congress – Bankers Mag., Jan. 1935

Powers of Congress over Banking – Bankers Mag., Feb. 1935

Bradford, F. A. – Political Banking Destroying the Reserve System – Annalist, Jan. 11, 1935

Ebersole, J. F. – The Money Management Powers of the Treas. and Fed. Res. Banks – Harv. Bus. Rev. Autumn 1936

Einzig, P. – Govt. Interference in Banking – Barron’s Nov. 18, 1935

  1. Bank of England and London Money Market [Return]

Andreades, A. M. – History of Bank of England

Spalding, – London Money Market

Strakes, – Money Market

Bagehot, W. – Lombard Street

Harris, S. E. – Monetary Problems of British Empire

Bisschop, – Rise of London Money Market

Thomas, S. E. –  British Banks and Finance of Industry

Sagers, R. S. – Bank of England Operations, 1890-1914

Truptil, R. J. – British Banks and the London Money Market

Madden, J. T. and Nadler, M. – The International Money Markets

Beach, W. E. – British International Gold Movements and Banking Policy

Biddulph, G. – The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy – Econ. Forum, Sept. – Oct. 1934

  1. Central Banking in France [Return]

Peel, G. – Economic Policy of France

Madden, J. T. and Nadler, M. – The International Money Markets

Boris, G. – Reforming the Bank of France – Foreign Affairs, Oct. 1936

  1. Central Banking in Canada [Return]

Holladay, J. – The Canadian Banking System

Cohen, J. C. – The Govt. and the Central Bank in Canada – Banker, London, Apr. 1934

Rhodes, E. N. – Canada’s Central Bank – Banking, Nov. 1934

Rogers, A. W. – The Bank of Canada – Journ. Canadian Bankers’ Assn. Oct. 1934

  1. Cooperation of Central Banks [Return]

Mlynarski, F. J. – Gold and Central Banks

Royal Inst. of Int. Affairs – International Gold Problem

Royal Inst. of Int. Affairs – Monetary Policy and Depression

League of Nations – Gold Report

MacMillan Report (Report of the Committee on Finance and Industry)

Hawtrey, H. G. – Art of Central Banking

Keynes, J. M. – Treatise on Money

Goldstein, A. – Fed. Res. Aid to Foreign Central Banks, Rev. Econ. Stud., Feb. 1935

Goldstein, A. – International Aspects of Fed. Res. Policy – Rev. Ec. Stat., Aug. 1935

III. THE BUSINESS CYCLE – Analysis and Policy

General References [Return]

Gordon, R. A. – Bibliography on Business Cycles, Rev. of Econ. Statistics, Special Number, Feb. 1937

  1. Causes of the Depression [Return]

Robbins, L. – The Great Depression

Bratt, E. C. – Business Cycles and Forecasting

Haberler, G. – Prosperity and Depression

Dulles, E. L. – Depression and Reconstruction: A Study of Causes and Controls

  1. Critical Discussion of One Theory of the Business Cycle:
    Pigou / Robertson / Keynes / Hayek / Hawtrey / Mitchell
    Foster and Catchings / Schumpeter / Harrod [Return]

Bresciani-Turroni – Rev. of Money theory and Trade Cycle – Economica, Aug. 1934

Ellis, H. – German Monetary Theory

Hanson, H. H. – Rev. of Prices and Production, Am. Ec. Rev., June 1933

Hawtrey – Rev. of Prices and Production, Economica, Feb. 1932

Hawtrey – Capital and Employment

Hawtrey – Prof. Haberler on the Trade Cycle – Economica, Feb. 1938

Hayek, F. – Paradox of Saving, Economica, May 1931

Hayek, F. – Money and Capital, Ec. Journ. – June 1932

Hayek, F. – Capital and Industrial Fluctuations, Econometrica, April 1934

Hayek, F. – On Relationship between Investment and Output – Ec. Journ., June 1934

Hayek, F. – Monetary Theory and the Trade Cycle

Hayek, F. – The Fallacy of Artificial Price Raising – Barron’s March 12, 1934

Keynes, J. M. – On Hayek’s Review – Ec. Journ., Nov. 1931

Knight, F. H. – Hayek’s Theory of Investment, Ec. Journ. Mar. 1935

Sraffa, P. – Hayek on Money and Capital – Ec. Journ., March 1932

Marget, A. W. – Theory of Prices

Hansen, A. H. – Full Recovery or Stagnation

Shackle, G. L. S. –Expectations, Investments and Income

Munro, H. – Principles of Monetary Industrial Stability

Haberler, G. – Prosperity and Depression

Harrod, R. F. – The Trade Cycle

Durbin, E. F. M. – Problem of Credit Policy

Hayek, F. – Investment that Raises the Demand for Capital – Rev. Am. Stat., Nov. 1937

Neisser, H. – Investment Fluctuation as Cause of the Bus. Cycle – Social Research, Nov. 1937

Chand, G. – Keynes and the Trade Cycle – Indian Jour. Econ. Apr. 1938

Muniswamy, M. K. –Recent Trends in Trade Cycle Theory – Indian Jour. Ec. – April 1938

Mr. Keynes and Finance – Ec. Jour. June 1935

Mukherjee, B. – Trade Cycle and Its Remedies – Nature and Causes of Trade Cycles – Indian Jour. Econ. Apr. 1931

Robertson, D. H. – Trade Cycle – An Academic View – Lloyd’s Bank Monthly Rev., Sept. 1937

Population Cycles: A Cause of the Business Cycle – Quart. Journ. Ec., Jan. 1937

Adarkar, B. P. – Prof. Hayek’s Neutral Money Doctrine – Ind. Journ. Ec., Jan. 1937

  1. Monetary Theory of the Trade Cycle [Return]

Hayek, F. – Monetary Theory and the Trade Cycle

Haberler, G. – Prosperity and Depression

Weyforth, W. O. – The Fed. Res. Board: A Study of Fed. Res. Structure and Credit Control

Fisher, A. G. B. – Volume of Produce and Volume of Money – Am. Ec. Rev., June 1935

Shackle, G. L. S. – Some Notes on Monetary Theories of the Trade Cycle – Rev. Ec. Stud., Oct. 1933

Snyder, C. – Problem of Monetary and Econ. Stability – Quart. Journ. Econ., Feb. 1935

  1. Review of Warren and Person: Prices [Return]

Warren, G. and Pearson, F. A. – Prices

Warren, G. and Pearson, F. A. – World Prices and the Building Industry

Warren, G. and Pearson, F. A. – Monetary Policy and Prices – Journ. Farm. Econ., May 1935

Warren, G. – Some Statistics on the Gold Situation – Am. Ec. Rev. Suppl. March 1934

Spahr, W. – Monetary Theory of Warren and Pearson

Ransome and Mann – Future of Prices, Home and Abroad

Laughlin, J. L. – Principles of Money

Scott, – Money and Banking

Hardy, C. O. – The Warren-Pearson Price Theory

  1. Period of Production and the Trade Cycle [Return]

Hawtrey, R. G. – Capital and Employment

  1. Review of Hayek: “Prices and Production” [Return]

Hawtrey, R. G. – Capital and Employment

  1. Theory of Forced Savings [Return]

Robertson, D. H. – Money

Robertson, D. H. – Banking Policy and the Price Level

Economics of Saving – Amer. Econ. Rev., 1913

Egle, W. – Money and Production – Journ. Pol. Econ., June 1935

Durbin, E. F. M. – Purchasing Power and Trade Depression

  1. Theory of Bank Rates [Return]

Keynes, J. M. – Treatise on Money

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

Harris, S. E. – Twenty Years of Fed. Res. Policy

Steiner, W. H. – Money and Banking

Hawtrey, R. G. – Art of Central Banking

Hawtrey, R. G. – Currency and Credit

Hayek, F. – Prices and Production

Hayek, F. – Monetary Theory of the Trade Cycle

Wicksell, K. – Natural Rate of Interest, Quart. Journ. Ec., 1907

Macaulay, F. R. – Theoretical Problems Suggested by Movements of Interest Rates in the U.S.

Adarkar, B. P. – Theory of Monetary Policy

Edie, L. D. – Easy Money

Wicksell, K. – Interest and Price

Fleming, J. M. – Determination of the Rate of Interest, Economica, Aug. 1938

Melville, R. G. – The Theory of Interest – Econ. Record, June 1938

Bissell, R. M. – The Rate of Interest – Suppl. Am. Ec. Rev., Mar. 1938

Conning, J. B. – The Rate of Interest – Suppl. Am. Ec. Rev., Mar. 1938

Lange, O. – Rate of Interest and the Optimum Propensity to Consume, Economica, March 1938

Lange, O. – The Place of Interest in the Theory of Production, Rev. Econ. Stud., June 1936

Keynes, J. M. – The “Ex Ante” Theory of Interest Rate – Ec. Journ. Dec. 1937

Tahata, Y. – Determination of Rate of Interest – Kyoto Univ. Ec. Rev. – July 1937

Lerner, A. P. – Alternative Formulations of the Theory of Interest, Ec. Journ., June 1938

Millikan, M. – Liquidity Preference Theory of Interest – Am. Ec. Rev., June 1938

Riley, R. H. – Note on “A Break in Keynes Theory of Interest” – Am. Ec. Rev., June 1928

Ohlin, B., Robertson, D. H., and Hawtrey, R. G. – Alternative Theories of the Rate of Interest – Ec. Journ. September 1937

Keynes, J. M. – Alternative Theories of the Rate of Interest – Econ. Journ., June 1937

Ellsworth, P. T. – Mr. Keynes on the Rate of Interest – Journ. Pol. Ec., Dec. 1936

Jones, H. L. – Should Interest be Abolished? – Bankers Mag., May 1936

Hutton, D. G. – Recovery and the Rate of Interest – Lloyd’s Bank Rev., Feb., 1937

  1. Installment Selling and the Business Cycle [Return]

Currie, L. – Supply and Control of Money in U.S.

Moulton, H. G. – Financial Organization of Society

Steiner, W. H. – Money and Banking

Clark, Evans – Financing the Consumer

Seligman, E. R. A. – Economics of Installment Selling

Ayres, M. V. and Plummer, C. W. – Social and Economical Consequences of Buying on the Installment Plan – Annals of the Amer. Acad. of Pol. and Soc. Science, 1927 Suppl.

Phelps, C. W. – Controlled Installment Credit – Household Fin. Corp.

