The first required course in economic theory in a graduate program is intended (to mix metaphors) to get students on the same page and up to speed with core theory. I have posted earlier Chicago material for Jacob Viner, Milton Friedman [ (1946), (1947) and (1948)], and Lloyd Metzler. While this posting moves us well into the 1950s and out my historian’s comfort zone (i.e. into my own lifetime), for younger followers of Economics in the Rear-view Mirror 1956 probably seems ancient enough to be included here. Besides which, it is never in bad taste to extend a time series by adding an additional observation. It is interesting to note that Alfred Marshall has survived at least this long on the Chicago required reading list for economic theory.
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Economics 300A
Autumn 1956
Reading Assignments by G. Becker
NOTES:
1) A knowledge of the material in George Stigler, A Theory of Price or in Kenneth Boulding, Economic Analysis, is a prerequisite.
2) Readings marked with an asterisk (*) are recommended, not required.
I. INTRODUCTION
Friedman, M., Lecture Notes, pp. 1-16.
Knight, F. H., The Economic Organization, pp. 1-37.
Friedman, Milton, “The New Methodology of Positive Economics,” in Essays in Positive Economics.
*Hayek, F. A., “The Use of Knowledge in Society,” American Economic Review, September 1945, reprinted in Individualism and Economic Order.
*Keynes, J. N., The Scope and Method of Political Economy, pp. 1-83.
II. DEMAND ANALYSIS
Marshall, A., Principles of Economics, Book III, chs. 2-4; Book V, chs. 1-2.
Friedman, M., Notes, pp. 16-68.
Friedman, M., “The Marshallian Demand Curve,” Journal of Political Economy, December 1949, reprinted in Essays in Positive Economics.
Hicks, J. R., Value and Capital, Part I.
*Hicks, J. R., A Revision of Demand Theory.
*Slutsky, E., “On the Theory of the Budget of the Consumer,” Readings in Price Theory.
Knight, F. H., Risk, Uncertainty and Profit, ch. 3.
Schultz, H., The Meaning of Statistical Demand Curves, pp. 1-10.
Working, E. J., “What do Statistical ‘Demand Curves’ Show?”, reprinted in Readings in Price Theory.
Wold, H., Demand Analysis, ch. 1.
*Stigler, G.J., “The Early History of Empirical Studies of Consumer Behavior,” Journal of Political Economy, April 1954.
Friedman, M., Notes, pp. 69-75.
*Friedman, M., Notes, pp. 69-75.
*Friedman, M., and Savage, L. J., “The Utility Analysis of Choices Involving Risk,” reprinted in Readings in Price Theory.
Friedman, M., “The Expected Utility Hypothesis and the Measurability of Utility,” Journal of Political Economy, December 1952, pp. 463-474.
*Alchian, A., “The Meaning of Utility Measurement,” American Economic Review, March 1953, pp. 28-50.
Friedman, M., “Choice, Chance, and the Personal Distribution of Income,” Journal of Political Economy, August 1953, pp. 277-290.
III. SUPPLY OF PRODUCTS
Friedman, M., Notes, pp. 75-132.
Marshall, A., Book V, chs. 3, 4, 5, 12, Appendix H.
*Viner, J., “Cost Curves and Supply Curves,” reprinted in Readings in Price Theory.
*Robinson, J., Economics of Overhead Costs, ch. 9.
Robinson, J., “Rising Supply Price,” in Readings in Price Theory.
Apel, H., “Marginal Cost Constancy and Its Implications,” American Economic Review, December 1948, pp. 870-885.
*Coase, R. H., “The Nature of the Firm,” in Readings in Price Theory.
Chamberlin, E., The Theory of Monopolistic Competition, chs. 3, 4, 5.
Stigler, G. J., “Monopolistic Competition in Retrospect,” in Five Lectures on Economic Problems.
*Triffin, R., Monopolistic Competition and General Equilibrium Theory, esp. Part II.
Harberger, A. C., “Monopoly and Resource Allocation,” Proceedings of the American Economic Review (May 1954).
Stigler, G. J., “Competition in the United States,” in Five Lectures on Economic Problems.
Stigler, G. J., “The Statistics of Monopoly and Merger,” Journal of Political Economy, February 1956.
Stigler, G. J., “The Kinky Oligopoly Demand Curve and Rigid Prices,” in Readings in Price Theory.
*Robinson, E.A.G., Monopoly.
*Robinson, E.A.G., The Structure of Competitive Industry.
*Plant, A., “The Economic Theory Concerning Patents for Inventions,” Economica, February 1934.
Source: Hoover Institution Archives, Milton Friedman Papers, Box 77, Folder 1 “University of Chicago Econ 300A & B”.
Image Source: Photo credited to Joe Sterbenc/Becker Friedman Institute published on-line with the story “University mourns Gary Becker,” The Chicago Maroon May 6, 2014.