Author: Irwin Collier

Categories
Courses Economists Harvard Syllabus

Harvard Economics. Economics 101. Econ Theory. Chamberlin, 1938-9

Since first posting this course syllabus I have found a copy of the examination questions for the final exam given at the end of the second term in June 1939.

______________________

Welcome to my blog, Economics in the Rear-View Mirror. If you find this posting interesting, here is the list of “artifacts” from the history of economics I have already assembled for you to sample or click on the search icon in the upper right to explore by name, university, or category. You can subscribe to my blog below.  There is also an opportunity to comment below….

______________________

[Economic Theory. Instructor: Edward Hastings Chamberlin]

Economics 101

1938-9

First Semester

I.     Mill – Principles, Book II, chapter 4; Book III, chapters 1, 2.

Chamberlin – Monopolistic Competition, chapters 1, 2.

Mill – Principles, Book III, chapters 3, 5, 6.

Marshall – Principles, pp. 348-50; p. 806 note.

Mill – Principles, Book III, chapter 4.

Suggested Reading:

Introduction to the Ashley ed. of Mill, or

Mill’s Autobiography

Ricardo – Political Economy (Gonner edition), chapter 1.

II.   Boehm-Bawerk – Positive Theory of Capital, Books III, IV.

Marshall – Principles, Appendix I.

Davenport – Economics of Enterprise, chapter 6.

Suggested Reading:

Jevons – Theory of Political Economy, chapters 3, 4.

III.  Marshall – Principles, Book V, chapters 1-5; Book IV, chapter 13; Book V, chapters 8, 9, 10, 12; Appendix H.

Taussig, F. W., “Price Fixing as Seen by a Price Fixer”, Q.J.E., Vol. 33, p. 205.

Knight, F. H. – “Cost of Production and Price over Long and Short Periods”, Journal of Political Economy, Vol. 29, p. 304 (1921). (Reprinted in Knight, The Ethics of Competition and Other Essays, Chapter 8).

Suggested Reading: Additional reading in Marshall.

Keynes – “Alfred Marshall” – Economic Journal, September 1924. (Also in Keynes, Essays in Biography.)

IV.  Chamberlin – Monopolistic Competition, chapter 3.

Abramovitz – “Monopolistic Selling in a Changing Economy”, Q.J.E., Vol. 52, p. 191 (1938).

Suggested Reading:

Zeuthen – Problems of Monopoly, chapter 2.

Monopolistic Competition, Appendix A.

V.    Robinson – Imperfect Competition, Introduction, and chapters 1,2,3.

Monopolistic Competition, chapters 4, 5; Appendices D, E.

Chamberlin – “Monopolistic or Imperfect Competition?”, Q.J.E., August, 1937.

Sweezy, P.M. – “On the Definition of Monopoly”, Q.J.E., Vol. 51, p. 362 (1937)

Cassels, J.M. – “Excess Capacity and Monopolistic Competition”, Q.J.E., Vol. 51, p. 426. (1937)

Suggested Reading:

Kaldor – “Professor Chamberlin on Monopolistic and Imperfect Competition”, Q.J.E., May, 1938: and Reply.

Robinson – Imperfect Competition, chapters 4,5,6, 7.

VI.  Viner – “Cost Curves and Supply Curves”, Zeitschrift für Nationalökonomie, 1931.

Monopolistic Competition, Appendix B.

Suggested Reading:

Sraffa, P., “The Laws of Returns under Competitive Conditions”, Economic Journal, Vol. 36, p. 535 (1926).

VII. Monopolistic Competition, chapters 6,7.

Braithwaite, Dorothea – “The Economic Effects of Advertisement”, Economic Journal, Vol. 38, p. 16 (1928). (Reprinted as Chapter VII in Braithwaite and Dobbs, The Distribution of Consumable Goods).

Monopolistic Competition, Appendix C.

Alsberg, C.L. – “Economic Aspects of Adulteration and Imitation”, Q.J.E., Vol. 46, p. 1 (1931).

Suggested Reading:

Hotelling, H. “Stability in Competition”, Economic Journal, Vol. 39, p. 41 (1929)

Lerner, A. P. and Singer, H.W. – “Some Notes on Duopoly and Spatial Competition”, Journal of Political Economy, Vol. 45, p. 145 (1937)

Burns, A.R. – The Decline of Competition, chapter VIII, “Non-Price Competition”.

___________________________

Economics 101

1938-9

Second Semester

I.    Discrimination:

Pigou – Economics of Welfare, Part II. Chapter on Discriminating Monopoly.

Robinson, J. – Imperfect Competition, Chapters 15, 16.

Suggested: Pigou – Chapter on the Special Problem of Railway Rates

Clark, J.M. – Overhead Costs, Chapter 20.

II.   Distribution – General:

Marshall – Principles, Book VI, Chapters 1-5.

Knight – Risk, Uncertainty and Profits, Chapter 4.