Babson, R. W. – Folly of Installment Buying

Cover, J. H. – Financing the Consumer

Douglas, P. F. – Consumer Credit

Goldman, J. – Prosperity and Consumer Credit

Foster, L. B. R. – Credit for Consumers

Zweig, F. – The Economics of Consumer Credit

Silberling, N. J. – Consumer Goods Financing and Investment Fluctuations – Amer. Ec. Rev., Sept. 1938

Schwartz, G. L. – Installment Finance – Economica – May 1936

Installment Finance – “Index”, N.Y. Trust Co., April 1937

Consumer Credit – Annals Amer. Acad. Pol. Science, March 1938

  1. Underconsumption Theory of the Trade Cycle [Return]

Munro, H. – Principles of Monetary-Industrial Stability

Haberler, G. – Prosperity and Depression

Phillips, C. A., et al. – Banking and the Business Cycle

Adams, A. B. – Analysis of Business Cycles

Foster, W. T. and Catchings, W. – Profits

Slichter, S. H. – Towards Stability

Durbin, E. F. M. – Purchasing Power and the Trade Depression

Hayek, F. – Prices and Production

Hobson, J. A. and Durbin, E. F. M. – Underconsumption – Economica, November 1933

  1. The Dilemma of Thrift [Return]

Foster, W. T. and Catchings, W. – Profits

Pigou and Robertson –  Review of Foster and Catchings

Hayek, F. – Paradox of Saving – Economica, May 1931

Mitchell, W. C. – Business Cycles

Keynes, J. M. – Treatise on Money

  1. Major Douglas’ Social Credit [Return]

Douglas, C. H. – Social Credit

Holter, E. S. – The ABC of Social Credit

Meade, J. E. – Consumers’ Credit and Unemployment

Hansen, A. H. – Full Recovery or Stagnation

Hawtrey R. G. – Capital and Employment

Dobb, M. – Social Credit Discredited

Strachey, J. – Social Credit

Larkin, J. C. – From Debt to Prosperity

Chase, H. S. – Fallacies of Social Credit – Am. Ec. Rev. Dec. 1935

Chase, H. S. – Social Credit: A Study of the New Economics – Bankers Magazine, April 1935

Robinson, G. B. – Where Social Credit Has Led Us – Annalist, Dec. 27, 1935

The Social Credit Doctrine – Barron’s Weekly, Oct. 28, 1935

Cordell, W. and K. – Alberta and Social Credit – No. Am. Rev. March 1936

  1. Fisher’s Compensated Dollar (Commodity Dollar) [Return]

Fisher, I. – Stabilizing the Dollar

U.S. House of Representatives – Committee on Banking and Currency – Hearings on Goldsborough Bill, H. R., 11788 – 1923

U.S. House of Representatives – Committee on Banking and Currency – Hearings on Goldsborough Bill, H. R., 424 – 1929J

Report on Fisher’s Plan to Stabilize the Dollar – Journ. Am. Bankers’ Assn, 1920

Anderson, B. M. – Fallacy oft he Stabilized Dollar, Journ. Am. Bankers‘ Assn, 1929

Taussig, F. W. – Plan for Compensated Dollar – Quart. Journ. Ec. 1913

Lawrence, – Stabilization of Prices

Gideonse, H. D. – The Commodity Dollar

Kemmerer, E. W. – Money

Slichter, S. H. – Towards Stability

Reed, H. L. – The Commodity Dollar

Rorty, M. C. – The Commodity Dollar – Harv. Bus. Rev., Winter, 1936

  1. 100% Reserve Plan [Return]

(See Title Number 13)

  1. Public Expenditure and Prices [Return]

Gayer, A. D. – Public Works in Prosperity and Depression

Gayer, A. D. – Monetary Policy and Econ. Stabilization

Clark, J. M. – Economics of Planning Public Works

Pigou, A. C. – Public Finance (or any standard text)

Pigou, A. C. – Theory of Unemployment

Keynes, J. M. – Means to Prosperity

Hawtrey, R. G. – Trade Depression and the Way Out

Foster, W. T. and Catchings – Profits

Harris, S. E. – Public Expenditure and Prices – Rev. Ec. Stat., Feb. 1935

Kahn, R. F. – Home Investment – Ec. Journ. 1931

Worming, J. – Financing of Public Works – Ec. Journ. 1932

Bowley, A. – Is Unemployment Inevitable?

Wolman, L. – Public Works

Hubbard, J. B. – Economics of Public Works

Boynton, P. H., et al. – Economics of Pump Priming

Slichter, S. H. – The Economics of Public Works – Am. Ec. Rev. Suppl. March 1934

Cole, G. D. H. – Economic Planning

Douglas, Paul – Controlling Depressions

  1. The Theory of Public Works [Return]

(See above Title and References)

  1. The Multiplier [Return]

Harrod, R. F. – Trade Cycle

Kahn, R. F. – Home Investment, Econ. Journ. 1931

Clark, Colin – Determination of the Multiplier from Natl. Income Statistics – Rev. Econ. Stat., May 1938

Bresciani-Turroni, C. – The Multiplier in Practice – Rev. Econ. Stat., May 1938

IV. MONETARY THEORY

General References

Gordon, R. A. – Bibliography on Business Cycles, Review of Economic Statistics, Special Number, Feb. 1937

  1. English Monetary Theory during the Napoleonic Wars [Return]

MacLeod, H. D. – Theory of Credit

Cannan, E. – Paper Pound

Thornton – Paper Credit of Great Britain

Report of Bullion Committee

Tracts on Bullion Committee Report

Ricardo, D. – Price of Gold

Keynes, J. M. – Essays in Biography, on Malthus

Andreades, A. M. – History of the Bank of England

Angell, J. – International Prices

Fisher, I. and Cohrsson, H. R. L. – Stable Money: A History of the Movement

  1. Nominalistic vs. Metallistic Conception of Money [Return]

Encyclopedia of Social Sciences

Knapp, – The State Theory of Money

Ellis, – German Monetary Theory

  1. Transaction vs. Cash Balances Approach to the Quantity Theory of Money [Return]

Marget, A. W. –

Ellis, – German Monetary Theory

  1. Keynes’ Theory of Money [Return]

Keynes, J. M. – Treatise on Money

Keynes, J. M. – Theory of Employment, Interest and Money

Williams, J. H. – Review of Keynes – Quart. Journ. Ec., Aug. 1931

Robertson, D. H. – Review of Keynes – Ec. Journ. Sept. 1931

Robertson, D. H. – Mr. Keynes and “Finance” – Ec. Journ. Sept. 1938

Hayek F. – Review of Keynes – Economica, Aug. 1931, Feb. 1931 (see also Keynes’ rejoinders in Economica, Nov. 1931 and FF)

Hawtrey, R. G. – Art of Central Banking

Marget, A. W. – Theory of Prices

Curtis, Myra and Townsend, Hugh – Modern Money

Joy, D. – Keynes on Money – Banker (London) April 1936

  1. Marshall as a Monetary Theorist [Return]

Marshall, Alfred – Money, Credit and Commerce

Marshall, Alfred – Official Papers

Keynes, J. M. – Treatise on Money

Angell, J. W. – Theory of International Prices

Memorial to Alfred Marshall, especially Keynes Essay

Robertson, D. H. – Economic Fragments

Pigou, A. C. and Robertson, D. H. – Economic Essay and Addresses

  1. Cannan as a Monetary Theorist [Return]

Cannan, E. – Modern Currency and Regulation of its Value

Cannan, E. – Economic Scares

Cannan, E. – Money (trace through 3rd to 6th editions)

Gregory, T. E – Professor Cannan’s Contemporary Monetary Theory – “London Essays on Economics”.

  1. Robertson’s Theory of Money [Return]

Robertson, D. H. – Money

Robertson, D. H. – Banking Policy and Price Level

Robertson, D. H. – Economic Fragments

Robertson, D. H. and Pigou, A. C. – Economic Essay and Addresses

  1. Hawtrey’s Theory of Money [Return]

Hawtrey, R. G. – Currency and Credit

Hawtrey, R. G. – Trade Depressions

Hawtrey, R. G. – Art of Central Banking

Cannan, E. – Rev. of Hawtrey, Gold Standard, Ec. Journ., Dec. 1927

Cannan, E. – Rev. of Hawtrey, Trade Depression, etc., Ec. Journ. Mar. 1932

Hardy, C. O. – Rev. of Hawtrey, Art of Central Banking, Am. Ec. Rev. June 1933

Harrod, R. F. – Rev. of Hawtrey, Currency and Credit, Ec. Journ., June 1929

Harrod, R. F. – Rev. of Trade Depression, etc., Ec. Journ. June, 1934

Keynes, J. M. – Rev. of Hawtrey, Currency and Credit, Ec. Journ., Sept. 1920

Marget, A. W. – Rev. of Hawtrey, Gold Standard, Quart. Journ. Ec. Nov. 1927

Pigou, A. C. – Rev. of Hawtrey, Trade and Credit, – Ec. Journ., June 1929

Robertson, D. H. – Rev. of Hawtrey, Monetary Reconstruction – Ec. Journ., June 1923

Young, A. A. – Rev. of Hawtrey, Currency and Credit, Quart. Journ. Ec. May 1920

  1. Knapp’s Theory of Money [Return]

(Consult Library Card Catalog)

  1. Fisher’s Theory of Money [Return]

(Consult Library Card Catalog)

  1. Nature of Credit [Return]

MacLeod, H. D. – Theory of Credit

Mill, J. S. – Chapters on Credit

Steiner, W. H. – Money and Banking

Prendergast and Steiner – Credit and its Uses

Robertson, D. H. – Money

Keynes, J. M. – Treatise on Money

Hawtrey, R. G. – Art of Central Banking

Phillips, C. A. – Bank Credit

Currie, L. – Supply and Control of Money in the U.S.