Chamberlin – Monopolistic Competition, Chapter 8.

Suggested Reading: Garver & Hansen – Principles, Chapter 5.

Kahn – “Some Notes on Ideal Output” (last half) Economic Journal.

III. Wages:

Hicks – Theory of Wages, Chapters 1-7; 9; 10, section 1; 11, section 5.

Taussig – Principles, Chapter 47.

Suggested Reading: Robertson –Economic Fragments, Chapter on “Wage Grumbles.”

Machlup – “The Common Sense of Elasticity of Substitution,” Review of Economic Studies, Vol. II, Page 202.

Cairnes – Leading Principles, Chapter 3.

IV.  Interest:

Böhm – Bawerk – Positive Theory, Book I, chapter 2; Book II; Book V; Book VI, chapters 5,6,7; Book VII, chapters 1,2,3.

Marshall – Principles, Book IV, chapter 7; Book VI, chapter 1, sections 8, 9, 10, chapter 2, section 4, chapter 6.

Wicksell – Lectures, Vol. I, pages 144-171,185-195, 207-218.

Clark, J. B. – Distribution of Wealth, chapters 9, 20.

Schumpeter – Theory of Economic Development, chapters 1 – 5.

V.    Rent:

Ricardo – Chapter 2.

Marshall – Book V, chapters 8, 9,10,11.

Robinson – Imperfect Competition, chapters 8, 9.

VI.   Profits:

Marshall – Book VI, chapter 5, section 7; chapters 7, 8.

Taussig – Principles, Vol. II, chapter 50, section 1.

Henderson –Supply & Demand, chapter 7.

Chamberlin – Monopolistic Competition, chapter 5, section 6; chapter 7, section 6; Appendices D, E.

Schumpeter – (see under Interest)

Berle & Means – The Modern Corporation, Book IV.

Gordon, R.A. – “Enterprise, Profits and the Modern Corporation,” in “Explorations in Economics,” p. 306.

Knight – The Ethics of Competition, Essay No. 11: “Economic Theory and Nationalism.”

___________________________

Source:  Harvard University Archives

HUC 8522.2.1

Box 2 of 10

Syllabi, course outlines and

Reading lists in Economics,

1895-2003

Folder: Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in Economics, 1938-39

Categories
Harvard

E.B. Wilson Lecture USDA Graduate School 1930

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
GRADUATE SCHOOL
SPECIAL LECTURES ON ECONOMICS
DELIVERED BEFORE THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
FEBRUARY – MARCH 1930
WASHINGTON, D. C.
1930

 

Contents: The following lectures were delivered before the students of the Graduate School in February and March 1930, and are issued in this form for present and former students of the school.

 

Scientific Method in Economic Research                                                                1

by Dr. E. B. Wilson, President, Social Science Research Council.

o[p. 1]

SCIENTIFIC -METHOD IN ECONOMIC RESEARCH

By Dr. E. B. Wilson, President, Social Science Research Council.

It is a real embarrassment to me to come here announced to speak upon a topic, Economic Research, of which I have never known much, and today know less than I have at times in the past. The awkwardness is not alleviated by my appreciation of the fact that there are several in the audience who could talk about the subject better than I, and with that increased assurance and authority which comes of a wider experience and greater personal accomplishment in the field. Furthermore, the title of my lecture contains the cryptic words “Scientific Method” which slide smoothly from the tongues of many persons dealing with relatively inchoate research fields, but are apt to stick in the crop of those whose major experience is in well developed branches of science. I could, for instance, hardly imagine a group at the Bureau of Standards asking me or any other for a lecture on scientific method in physical research. Indeed, I should not be astonished to hear physicists say there was no such thing as scientific method, that there was an infinite variety of techniques, theoretical and experimental, available to the physicist from which each individual must select for a particular problem those which may be applicable to that problem, but that as to scientific method in general there was little which could be stated other than something very general with respect to the scientific attitude of mind, patient and unbiassed searching for facts, earnestness in seeking for corroboration by others wherever personal bias may have influenced the array of facts or the conclusions drawn from them, and a persistent effort to improve techniques so that facts may become more objective and precise. There would probably be some who boldly would affirm that method was for the other fellow and not for. themselves, meaning by this that each individual investigator, and especially those of any real genius, pursued his own studies without conscious dominance by any notion of scientific method until he came to the somewhat unwelcome task of writing up his work for communication to others, when perforce he must consider what method of presentation would most effectively convey his findings and their justification or validity to that particular group of fellow scientists whose good opinion he would most value.

I might state as a generalization that the interest in scientific method on the part of investigators in any scientific field varies inversely as their interest in that field of science. But this statement is much too striking to be scientific; in the first place there are always exceptions and it would have to be understood as applying on the average, and in the second place there is no way known to me to evaluate quantitatively either the interest in method or the interest in the field which would justify so precise a statement as that the one interest varied inversely as the other.