V. INTERNATIONAL MONETARY RELATIONS AND POLICY

General References [Return]

Young, J. P. – International Trade and Finance

Westerfield, R. B. – Money, Credit and Banking

Thomas, R. G. – Modern Banking

Madden, J. T. and Nadler, M. – The International Money Market

Einzig, Paul – World Finance, 1914-35

  1. Pre-War and Post-War Gold Standards [Return]

Irons, W. H. – A Study of the Causes Underlying the International Gold Crisis

Gayer, A. D. – Monetary Policy and Economic Stabilization: A Study of the Gold Standard

Cassel, G. – Downfall of the Gold Standard

Morgan-Webb, Charles – The Rise and Fall of the Gold Standard

Puxley, H. L. – A Critique of the Gold Standard

  1. Great Britain’s Return to the Gold Standard in 1925 [Return]

Keynes, J. M. – Monetary Reform

Keynes, J. M. – Treatise on Money

Report of the Committee on Finance and Industry (MacMillan)

Cunliffe Report on British Currency

Hawtrey, R. G. – Gold Standard and Monetary Reconstruction

Gregory, T. E. – Gold Standard

Brown, W. A. – England and New Gold Standard

McVey, F. L. – Financial History of Great Britain, 1914-20

Bogart, E. L. – Direct and Indirect Costs of World War

Litman, S. – Prices and Price Control in Great Britain and the United States during the World War

Fraser, H. F. – Great Britain and Gold Standard

Benham, F. – British Monetary Policy

Harris, S. E. – Monetary Problems of the British Empire

Pethick-Lawrence, F. W. – This Gold Crisis

  1. Stabilization of the Lira [Return]

[No references given]

  1. France and the Gold Standard [Return]

Hawtrey, R. G. – French Monetary Policy

Hawtrey, R. G. – Art of Central Banking

Rogers, J. H. R. – Process of Inflation in France

Rogers, J. H. R. – America Weighs Her Gold

Final Gold Report of the League of Nations

Sollohub, W. A. – Depression in France – Harv. Bus. Rev., July 1933

Miller, H. E. – The Franc in War and Reconstruction – Quart. Journ. Ec. 1929

Dulles, E. – The French Franc, 1914-1929

Vineberg, P. F – The French Franc and the Gold Standard, 1926-36

The Franc in 1926 and 1927 – Economist (London) Oct. 8, 1937

Wynne, W. H. – France and the Franc – Canadian Banker, Oct. 1936

Readjustment of the Franc – Lloyd’s Bank Rev., Oct. 1936

  1. The Gold Bloc [Return]

[No references given]

  1. Causes and Consequences of England’s Departure from Gold [Return]

Harris, S. E. – Monetary Problems of the British Empire

Fraser, H. F. – Great Britain and the Gold Standard

League of Nations – Gold Reports

Royal Institute of International Affairs – Monetary Policy

Irons, W. H. – A Study of the Causes Underlying the International Gold Crisis

Cassel, G. – Downfall of the Gold Standard

  1. Methods of Return to the Gold Standard [Return]

Cassel, G. – Post-War Monetary Stabilization

Hawtrey, R. G. – Monetary Reconstruction

League of Nations – Genoa Conference and other annual publications

Gregory, T. E. – Gold Standard and Future

Fraser, H. F. – Great Britain and Gold Standard

International Labor Review – Great Britain and Gold Standard

Gregory – Barron’s Weekly, Aug. 28, 1933

Gold Reports of League of Nations

Sprague, O. M. W. – Pre-requisites to Monetary Stabilization – Foreign Affairs 1937

  1. Present Outlook for the Gold Standard [Return]

Einzig, P. – Will Gold Depreciate?

Einzig, P. – The Future of Gold

Gregory, T. E. – The Gold Standard and Its Future

Hansen, A. H. – Situation of Gold Today in Relation to World Currencies – American Ec. Rev., Suppl., Mar. 1937

Jones, J. H. – The Gold Standard – Econ. Journ., Dec. 1933

  1. Gold Exchange Standard [Return]

Edie, L. D. – Money, Bank Credit and Prices

Gold Reports of League of Nations

McMillan Report

Hawtrey, R. G. – Gold Standard

Hawtrey, R. G. – Monetary Reconstruction

Hawtrey, R. G. – Currency and Credit

Gregory, T. E. – First Year of Gold Standard

Robertson, D. H. – Money

Kemmerer, E. W. – Money

  1. Gold Movements Since the War [Return]

Royal Institute of Int. Affairs – Int. Gold Problems (bibliog)

League of Nations – Final Gold Report; other publications

Brown, W. A. – England and the Gold Standard

Reports of Director of Mint – U.S.

Federal Reserve Bulletins

Cassel, G. – Crisis in World’s Monetary System, 1932

Young, J. P. – European Currency and Finance, Commission of Gold and Silver Inquiry, U.S. Senate

Warren, G. F. – Some Statistics on the Gold Situation – Am. Ec. Rev. Suppl., Mar. 1934

  1. Gold Distribution and the Depression [Return]

Gayer, A. D. – Monetary Policy and Economic Stabilization

Phillips, C. A. – Banking and the Business Cycle

Bowen, H. – Gold Maldistribution – Am.Econ.Rev., Dec. 1936

  1. Is there a Gold Shortage? [Return]

Royal Institute of International Affairs – Monetary Policy and Depression

Gregory, T. E. – Gold Standard and its Future

League of Nations – Gold Reports

Mlynarski, F. J. – Gold and Central Banks

Rist – In “Current Economic Policies”

Warren and Pearson – Prices

Hardy, C. O. – Is There Enough Gold

Keynes, J. M. – The Supply of Gold – Econ. Journ., Sept. 1936

  1. Methods to Economize Gold [Return]

Niemeyer, O. – International Gold Problem (How to Economize Gold)

Gold Reports of League of Nations – Final and Interim

Keynes, J. M. – Treatise on Money

Hawtrey, R. G. – Monetary Reconstruction – Genoa Conference

Gayer, A. D. – Monetary Policy and Economic Stabilization

  1. Exchange Depreciation and World Recovery [Return]

Harris, S. E. – Exchange Depreciation

Eder, G. J. – Effect of Gold Price Changes on Prices for Other Commodities – Journ. Royal Stat. Assn., p. I, 1938

Malenbaum, W. – Power of Undervalued Currency – Rev. Ec.Stud., Feb. 1938

Edelberg, V. – Measuring Power of Under-valued Currency to Stimulate Exports – Rev.Ec.Studies, Oct. 1937

  1. Exchange Depreciation Experience of Japan [Return]

[No references given]

  1. Exchange Depreciation Experience of Sweden [Return]

[No references given]

  1. Exchange Depreciation Experience of Britain [Return]

Harris, S. E. – Exchange Depreciation

  1. Exchange Depreciation Experience of Australia [Return]

Copland, D. – Australia and the World Crisis, 1929-33

  1. Exchange Depreciation Experience of U.S. [Return]

Harris, S. E. – Exchange Depreciation

  1. Exchange Central [Return]

Exchange Restrictions in European Countries – circ. #421, Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce

Einzig, P. – Exchange Control

Ohlin, B. – Mechanisms and Objectives of Exchange Control – Am. Ec. Rev. Suppl., March 1937

Williams, J. H. – Adequacy of Existing Currency Mechanisms – Am.Econ.Rev. Suppl., March 1937

  1. Sterling-Dollar-Franc Triangle [Return]

New York Times

Current Articles

  1. The “Gentlemen’s Agreement” [Return]

Spahr, W. E. – Tripartite Agreement – Annalist, Nov. 13, 1936

Warren, R. B. – The Gentlemen’s Agreement – Annalist, Nov. 13, 1936

  1. British Equalization Fund [Return]

Hall, N. F. – The Exchange Equalization Account

Harris, S. E. – Exchange Depreciation

The British Exchange Equalization Fund – 1935-7 – Economica, Aug. 1937

Crump, N. – Development of Exchange Funds – Lloyd’s Rank Monthly Rev., Jan. 1937

Paish, F. W. – The British Exchange Equalization Fund – Economica, Feb. 1935

Paish, F. W. – The British Exchange Equalization Fund – Economica, Feb. 1936

Comstock, A. – British Exchange Equalization Account – Am. Ec. Rev. Dec. 1933

  1. Gold Buying Policy and Devaluation [Return]

Fifty-cent dollars, etc. – Commercial and Finan. Chronicle, June 1, 1932

Incidence of Devaluation – Commercial and Finan. Chronicle, June 8, 1932

Hacker, L. M. – Short History of New Deal

Brown, et al. – Ec. of Recovery Program

Hubbard, J. B. – Current Economic Policy

Hardy, C. O. – Devaluation of the Dollar

Harris, S. E. – British and American Exchange Policy – Quart. Journ. Ec., May & Aug., 1934

Graham, F. O. – Journ. Amer. Statis. Assn., Sup. 1935, March

Edie, L. D. – Easy Money

Harris, S. E. – Exchange Depreciation

Eder, G. J. – Effect of Gold Price Change on Prices of Other Commodities, Jour. Royal Stat. Soc., part I, 1938

Woolfson, A. P. – Our Gold Policy and the Commodity Price Outlook – Bankers Mag., Aug. 1937

Whittlesey, C. R. – The Gold Dilemma – Quart. Journ. Ec., Aug. 1937

Silverstein, A. L. – American Devaluation: Prices and Export Trade – Am. Econ. Rev., June 1937

  1. Recent Silver Policy of the United States [Return]

Gregory, T. E. – Silver Situation, etc.

London Monetary and Economic Conference – agreements

Foreign Policy Assn. – Silver, its International Aspects (1931)

Deterding, H. W. A. – Silver and Foreign Debt Payments

Smith, G. A., Jr. – On Silver – Harv. Bus. Review 1934

Kreps – Silver and Chinese Purchasing Power

Leong, Y. S. – Silver (Brookings – 1934)

Elliston, H. – The Silver Problem – Foreign Affairs, April 1931

Willis, H. P. – Silver – New Republic, March 11, 1931

Westerfield, R. B. – Our Silver Debacle

Barbour, P. E. – America’s Silver Policy – Annalist Dec. 13, 1935

Berridge, W. A. – Some Facts Bearing on the Silver Program – Rev. Econ. Stat., Nov. 1934

Smith, G. A. – Silver: Its Status and Outlook – Harv. Bus. Rev., Oct. 1934

  1. Monetary Consequences of the Fall in the Price of Silver [Return]

Seyd – Fall in the Price of Silver

Nogaro – Modern Monetary Systems

Westerfield, R. B. – Our Silver Debacle

Leavens, D. H. – American Silver Policy in China – Harv. Bus. Rev. Autumn, 1935

Leavens, D. H. – Distribution of the World’s Silver – Rev. Ec. Stat. Nov. 1935

Wu, L. T. K. – China’s Monetary Dilemma – Far East Survey, Dec. 4, 1935

Spalding, W. F. – The Silver Problem as it Affects Mexico – Bankers’ Ins. Manag. Mag., June 1935

Berridge, W. A. – Some Facts Bearing on the Silver Program, Rev. Ec. Stat., Nov. 1934

Deterding, H. W. A. – Silver: Its International Position – Econ. Forum, June-July 1934

Kreps, T. J. – The Price of Silver and Chinese Purchasing Power – Quart. Journ. Ec. – Feb. 1934

  1. Flexible Parities [Return]

Meade, J. E. – Introduction to Economic Analysis and Policy

Hayek, F. – Monetary Nationalism and International Stability

British Monetary Policy – Economist (London) Oct. 24, 1936

Henderson, H. D. – Case Against Returning to Gold – Lloyd’s Bank Monthly Review – June 1935

Graham, F. D. and Whittlesey, C. R. – Fluctuating Exchange Rates, Foreign Trade and the Price Level – Am. Econ. Rev. – Sept. 1934

Whale, P. B. – Theory of International Trade – Economica – Feb. 1936

Williams, J. H. – Adequacy of Existing Currency Mechanisms, Am. Ec. Rev. Suppl. – March 1937

  1. Hot Money [Return]

Kindleberger, C. P. – International Short Term Capital Movements

Feiler, A. – International Movement of Capital – Amer. Econ. Rev. Suppl., Mar. 1935

  1. Exchange Rates Under Incontrovertible Paper [Return]

Cassel, G. – Money and Foreign Exchange After 1914

Angell, J. – Theory of International Prices

Nogaro – Modern Monetary Systems

Taussig, F. W. – International Trade

Whitaker – Foreign Exchange

Viner, J. – Studies in the Theory of International Trade

  1. Purchasing Power Parity vs. Balance of Payment Theory of the Determination of Exchange Rates [Return]

Cassel, G. – Econ. Journ., March 1916

Cassel, G. – Econ. Journ., Sept. 1916

Cassel, G. – Econ. Journ., Dec. 1918

Cassel, G. – Annals of Amer. Acad. Of Pol. And Soc. Science, Vol. 89, May 1920

Cassel, G. – Money and Foreign Exchange after 1914

Ellis – German Monetary Theory

Keynes, J. M. – Monetary Reform, p. 87 ff

Keynes, J. M. – Treatise on Money, ch. 5

Keilhau – Econ. Journ., 1925, pp. 221 ff

Angell, J. – Theory of International Prices

Nogaro – Modern Monetary System

Taussig, F. W. – International Trade

Bogen, J. I. – Money and Banking

Viner, J. – Studies in the Theory of International Trade

Kindleberger, C. P. – International Short Term Capital Movements

Graham, F. D. – Recent Movements in International Price Levels, and the Doctrine of Purchasing Power Parity – Journ. Am. Stat. Assn., Suppl., Mar. 1935

  1. International vs. National Objectives of Monetary Policy [Return]

Gayer, A. D. – Monetary Policy and Economic Stabilization

Hayek, F. – Monetary Nationalism and International Stability

  1. Measures of Over-valuation [Return]

Kindleberger, C. P. – International Short-Term Capital Movements

Whale, P. B. – Theory of International Trade – Economica, Feb. 1936

  1. The International Transfer of Purchasing Power [Return]

Einzig, P. – Foreign Balances

Kindleberger, C. P. – International Short-Term Capital Movements

Ohlin, B. – International and Interregional Trade

Taussig, F. W. – International Trade

Feiler, A. – International Movement of Capital – Am. Ec. Rev. Suppl. March 1935

Cassel, G. – International Payments under a System of Paper Currencies – Skon Kredit Quart. Rept., Oct. 1934

  1. The Forward Exchange Market [Return]

Einzig, P. – The Theory of Forward Exchange

Einzig, P. – Some Theoretico-Technical Aspects of Official Forward Exchange Operations – Econ. Journ. June 1938

Kindleberger, C. P. – International Short-Term Capital Movements

Keynes, J. M. – Tract of Monetary Reform

  1. Spreading the Gold Points and Short Term Capital Movements [Return]

[No references given]

  1. American Export of Capital since the War [Return]

League of Nations – Course and Phases of World Econ. Depression

Hansen, A. H. – Econ. Stabilization in Unbalanced World

Young, J. P. – International Financial Position of U.S.

Moon, P. T. – America as a Creditor Nation

Angell, J. – Financial Foreign Policies of U.S.

Angell, J. – Balance of Payments in U.S.

Taussig, F. W. – International Trade

League of Nations –Report of Gold Delegation

League of Nations – Stat. Yearbook

U.S. Dept. of Commerce – American Underwriting of Foreign Securities in 1929

Haberler, G. – International Trade

Kindleberger, C. P. – International Short-Term Capital Movements

Feiler, A. – International Movement of Capital – Am. Ec. Rev. Suppl. March 1935

  1. International Short Term Balances and the Depression [Return]

Einzig, P. – Foreign Balance

Kindleberger, C. P. – International Short-Term Capital Movements

  1. Tariff Policy and the Depression [Return]

Report of Committee of Inquiry into National Policy in International Economic Relations

  1. Bank of International Settlements [Return]

Dulles, E. L. – B. I. S. at work (1932)

Einzig, P. – Bank of International Settlement

Gideonse, H. R. – The International Bank

Steiner, W. H. – Money and Banking

Bank of International Settlement – Annual Reports

Traylor, M. – Bank of International Settlement Documents – First Natl. Bank, Chicago

Dulles, E. L. – Bank of International Settlement – Am. Ec. Rev. June 1938

Fraser, L. – The International Bank and Its Future – Foreign Affairs, April 1936

Keynes, J. M. – Report of the Bank of International Settlement – Econ. Journ., Sept. 1934

De Clery, A. R. – The Bank of International Settlement and the World Economic Crisis, Interparliamentary Bulletin, Nov. 1934

VI. MISCELLANEOUS

  1. War Finance [Return]

American Econ. Assn. – Report of Committee on War Finance

League of Nations –Currencies after the War

U.S. Senate – Comm. of Gold and Silver – Inquiry – European Currencies and Exchange

Grady, H. F. – British War Finance, 1914-1919

Nicholson, J. S. – War Finance

Harris, S. E. – Monetary Problems of British Empire

Graham, F. D. – Exchange, Prices and Production in Hyperinflation in Germany, 1920-23

Steiner, W. H. – Money and Banking

Hollander, J. B. – War Borrowing

Bogart, E. L. – War Costs and their Financing

Pigou, A. C. – Political Econom. of War

Smith, D. T. – Treasury Operations and Money Market

Hawtrey, R. G. – Currency and Credit

  1. The Reparations Controversy [Return]

Moulton, H. G. and Pasvolsky – War Debts and World Prosperity

Myers, D. P. – The Reparation Settlement

Steiner, W. H. – Money and Banking – 902 ff

Young, J. P. – International Trade and Finance

  1. War Debts [Return]

(same as No. 130)

  1. Fall of Prices: 1873-96 [Return]

Layton – Intro. To Study of Prices

Price, L. L. –Money and its Relation to Prices

Ransome and Mann – Future of Prices at Home and Abroad

Warren and Pearson – Prices

Kuznets, S. – Secular Movements in Production and Prices

League of Nations – Gold Reports

Peterson, J. and Peterson, O. S. – An Analysis of Price Behavior During Period 1855-1913

Mills, F. C. – Prices in Recession and Recovery

  1. Rise of Prices: 1896-1913 [Return]

(see no. 132)

Ashley, Gold and Prices (1912)

  1. Price Movement since the War [Return]

Mills, F. C. – Prices in Recession and Recovery

  1. Probable Future Trend of Prices [Return]

Ransome and Mann – Future of Prices at Home and Abroad

Warren and Pearson – Prices

Hayek, F. – Prod. and Prices

League of Nations – Gold Reports

Journal of Farm Econ., Jan. 1932 – Future of General Price Level

  1. Changes in the Value of Money and the Distribution of Wealth [Return]

Keynes, J. M. – Monetary Reform

Edie, L. D. – Money, Bank Credit and Prices

Fisher, I. – Stabilizing the Dollar

Robertson, D. H. – Money

Steiner, W. H. – Money and Banking (786-795)

Willis, H. P. – The Economics of Inflation

  1. Monetary and Financial Questions Raised by the Social Security Program [Return]

Hansen, A. H. and Murray, H. G. – A New Plan for Unemployment Reserves

Hansen, A. H. – Full Recovery or Stagnation

Hansen, A. H. et al. – Program for Unemployment Insurance Relief in U.S.

Beveridge, W. H. – Causes and Cures of Unemployment

Wolfenden, H. H. – Unemployment Funds: A Survey and Proposal

Woll, M. – Labor, Industry and Govt.

Achsner, E. H. – Social Ins. And Econ. Security

Heyman [?], E. – Unemployment Preventions and Relief

Douglas, P. H. and Director, A. – Problem of Unemployment

Slichter, S. H. – Making Booms Bear the Burden of Relief

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Additional Thesis Subjects — Economics 41
  1. Monetary policy of neutral countries in war.
  2. War finance in Germany (Great Britain, France).
  3. Problems of war finance.
  4. Exchange rates and war.
  5. The international money proposal.
  6. Business cycle policy under the National Banking System.
  7. The Peel Banking Act of 1844.
  8. The crisis of 1837 (1857, 1873, 1897, 1907).
  9. War debts and reparations.
  10. Monetary aspects of the demand for colonies.
  11. Monetary aspects of recovery policy in Australia.
  12. Monetary controls in Germany (Sweden, Canada, Great Britain).

Image Source: Portraits of John Henry Williams and Seymour Edwin Harris from Harvard Class Album 1939. Enhanced by Economics in the Rear-view Mirror.

Categories
Economists Harvard

Harvard. Economics Ph.D. alumnus, Seymour Edwin Harris. 1926

While this post still needs the course transcript from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard to be complete, there is enough information about the 1926 Harvard economics Ph.D. Seymour Edwin Harris for it to be added to our series “Meet an economics Ph.D. alumnus/alumna”.

_______________________

Biographical/Historical Note

Seymour Edwin Harris was born September 8, 1897 in New York City. He received an A.B. in 1920 and a Ph.D. in 1926 from Harvard University. From 1922 to 1964, Dr. Harris taught economics at Harvard University, where he received a full professorship in 1954, and served as the chairman of the department of economics from 1955 to 1959. During World War II, Dr. Harris was involved in several wartime planning projects. From 1954 to 1956, Dr. Harris became chief economic advisor to Adlai Stevenson. He then served Senator John F. Kennedy in the same capacity and was chosen as a member of President Kennedy’s task force on the economy. In 1961, Dr. Harris was named as chief economic consultant to Douglas Dillon, Secretary of the Treasury. During the Kennedy administration. Dr. Harris, a proponent of Keynesian economics, was a member of Walter W. Heller’s New Frontiersmen, which persuaded President Kennedy that the stimulation of the economy was more important than a balanced budget and tax cuts and government spending could counter threats of a recession. In 1963, Dr. Harris became the chairman of the department of economics at the University of California at La Jolla. At the same time, he served as a chief economic advisor to the Johnson administration.

Source: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Archives. Guide to the Seymour E. Harris Personal Papers.

_______________________

HARVARD UNIVERSITY
DIVISION OF HISTORY, GOVERNMENT, AND ECONOMICS

Application for Candidacy for the Degree of Ph.D.

[Note: Boldface used to indicate printed text of the application; italics used to indicate the handwritten entries]

I. Full Name, with date and place of birth.

Seymour Edwin Harris.  Sept. 8, 1897; Brooklyn, N.Y.

II. Academic Career: (Mention, with dates inclusive, colleges or other higher institutions of learning attended; and teaching positions held.)

C.C.N.Y. – 1916-18. Harvard A.B. 1918-20.
Princeton – Instructor of Economics 1920-2.
Harvard – Tutor 1922-4.

III. Degrees already attained. (Mention institutions and dates.)

A.B. Harvard. 1920.

IV. General Preparation. (Indicate briefly the range and character of your undergraduate studies in History, Economics, Government, and in such other fields as Ancient and Modern Languages, Philosophy, etc. In case you are a candidate for the degree in History, state the number of years you have studied preparatory and college Latin.)

Economics A, 3, 5, 11, 33
History 1, 12, 32b
Government 1, 17B.
Latin – 2 years at college. Greek – 1 year. French – 2 years (college). German – 1 year.

V. Department of Study. (Do you propose to offer yourself for the Ph.D., “History,” in “Economics,” or in “Political Science”?)

Economics.

VI. Choice of Subjects for the General Examination. (State briefly the nature of your preparation in each subject, as by Harvard courses, courses taken elsewhere, private reading, teaching the subject, etc., etc.)

  1. Economic Theory & History.
    Economics A, 11 – as undergraduate – 14, 15
  2. Money and Banking.
    Economics 38
    Two half courses at Princeton Grad. School. (Currency Reform & Monetary Histor of the U.S.)
  3. Statistics.
    Economics 41
  4. Public Finance
    Economics 31
  5. American History.
    History 32b (as Undergraduate)
    & Private reading
  6. [Left blank]

VII. Special Subject for the special examination.

Money and Banking with International Trade as a substitute field [committee: Professors Young (chairman), Taussig, Gay, and Monroe]

VIII. Thesis Subject. (State the subject and mention the instructor who knows most about your work upon it.)

Subject? [The Assignat]
Professor Young.

IX. Examinations. (Indicate any preferences as to the time of the general and special examinations.)

May 15, 1924
[March (early), 1926]

X. Remarks

I have not decided on any subject. At present, I expect to write in Theory, and I hope under Professor Young.

Signature of a member of the Division certifying approval of the above outline of subjects.

Allyn A. Young

*   *   *   [Last page of application] *   *   *

[Not to be filled out by the applicant]

Name: S. E. Harris

Approved: April 2, 1924

Ability to use French certified by C. J. Bullock, 10 May 1923.

Ability to use German certified by C. J. Bullock, 10 May 1923.

Date of general examination April 29, 1924. Passed A.A.Y.

Thesis received March 5, 1926

Read by [left blank]

Approved [left blank]

Date of special examination [left blank]

Recommended for the Doctorate [left blank]

Degree conferred  [left blank]

Remarks.  [left blank]

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Certification of reading knowledge
of French and German for Ph.D.

HARVARD UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS

Cambridge, Massachusetts
May 10, 1923

This is to certify that I have examined Mr. S.E. Harris and have found that he has such a knowledge of French and German as we require of candidates for the Ph.D. degree.

Very truly yours
[signed]
C. J. Bullock [K]

Dean D. H. Haskins

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Passed General Examination

HARVARD UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS

Cambridge, Massachusetts
April 30, 1924

Dear Dean Haskins:

As Chairman of the Committee to conduct the general examination of S. E. Harris for the degree of Ph.D., I beg to report that Mr. Harris passed the examination. It was the opinion of the Committee that Mr. Harris’ showing was distinctly good, “better than the average”.

Yours sincerely,
[signed]
Allyn A. Young

Dean C. H. Haskins

[Note: The exam was held Tuesday, 29 April at 4 p.m. in Widener D. Committee: Professors Young, Crum, Bullock, Williams and Dr. Merk with Professor Persons substituting for Professor Crum at the examination.]

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Passed Special Examination

HARVARD UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS

Cambridge, Massachusetts
March 12, 1926

To the Division of History, Government and Economics:

As chairman of the committee appointed to conduct the special examination of Mr. S. E. Harris for the degree of Ph.D. in Economics I beg to report that Mr. Harris passed a very creditable examination.

[signed]
Allyn A. Young

Source: Harvard University Archives. Division of History, Government & Economics, Ph.D. Degrees Conferred 1929-30. (UA V 453.270), Box 6.

Image Source: This particular portrait of Seymour E. Harris has been cropped from the 1934 Harvard Album. The identical portrait can be found already in the 1925 Harvard Album.

 

Categories
Columbia Economist Market Economists Harvard

Harvard and Columbia. President of Harvard headhunting conversation regarding economists. Mitchell and Mills, 1936

The following typed notes were based on a conversation that took place on February 21, 1936 regarding possible future hires for the Harvard economics department. President James B. Conant (or someone on his behalf) met with Columbia university professors Wesley C. Mitchell and his NBER sidekick, Frederick C. Mills. This artifact comes from President Conant’s administrative records in the Harvard Archives.

In the memo we find a few frank impressions of members of the Harvard economics departments together with head-hunting tips for established and up-and-coming economists of the day.

An observation that jumps from the paper is the identification pinned to the name Arthur F. Burns, namely, “(Jew)”. Interestingly enough this was not added to Arthur William Marget (see the earlier post Harvard Alumnus. A.W. Marget. Too Jewish for Chicago? 1927.) nor to Seymour Harris.  

________________________

[stamp] FEB 25, 1936

ECONOMICS

Confidential Memorandum of a Conversation on Friday, February 21, with Wesley [Clair] Mitchell and his colleague, Professor [Frederick Cecil] Mills (?) of Columbia

General impression is that the Department of Economics at Harvard is in a better state today than these gentlemen would have thought possible a few years ago. The group from 35-50 which now faces the future is about as good as any in the country. [Edward Hastings] Chamberlin, [John Henry] Williams,[Gottfried] Haberler and Schlichter [sic, [Sumner Slichter] are certainly quite outstanding. Very little known about [Edward Sagendorph] Mason;  he seems to have made a favorable impression but no writings. [Seymour Edwin] Harris slightly known, favorable but not exciting.

[John Ulric] Neff admitted to be the best man in economic history if we could get him. Names of other people in this country mentioned included:

[Robert Alexander] Brady — University of California, now working on Carnegie grant on bureaucracy; under 40.

Arthur [F.] Burns at Rutgers (Jew) now working with the Bureau of Economic Research and not available for 3 or 4 years. Said by them to be excellent.

Henry Schultz of Chicago, about in Chamberlin’s class and age, or perhaps a little better.

[Arthur William] Marget of Minnesota, Harvard Ph.D., I believe; well known, perhaps better than Chamberlin. Flashy and perhaps unsound. (Mitchell and Mills disagree to some extent on their estimate of his permanent value but agree on his present high visibility).

Winfield Riffler [sic, Winfield William Riefler], recently called to the Institute of Advanced Study at Princeton, probably one of the most if not the most outstanding of the younger men.

Morris [Albert] Copeland of Washington; good man but not so good as Chamberlin.

Giddons [sic, Harry David Gideonse?] of Chicago, very highly thought of by Chicago people but has not written a great deal; supposed to be an excellent organizer.

C. E. [Clarence Edwin] Ayres, University of Texas, about 40; in N.R.A. at Washington. Mitchell thinks very highly of him.

England

[Theodore Emmanuel Gugenheim] Gregory, at London School of Economics, about 50, same field as Williams but not so good. Mills more favorable than Mitchell.

Other outstanding young Englishmen:

[Richard F.] Kahn, Kings College, Cambridge

F. Colin [sic, Colin Grant] Clark, of Cambridge

Lionel Robins [sic, Lionel Charles Robbins] of London, age 35, rated very highly by both Mills and Mitchell

F. A. Hayek, another Viennese now in London; spoken of very highly by both Mills and Mitchell.

Source: Harvard University Archives. Records of President James B. Conant, Box 54, Folder Economics, “1935-1936”.

Image Sources: Wesley Clair Mitchell (left) from the “Original Founders” page at the website of the Foundation for the Study of Business Cycles; Frederick C. Mills (right) from the Columbia Daily Spectator, Vol. CVIII, No. 68, 11 February 1964.

Categories
Economics Programs Harvard Undergraduate

Harvard. Economics Department Reports to the Dean, 1946-47 to 1949-50

 

This post adds the Chair’s annual reports on the Harvard Economics Department for the early post-WW II years to previously posted reports for 1932-33 through 1945-46. 

Reports to the Dean of Harvard
from the Department of Economics.
1932-1941
1941-1946

___________________________

1946-1947

September 29, 1947

Dear Dean Buck:

You have requested a brief report on the work of the Department of Economies for the academic year 1946-47.

This report necessarily follows much the same pattern as the report for last year. Again our work has been dominated by the number of students, undergraduate and graduate, and the lack of a trained junior staff.

The number of undergraduates of course is entirely so beyond our control. In Economies A and in most of our “middle group” courses, the elections taxed our capacity for effective instruction. Under the most propitious conditions the crowded classrooms would have presented many problems but with a dearth of trained teaching fellows and annual instructors the load carried by the senior staff was unduly heavy. Foreseeing this range of problems, the Department voted on February 19, 1946 [sic, 1947 probably correct. In December 1946 departments wereallowed to withdraw from offering tutorials] to suspend tutorial instruction for a period of two years. It may be stated here that this was probably a wise decision. Concentration in Economics appears to have resumed the trend apparent before the war. In the current year the number of concentrators will approach, or perhaps exceed 800. Even should no consideration be given to the expenditure involved, the possibility of finding and training effective tutors even for honors candidates seems somewhat remote.

On the graduate level the problems of instruction were even more difficult. During the year the number of graduate students receiving instruction was approximately 286. Our course offering on this level is large. Nevertheless, the principal graduate courses were crowded to a point where the maintenance of standards was difficult. After the graduate student has completed his preliminary program and has been accepted as a candidate for the Ph.D, degree, the instruction is largely individual. In the last year we were just coming into the situation where a considerable proportion of the students were receiving such instruction. The full impact of this situation will be felt in the current year. Most members of the senior staff will be directing the theses of some 10 to 15 students. Some officers will be responsible for even larger numbers. With the numbers we are attempting to handle on the graduate level the single task of examining candidates in the general and special examinations becomes a major consideration. During the last academic year the staff conducted general and special examinations. Such an amount of examining and of individual instruction on the graduate level has its bearing on tutorial instruction for undergraduates.

The Department voted to accept the large number of graduate students now on our rolls only after considerable investigation and discussion. It is my own personal opinion that we have set our limit altogether too high. However, the pressure upon us for admission has been very strong and our obligations to the Littauer School, where the pressure is hardly less, just be observed.

This matter of the size of the Graduate School in the immediate future is one of our most difficult problems. It will receive our attention in the current year.

In the last two or three years these reports have noted certain experiments in instruction, especially in connection with Economics A. Such experiments are dependent upon the presence of a considerable number of able and mature young men with adequate teaching experience, as well as upon a margin of free time. Both of these factors are lacking to such a degree that substantial and outstanding progress could not be expected but the plans were active and some progress was made.

If full tutorial instruction is not resumed by the Department, experimentation in undergraduate courses is imperative and this we have planned. It is our expectation that a good deal in the way of individual guidance can be accomplished in connection with Economics A and some of our middle group courses. We believe that we can make our instruction more efficient with a much smaller personnel and at much less expense than the tutorial system would involve. However, a definitive decision has not been reached on all of these matters.

It is hardly necessary to emphasize that the heavy instructional demands discussed above affected our research projects. Furthermore, the officers of this Department are severely handicapped by the lack of research funds. This dearth of research funds is a question which has been placed before our Visiting Committee.

In spite of the difficulties involved, the contributions of the members of the Department were substantial. The following books were published:

Teoria de la Competencie Monopolica, by E. H. Chamberlin, Mexico, 1946. (Spanish translation of The Theory of Monopolistic Competition)

Economic Policy and Full Employment, by A. H. Hansen. McGraw-Hill. 1947.

The New Economics, S. B. Harris, editor and contributor Knopf. 1947.

The National Debt and the New Economics, by S. E. Harris. 1947.

Income and Employment, by T. Morgan. Prentice-Hall. 1947.

New enlarged edition of Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy, by J. A. Schumpeter.

The Challenge of Industrial Relations, by S. H. Slichter, Cornell University Press, 1947.

Postwar Monetary Plans and other Essays, by J. Williams. Knopf, 3rd edition. 1947.

articles were published.

Although we are able to record only one new volume and one republication of an older volume in the Harvard Economic Series for the past year, four other volumes are in the hands of the printer and will appear in the current year.

In the area of distinctions or honors, I believe the only items to be noted concern Dean Edward S. Mason. Last spring he was appointed Economic Advisor to Secretary of State Marshall at the Moscow Conference. In July he was appointed a member of President Truman’s Committee on Foreign Aid.

Sincerely yours,
H. H. Burbank

Dean Paul H. Buck

Source: Harvard University Archives. Department of Economics, Correspondence and Papers (UAV 349.11), Box 2, Folder “Provost Buck—Annual Report of Dept.”

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1947-1948

September 30, 1948

Dear Provost Buck:

You have requested a brief report on the work of the Department of Economics for the academic year 1947-48.

The report on the work of the Department for the last year can be given in part in the same terms that have been employed in the last three reports. Our major problems have been quantitative and have presented the same difficulties that were emphasized in the other post-war reports. However, we believe that the last year did reach the peak of the load and that the pressure of numbers will abate steadily. The problem of building and maintaining an effective junior staff was hardly less than in the preceding years. Crowded classrooms and insufficiently trained assistants imposed unduly severe burdens upon the senior teachers responsible for course instruction. Some improvement, especially in the middle group courses, is in prospect for the coming year but it is probable that two to three years more will be necessary before these courses will be adequately staffed. In the introductory course which relies heavily upon a large number of young instructors and teaching fellows, the situation is still serious but latterly we have been able to utilize young men with more satisfactory preparation and training. Because of the heavy demands for the services of these young men by other institutions, the turnover is large leaving us each year with a relatively inexperienced staff.

Graduate instruction continues to make unusual demands upon the time and energy of the senior staff. During the past year we conducted 109 general examinations and 26 special examinations. Examining and the related task of directing the research of candidates for the higher degrees undoubtedly have an incidence upon undergraduate instruction which raises questions of fundamental importance. It is encouraging that the number of graduate students is, through the action of the Department, declining.

In spite of the difficulties presented by the numbers of undergraduates and graduates, the Department, perhaps belatedly, has given particular consideration to its commitments in the Areas and in General Education. A report on General Education is enclosed.

Also, the Department has considered at length and in detail various problems of instruction, particularly undergraduate instruction. These considerations will be continued in the current year. By completely revising the content of our basic courses it may be possible to increase the effectiveness of our instruction and reduce somewhat the number of courses offered. A preliminary report on this aspect of our work is included.

A year ago I noted that many of our senior officers were handicapped severely by the lack of research funds. As you know, it can now be recorded with sincere satisfaction that a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation and that several projects under the auspices of the Research Marketing Act, U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Charles H. Hood Dairy Foundation, the Ferguson Foundation Fund, and the Carnegie Corporation Fund, meet the situation effectively for some of our officers. The set-up of these projects promises not only to be of great value to the professors in charge of the research but it contributes heavily to the training of our most promising graduate students and younger officers.

The following books were published by members of the Department:

How Shall We Pay for Education? by Seymour Harris. Harpers.

Stabilization Subsidies by Seymour Harris. Historical Report Series, U.S. Gov’t.

Price Control of International Commodities by Seymour Harris. Archives Volume, Historical Records Office.

International Monetary Policies, by Gottfried Haberler (with Lloyd Metzler and Robert Triffin). Postwar Economic Series, Federal Reserve System Board of Governors.

Problemas de Conjuntura e de Politica Economica, by Gottfried Haberler. Fundacao Getulio Vargas, Rio de Janiero.

Production in the United States, 1866-1914, by Edwin Frickey. Harvard University Press.

Seventy-eight articles have been published. Three books were published in the Harvard Economic Series during the past year. Five volumes are in the hands of the Press to be published later this year.

Professor Edward H. Chamberlin has been appointed to succeed Dr. Arthur B. Monroe as Managing Editor of the Quarterly Journal of Economics. Both the Quarterly Journal of Economies and the Review of Economic Statistics are well established intellectually and financially. With the demands of instruction and research, the editing of the Quarterly Journal of Economics and the Review of Economics and Statistics, as well as the direction of the Harvard Economic Series, raises questions regarding the adequacy of the manpower within the Department.

 In the area of distinctions or honors, Professor Joseph A. Schumpeter was chosen to be President of the American Economic Association for 1948. Dean Edward S. Mason was awarded an honorary degree, D. Litt, from Williams College, June, 1948.

Very sincerely,
H. H. Burbank

Provost Paul H. Buck
5 University Hall

Source: Harvard University Archives. Department of Economics, Correspondence and Papers (UAV 349.11), Box 2, Folder “Provost Buck—Annual Report of Dept.”

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1948-1949

September 28, 1949

Dear Provost Buck:

The pattern of the report of the Department of Economics on the work of the last year is essentially the same as the other reports for the post-war years. Indeed, not a little of the introduction to the report of a year ago could be utilized in the current report. The quantitative side of our work has been among our major problems. I think I was correct in predicting that the peak of the load would be passed in 1948-49. For the year 1949-50, numbers, particularly on the graduate level, will be approximately less although the total is still beyond the capacities of our senior staff.

Again I can repeat that the problem of building and maintaining a junior staff presents great difficulties. We have strengthened our position on the level of the assistant professor but we are unable to hold our most promising young Ph.D’s for appointment at the instructor level. All of our undergraduate instruction suffers because of this factor, but Economics 1 (the introductory course) is affected particularly. The demand for these young men by other institutions continues at a high level resulting in a high rate of turnover and leaving us sech year with a relatively inexperienced staff. [end of p. 1]

[Note: need to replace unfocussed image of page 2]

[p. 3 begins ] …expectation that we will be able to revise our general examination effectively.

In the post-war years the Department has been striving to meet its obligations to General Education and to the areas. We believe that we have made an excellent beginning in both General Education and in the Russian Area. We are still actively engaged in the attempt to strengthen our position in the Chinese Area. This is exceedingly difficult but I believe that some progress is being made.

Last year we were able to record with great satisfaction that some research projects were being established satisfactorily. These projects under the auspices of the Rockefeller Foundation and under the auspices of various groups interested in agriculture and marketing are now going forward successfully and up proving to be important for us not only as research projects but also because of their general effect upon a relatively large group of our graduate students. We can now give a type of training to our most promising men which would have been impossible without such projects. It should be emphasized at this point that other areas of interest need research funds.

The following books were published:

Collective Bargaining: Principles and Cases, Richard D. Irwin, Inc., 1949, by John I. Dunlop.

Labor in Norway by Walter Galenson. Harvard University Press, 1949.

Monetary Theory and Fiscal Policy, by Alvin Hansen McGraw-Hill, 1949.

The European Recovery Program, by Seymour E. Harris. Harvard University Press.

Foreign Economic Policy for the U.S., edited by Seymour E. Harris, Harvard University Press.

Price Control of International Commodities, by Seymour E. Harris. Archives Volume for Historical Records Office.

Saving American Capitalism, edited by Seymour E. Harris. Knopf.

Economic Planning, by Seymour E. Harris. Knopf.

Post-war Monetary Plans and Other Essays, by John H. Williams. Oxford, Basil Blackwell.

The American Economy, Its Problems and Prospects, by Sumner H. Slichter. Knopf.

There were 62 articles published by members of the Department during the past year. Five books were published in the Harvard Economic Studies and two volumes are in the hands of the Press to be published later this year. There has been a total of 86 books published in the Harvard Economic Studies to this date.

It should be recorded that both the Quarterly Journal of Economics under the editorship of Professor Chamberlin and the Review of Economics and Statistics have prospered during the year. Again I do feel it necessary to refer to the fact that editing the Quarterly Journal of Economics and the Review of Economics and Statistics and the carrying forward of the Harvard Economic Studies continues to raise questions regarding the adequacy of the manpower within the Department.

In the area of distinctions and honors, Professor Slichter was awarded honorary degrees (LL.D.) from the following universities: Lehigh University, Harvard University, University of Rochester, University of Wisconsin and Northwestern University. Professor

Haberler was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Economics (“Doktor der Wirtschaftswissenschaft honoris causa”) from Handelshochschule, St. Gallen, Switzerland. Dr. Galbraith was awarded the President’s Certificate of Merit, Medal of Merit Board, for services in Price Control and Economic Stabilization during the war.

Sincerely
[Harold H. Burbank]

Source: Harvard University Archives. Department of Economics, Correspondence and Papers (UAV 349.11), Box 2, Folder “Departmental Annual Reports to the Dean 1948-54”.

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1949-1950

[Draft] Report to Dean, October 2, 1950
Professor Burbank

In each of the reports for the last three years, emphasis has been placed upon two matters; our efforts to handle the increased numbers incident to the war, particularly on the graduate level, and our attempts to revise and improve our instruction, particularly on the undergraduate level.

With a good deal of satisfaction we are able to report that for the last year substantial progress has been made in each of these areas. Immediately after the war the number of our graduate students increased from approximately 100 to nearly 300. By raising the standards of admission and giving the most careful scrutiny to applications, the numbers on the graduate level are now well under 200, and will be reduced somewhat more for 1950-51.

The work of supervising and directing graduate students falls very unevenly upon the various members of the senior staff. Even with not over 150 graduate students some members of the staff will carry an inordinate part of individual instruction and of examining for the higher degrees. Further, large graduate classes tend to dilute the instruction.

On the undergraduate level the Department has revised its requirements for concentration, including the content of many of our key courses. This plan has been accepted by the Faculty and is now in operation. It is an ambitious scheme that involves not only a change in the content and coverage of our key courses but it also involves the strengthening the staff in these courses and an integration of course work with tutorial work. Undoubtedly it will take some years to complete this plan. Much depends upon our ability to build a strong junior staff, especially on the annual instructor level. When this reorganized instruction is in full operation it is expected that a number of courses now offered for undergraduates may be deleted.

Also it is with a good deal of satisfaction that after a period of suspension tutorial instruction has been reestablished and is developing steadily. The period of suspension was unfortunate but probably inevitable. We are now approaching a position with respect to both graduate and undergraduate instruction that at least approximates a normal situation, with a possibility of a carefully planned and well integrated system of undergraduate instruction. As a part of this plan increased attention has been given to reestablishing the General Examinations on something approximating the level of earlier years. Since we are lacking experienced tutors the establishment of tutorial instruction is a very real task but it is believed it can be done successfully.

We have been fortunate to have been able to attract to the Graduate School a group of unusually able young men. The very top of this group represents ability of the very highest order. Unfortunately only rarely can we retain the services of these young men even on the assistant professor level. However, the Department is keenly aware of the difficulties it faces in recruitment and every effort is being made to follow the progress of the product of other schools as well as the progress of our own young scholars.

Source: Harvard University Archives. Department of Economics, Correspondence and Papers (UAV 349.11), Box 2, Folder “Provost Buck—Annual Report of Dept.”

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1949-1950

January 5, 1951

Provost Paul H. Buck
5 University Hall
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Dear Provost Buck:

I am now somewhat belatedly submitting the report of the Department of Economics for 1949-50.

I. Undergraduate Instruction

Four hundred eighty-two Harvard and Radcliffe students concentrated in economics in 1949-50 as compared with 608 in the previous year. The enrolment in Economics 1 was 402 as compared with 546 in the previous year. Seventy-seven students graduated with honors; 20 obtaining magna cum laude and 57 cum laude.

The entire senior staff gave courses at the undergraduate level— a practice that distinguishes Harvard sharply from institutions such as Columbia and Chicago which restrict the activities of some of the most talented members of the staff to graduate instruction. Nevertheless, the strength of our undergraduate teaching has depended very largely on the unusually fine group of assistant professors we now have on our staff.

During the past couple of years the Department has been gradually moving toward restoration of the tutorial system and last spring it decided finally to give tutorial instruction to all honors students in their junior and senior years,

II. Graduate Instruction

Two hundred graduate students in economics were in residence last year as compared with 234 the previous year. The Department gave 58 general examinations for the Ph.D. and 47 special examinations.

The number of graduate students is still too large to handle effectively with the present staff. The students themselves justifiably complain that they cannot see enough of the members of the faculty. However if they did see as much of the faculty as they wanted to, the faculty would have little time for reading and research and the quality of instruction would decline. We are planning to deal with this problem as far as possible by making sure that more graduate students attend reasonably small seminars and do have an opportunity to get to know at least one faculty member reasonably well.

I believe that the quality of our graduate work has suffered through overemphasis on course work and preoccupation with grades. We tend to make graduate instruction too much of a prolongation of undergraduate instruction. We also tend too much in the direction of specialization and provide too little encouragement for students to become coordinated in the whole economic field. The remedy for this state of affairs depends more upon the general attitude of the Department rather than any specific measures of reorganization. We shall do whatever is possible to encourage students in the feeling that their main function here is to acquire the maturity that is essential for scholarship rather than to accumulate a collection of pieces of isolated information.

III. Research

Professors Mason, Leontief, Black, Galbraith and Dunlop are all conducting organized research projects within the Department. Apart from their substantive value, these projects give a considerable number of graduate students an opportunity to take part in organized research activity. I believe these projects have an important part to play in the future of the Department as a whole rather than as special interests of individual members. However, I do not share the view that most of our intellectual activities should be directed towards organized research. There is danger that we may become a research bureaucracy and that the merits of individual scholarship may achieve less recognition than they deserve. While the research project is invaluable in training the students in specialized activity, it does little to cultivate the maturity that should be one of the most important products of our graduate training.

IV. The Staff of the Department

Professor Schumpeter’s death has meant a loss to the Department that cannot be covered by any individual that we now have on the staff or could get from the outside. The only way to make up for his absence is for the present members of the faculty to direct part of their attention to the aspects of economic thought in which Schumpeter was particularly interested. This has in part been done. I think it is true to say that since Schumpeter’s death his own work has received more attention in Harvard classrooms than it received while he was alive.

The only new additions to the to the staff at the professorial level in 1949-50 were assistant professors Orcutt and Sawyer. Orcutt is giving a course at the graduate level and the undergraduate level on empirical economies in which he stresses the quantitative aspects of economic theory. He is also a first-class statistician. Since the resignation of Professor Crum we have had only one professional statistician in the Department, and it seems highly desirable to have at least two. Sawyer will add considerable strength to the Department’s work in economic history although he will spend half of his time in the General Education program.

VI. [sic] Distinctions

Members of the Department received the following distinctions:

Professor Edward Chamberlin — An honorary degree (Dr.) awarded by the Universita Catholica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy. December 1949.

Professor Sumner Slichter — President, Industrial Relations Research Association.

Professor Gottfried Haberler — President, International Economic Association for 1950 (held by Professor Schumpeter at the time of his death).

I am attaching a bibliography of the writings of the members of the Department. [not included in this folder]

Sincerely yours,
Arthur Smithies

Source: Harvard University Archives. Department of Economics, Correspondence and Papers (UAV 349.11), Box 2, Folder “Departmental Annual Reports to the Dean 1948-54”.

Images Source: Burbank (left) from the Harvard Class Album 1946, Smithies (right) from the Harvard Class Album 1952.

Categories
Economists Gender Radcliffe Undergraduate

Radcliffe. Paul Sweezy’s blue eyes and a summary of economics courses taken by the Class of 1942.

Paul Sweezy by many accounts was a Paul Newman of academic economics. This is implicitly confirmed in the following text, written by one of his fans for the Radcliffe Class of 1942 Yearbook summarizing Harvard economics courses offered to Radcliffe women in the early years of WWII.

_______________________

Economics. Ec. A—Or is the business cycle necessary? Wages, interest, profit, rent—where that last five dollars went. If value equals distribution, why do we pay so much tuition?—Money and Banking, or How Professor Harris converts the American business man to Keynes.—Corporations. Dull? How could it be, considering its Social Significance, and Dr. Sweezy’s blue eyes.—Economic Theory—watch ring-master Chamberlin corral the whole economic system into ceteris paribus.—Ec. 18. We have to strike a defense note in these parlous times.—Did we say strike? Ec. 81, Labor Problems, led this year by Messrs. Healy and Hogan.

Source (Text and Image): Radcliffe College Yearbook, Class of 1942, p. 43.

Categories
Economics Programs Harvard

Harvard. Meeting of the Visiting Committee with the Economics Department. January 1944

 

Maybe attending to the routine business of the Harvard economics department was seen as a welcome respite amidst the Sturm und Drang of the Second World War. Maybe the consensus was simply shared that the transistory shock of the war would soon be over and it was time to worry again about the core missions of Harvard and its economics department. In any event, the following report outlines a “Research Program for the Department of Economics” presented to the visiting committee by the chair of the department’s Committee on Research Program, Professor John D. Black. 

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Visiting Committee Reports available at Economics in the Rear-view Mirror

Visiting Committee Report 1915

Visiting Committee Report 1974

____________________________

Meeting of the Visiting Committee of the Department of Economics with the Department, on Monday, January 10, 1944.

The Visiting Committee of the Department of Economics met with the Department at seven o’clock on Monday, January 10, 1944, at the Harvard Club in Boston. There were present for the Visiting Committee: Roger N. Baldwin, Albert F. Bigelow, Paul M. Herzog, George Rublee (chairman), Charles E. Spencer, and Orrin G. Wood. For the Department: John D. Black, H. H. Burbank, W. L. Crum, John T. Dunlop, Edwin Frickey, Seymour E. Harris, Arthur E. Monroe, Wassily Leontief, Abbott P. Usher, John H. Williams, and Edwin B. Wilson. Mr. Rublee presided.

 

Mr. Rublee called on Professor Burbank, the chairman of the Department of Economics, to make an opening statement.

Professor Burbank said that in previous years we had at these dinners talked about our teaching difficulties, especially those connected with the junior staff. Last year we discussed Professor Slichter’s experiment with the labor-union representatives. This year the Department had suggested to Mr. Rublee that we consider our most pressing problem of the present, as well as the immediate and long-run future. Fundamentally, this problem is concerned with the Department’s research. We must have a vigorous and effective program of research if we are to have a dominant Department of Economic in the University or, indeed, if the University itself is to maintain its high standing. The Department of Economics has recently appointed a Committee on Research Program. Professor Black is the chairman of this committee.

Professor Black then presented the following report:

RESEARCH PROGRAM FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS

A department of economics in a large university has three functions to perform:

  1. To teach and train students,
  2. To contribute to an understanding of the current problems of private enterprise and public affairs,
  3. To help develop the science of economics.

In a small college a good job of teaching is about all that can be expected of a department of economics. In a great university the second and third functions are as important as the first.

Fortunately those three functions not only need not interfere with each other, but in a large university can be performed in such a way that each strengthens the other. This does not mean that all can be performed in the same time, but rather that each is better done if the other two are also being strongly carried. As a matter of fact, however, much time and energy is saved if all three are combined. Thus what is learned from the study of current problems can be used very effectively in the classroom and at the same time furnishes needed and valuable inductive material for the development of economic science. One’s teaching, in turn, especially one’s graduate instruction, is a constant source of ideas and suggestions to be developed in research. Only, therefore, if the staff of a department of economics is large enough and well enough financed so that it can work along all three of these lines, is it able to yield a large return upon the investment in it. Only if thus set up and thus functioning is it able to realize the possible economies of combination of these functions.

The Department of Economics of Harvard University has been performing on all of these fronts ever since it was organized. But in the period while the members of this committee have been associated with it, it has by no means measured up to its opportunities on the last two of them, and what is more important, unless some action is taken in the near future, it will miss out still more on its opportunities after the war. It will not only do less well the job it has been trying to do, for reasons to be indicated presently, but also will not reach out and encompass the larger needs of the years ahead. Needless to state, society and the nation are going to be faced with major tasks of adjustment in the years just ahead and over the next decade or two and likewise breath-taking possibilities for social advancement. So important is the role of economies in these developments that if the Department of Economies of Harvard University does not contribute its part to them, this alone will almost be enough to shrink Harvard University in toto into a second- rate institution. This, therefore, is a moment for stock-taking and laying out plans.

It is not part of the assignment of this committee to consider the teaching function of the Department. But some reference must be made to it for the reasons just given. the present course offerings and methods of instruction are not well fitted to the present and the impending future. The function of teaching in a field like ours is primarily to train students to apply economics, and the methods of economic analysis, to the situations which confront them after they leave college. For Harvard undergraduates, most of these situations are situations in private enterprise, although having important public relations. A limited proportion are assignments in the public service itself. The program of teaching needs to be organized in anticipation of the kinds of jobs, mostly private, that the graduates of Harvard University get to do. The graduate teaching program needs to envisage e wide range of working assignments, a large fraction of them in the public service. Training teachers of economics is only one of the functions of graduate teaching. Because the teaching is not organized as needed, there are some large gaps in the present program, and these gaps, it will appear presently, coincide with gaps in the research activities of the department.

The other two functions, contributing directly to an understanding of current situations, and developing economic science, are orginarily considered as research. There is considerably more to the first of these than just research, but since good research is basic to it, we will here consider them both as research and treat them under one head from this point on.

The deficiencies in the research activities of the Department of Economics, considered especially from the standpoint of the postwar can be designated under the following heads:

  1. Not enough research is being done
  2. There are gaps in it
  3. Some of it is not of enough significance.

The reasons for these deficiencies are as follows:

  1. Lack of resources to carry on the needed volume of research.
  2. This includes resources in research personnel as well as in the expenses of clerical assistants, field study, publication, and the like.
  3. Inadequate staff, or none at all, in some important fields.
  4. Very little in the way of leadership. Staff not organized in such a way as to promote research.

Let us now consider briefly these four reasons. When an economist does not have financial resources with which to do significant research, he may put in his spare energy on library work on the writings of his predecessors, the Congressional Record, and the like. For this he needs only someone to type his manuscript. If in addition, he has a little money to hire a computer, he may go to work on the census records and other official statistics. Those two descriptions about cover all the research now being done by the Harvard Department of Economics as such.

Lacking funds for anything more, two developments have followed. First, a goodly number of the staff members have taken on research or related assignments with other agencies. Merely to list these agencies tells the story. (We are purposely omitting the wartime agencies), the Treasury Department, the State Department, the Department of Agriculture, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Federal Reserve Board, the National Resources Planning Board, the Food and Nutrition Board, the Bureau of Economic Research, the League of Nations, the Twentieth Century Fund, the National Planning Association, the National Industrial Conference Board, etc. While most of those assignments are important, to have as many of them disorganizes the research and teaching of the Department. Also the Department as such does not get adequate recognition for work done under other auspices. Finally, there is great need for having research done that is largely independent of government agencies. This point cannot be too strongly emphasized.

The second development has been that several members of the Department have started projects that they have not been able to complete thus far. They have learned by sad experience that they cannot swing ambitious projects without the help of trained younger associates who can direct the detail of the analysis and help with the writing. As a result, a number of important projects are now left suspended.

If the Department is to have a vigorous research program of its own, there must be funds with which to employ a dozen or two of these younger research associates, as well as funds for computers, clerical help, drafting, travel and field study.

The Committee is also disposed to think that a clearer recognition should be given to research duties in the total program of the Department. It would suggest that consideration be given to a plan which would differentiate teaching loads according to research carried. Staff members who do very little research, because not inclined that way, or having small capacity for it, would handle more classes under such a plan.

The nature of the gaps in the present program may be judged from a following incomplete survey of fields of research and teaching and the needs of each.

  1. Money and credit. Staff ample, but research associates, clerical and other help much needed. High time that a research showing be made.
  2. Business cycles. Staff ample. Funds to continue the program that was under way before the war.
  3. International economic relationship. Staff probably not entirely adequate and great need of developing a well-rounded research program suited to the postwar world. This program should include work on Inter-American relationships, development of resources of Latin America, international food supply and distribution and related population problems. Research associates and other financial help.
  4. Public finance. Staff ample. Research associates and other help needed.
  5. Economic history. A teaching as well as research associate needed. One professor now working alone in the field.
  6. Labor and industrial relations. The principle problem is to develop a workable program for using the research funds now available.
  7. Agriculture. A teaching associate needed, and probably two research associates with necessary supplementary funds.
  8. Commodity distribution. Needs complete staffing. An undergraduate and a graduate course are now being given on a makeshift basis. No research under way.
  9. Production economics. Courses now bracketed. Needs complete staffing.
  10. Forestry economies. A slight beginning has been made on a program in this field in collaboration with the Harvard Forest. An opportunity for an important contribution here. Needs a man to develop teaching and research with such financial support as required.
  11. Concerning the several other present fields of teaching and research in the Department, no statement is being made at this time.

The present research funds available for the Department are:

  1. A share with three other departments in the remnants of grant that will expire in June 1946. (About $40,000 left, most of which must be reserved for publication expenses.)
  2. Remnants of three other small grants, totaling about $6000, for special projects.
  3. The Wertheim fund, yielding about $3000 a year, for research in industrial relations, to be shared with other divisions of the University.

The committee suggests as a method of approach to the situation outlined that the Department set up a committee to draft a research program for the Department, and another one to develop a procedure for securing the necessary support for the program.

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Professor Black added that in the natural sciences the idea of large laboratories is well established. In Economics also we need extensive laboratories and personnel therefor. Further, we need funds for field workers and for traveling expenses.

Mr. Bigelow asked whether there were any project being worked on in the School of Public Administration which could be coordinated with the research of the Economics Department. Professor Black answered that the idea of combining has already been carried as far as possible. The School of Public Administration funds are sufficient only to take care of the assembling of materials and other routine connected with the seminars.

Mr. Baldwin asked what the Department did with its research funds in the past when such funds were available. Professor Black answered that we made small grants to individual professors to help them finish projects in which they were engaged. These grants covered such activities as preliminary research, computing, and typing, but in general not much was available for field work or for traveling. Some eight or ten books have been published as a result of these projects. The publication of these books, as well as the research behind them, depended largely on research grants. Our research funds are now almost exhausted; we have very little money available for the future.

Professor Usher pointed out that in these earlier grants the modes and procedures were laid down by the donors. The Department did not have a free hand in organizing and planning research.

Mr. Baldwin asked whether the Economics Department today has a claim for research funds superior to that of other departments. Professor Burbank urged that a very strong case can be made out for such a position.

Professor Wilson observed that in days gone by great emphasis was laid on “inter-disciplinary” research. A second-rate “interdisciplinary” project would be given preference over a first-rate piece of restricted research. Professor Wilson further remarked that the research programs of the natural sciences were well set up thirty or forty years ago. Our social sciences, on the other hand, were for a long time treated as mere teaching departments. The movement away from this stand received a great impetus from an article by the late Professor Charles J. Bullock, in the Harvard Graduates’ Magazine for June 1915. This article called attention to the need of more generous and systematic provision for economic research. Our research program for Economics needs to be extended to a scale comparable with that of the natural sciences—unless, indeed, the United States government is to handle all the economic research in this country!

There was some discussion regarding the relation of university research in Economics to governmental research. Professor Usher pointed out that university research can be the basis for developing techniques of analysis which government bureaus can later put into “mass production.” Mr. Bigelow suggested that the development of techniques is more difficult in the social sciences than in the natural sciences. Professor Leontief predicted that the Economies Department’s research will set the direction for larger-scale governmental or “foundation” research, and emphasized that independent research, especially in its earlier stages, can never be reproduced in the “rough and tumble” conditions of governmental work. Dean Williams supported this view: a situation has been developing for some time—not just in connection with the War emergency—in which men are pulled out of university work to become mere administrators, to “run” projects; furthermore, working under governmental supervision may mean a certain loss of independence of thought, for consciously or unconsciously a men may be affected by considerations of “official policy.” Dr. Dunlop declared that you simply cannot do fundamental research under governmental auspices, there are always too many pressing current problems.

Mr. Herzog urged that the Department’s next step is to present cogent arguments to support its contentions regarding research needs. In this connection, it will be quite important to show people what contributions the Department has made in the past with the research grants allotted to it—what, for example, has resulted for practical use of the Government. Professor Burbank responded that we might take as an example the history of the statistical work on the Balance of International Payments. At the end of the last war the government and business men were vitally interested in this subject. Dean Williams was a pioneer in the field. Dean Williams briefly outlined the record. He began with an examination of the balance of payments for Argentina. Then, under the auspices of the Harvard Economics Society he, together with Professor Bullock and Mr. Tucker, made and presented a historical study of the Balance of Payments of the United States from 1789 to 1920. He kept this study up to date for several years and then turned it over to the Department of Commerce, working with them for a transition period of one year. The Department of Commerce has subsequently carried on the study currently.

As a suggestion regarding further possibilities of this sort, Professor Burbank referred to the problems connected with the incidence of taxation; these are most certainly current issues of the utmost importance. The country needs evidence for the formulation of governmental policy. We have in the Department a young man of high ability who has made a start on the investigation of these problems. We have no funds to help him, not even money for clerical and mechanical assistance.

Professor Burbank indicated that the Department would work a report along the lines of Mr. Herzog’s suggestion.

Mr. Wood urged that the Department visualize its projects and lay them out fully, with an indication of minimum and maximum amounts of money needed. Very little will be gained by talking in generalizations; the program must be concrete. Incidentally, with the Federal tax situation as it is, the present is a propitious time to obtain money for research—with reference both to individuals and to corporations.

Mr. Rublee raised question as to the exact significance of the title “Research Associate.” Professor Black answered that we have something in mind beyond a mere statistical clerk. Between the man in charge of a project and those doing the mechanical work, we need trained young economists who can assume the burden of direct supervision and also can help in writing up the results. Other Research Associates are needed to do traveling and field work. Professor Leontief suggested that the appointment of Research Associates is important for still another reason. Many of the young men thus appointed will become leaders in the economic developments of the future. The experience gained on our projects will be extremely valuable to them.

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Mr. Rublee asked Dr. Dunlop to say a few words about the progress of the trade-union experiment which was described by Professor Slichter in this meeting last year. Dr. Dunlop said that this year we have gone ahead with the program, although of necessity on a reduced scale because of man power shortage in the various unions. We have six union representatives who, on the whole, are superior to the group we had last year. We have continued the development of techniques of instruction and we have widened our range of contacts with the unions. The unions are supporting the program and we are establishing new connections with certain important unions. In spite of the fact that the teaching staff has been somewhat depleted and we have had to furnish instruction on the basis of special arrangements, we feel that the year has been decidedly profitable and worth while, both for the union representatives and for us.

Mr. Herzog urged that by all means the work should continue, even though it had to be on a reduced scale. It is much easier to keep on with a going concern than to start afresh. He confirmed Dr. Dunlop’s impressions as to the high quality of the union personnel. He also reported the sincere testimony of a leading member of the labor-union group that the work at Harvard was felt to be highly worth while—to be a vital and crucial experience.

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The meeting closed with general expressions of appreciation for Mr. Rublee’s work as chairman of the visiting Committee during the past few years and of the deep indebtedness which the Department feels to him for this work.

 

Source: Harvard University Archives. Department of Economics, Correspondence and Papers 1930-1961 (UAV 349.11). Box 25. Folder: “Visiting Committee Correspondence, 1943-45.”

Image Source: Cropped image of  John D. Black (1938). Harvard Library, Digital Collections.