I do not, however, propose entirely to cheat you of all discussion of the topic of my lecture. I will enumerate some methods.

[p. 2]

(l) The method of definition. The choice of a suitable definition if often the touchstone of scientific advance. Scientifically definitions need not be explicit, they may be implicit; they need not be quantitative, they may be first qualitative. There are numerous illustrations which could be given from the economic field, but we may all get forward faster if we take an example from physics. Let us define force. And let us go back to Newton. In his first law of motion he stated that a body at rest remained at rest and a body in notion remained in motion in a straight line at uniform velocity unless acted on by some force. Now this cleared the way. It eliminated once for all the notion that bodies stopped of themselves – they had to be stopped or started, accelerated or decelerated by applied force. There is here a qualitative and implicit notion of force which can furnish a sound basis for the quantitative definition of force as equal (or proportional) to the rate of change of motion. As a matter of fact a single definition cannot well exist by itself, it can only be part of a system of definitions – force, mass and acceleration are tied together. At any particular time in the advance of a science some new term may seem to be defined absolutely alone and the complex of definitions to which it belongs may not be perceived because this complex lies in the general background of our accepted thinking whereas the newly defined element emerges.

From such experience as I have in teaching and in research, particularly in emergent fields, I should say that most pupils and colleagues were so thoroughly oblivious to the necessity for and significance of definitions in science as to be almost impatient of them. In this they are far from scientific. Science is a congeries of definitions. We are seeking agreement in science and one of the most effective ways of seeking it is by agreement on the meaning of our words. Take such words as “wealth”, “income”, and others which are basic in economic research. How can one expect agreement between two persons who are tacitly using different though perhaps unformulated definitions for these or similar words? Of course, I do not wish to over-emphasize the necessity for precision in definitions – there is no such thing as absolute precision apart from the construction of complete logical systems such as mathematicians have constructed for arithmetic, geometry and algebra of several types. We have at any stage of science to deal with a relative precision of definition. And it may not be amiss for me to point out that the absolute precision of the completely defined mathematical discipline exists only for that intellectual discipline and breaks down immediately when that system of thought is applied to nature, by virtue of the fact that there do not exist in nature any objects precisely corresponding to the exact intellectual concepts precisely defined.

Let us consider the question of “level”, “rolling”, or “hilly” agricultural land. It would doubtless be possible to construct mathematical definitions of level, rolling, and hilly in such form that a surveyor equipped with the proper instruments could classify land under these three categories with great scientific precision, by which we mean that specifications for the classification could be so drawn as to make certain that different surveyors equipped with similar instruments would make the same classifications with only the fewest disagreements in certain very doubtful intermediate cases. Such a precise definition with its accompanying exact classification would be costly in time and in money and thus of

[p. 3]

limited practical utility. Very little land could be so classified. On the other hand, it would be possible to set up rough and ready descriptive definitions of level, rolling, and hilly intended to be used for classifications by mere inspection which would be utilizable at comparatively slight expense in money and time. Now different observers would undoubtedly differ considerably in their allotments of parcels of an intermediate character to one or the other of the adjacent categories, and in this allotment there might be bias, so that even on the average the classifications by different observers would have different percentages of the three sorts. The reliability of the method would certainly be less, its utility, even its scientific utility, might be far greater because of its greater feasibility.

The essential element in precision is not so much absolute precision as a sound estimate of what degree of precision has been attained. It is really reliability in the sense of reproducibility or agreement which is the scientific item and if the reliability is sufficient for the purposes in hand and if the conclusions drawn from the work limit themselves to what is justified by the reliability attained, that is all we can really ask. Thus two treatises on economics neither of which explicitly defines wealth or some other term but both of which develop their analysis upon tolerably similar implicit definitions may well not come into actual conflict even though if each pushed its analysis far enough they could hardly fail to come into some conflict resoluble only through rendering the definitions more precise. Much medical work, particularly of the clinical variety, could not proceed at all if a high degree of precision were required. So to define broncho-pneumonia or dementia precox as to result in a high degree of reliability in diagnosis may actually be impossible in the present state of our technique. I do not mean that definitions could not be given but that such definitions would not be those of what should be called broncho-pneumonia or dementia precox – they would be artificial and illusory definitions. What we need at the moment is not such definitions so much as a recognition by scientific clinicians of their need for the concept of reliability, their need to have a feeling for what the true precision is; because it is only upon the basis of such recognition that one is likely fruitfully to improve the definitions. The situation may well be the same in respect to a large number of economic concepts.

(2) The method of mathematical analysis. Beginning rather clearly with Cournot, there has been a great development of mathematical analysis in economics. I do not refer to arithmetically quantitative analysis but to the type of mathematics which is logical and qualitative in the sense in which J. C. Cobb has discriminated between qualitative and quantitative (Econ. Jour. England, March 1928, p. 72). Now, as we were speaking of definitions, it may be well for me to point out that the adjective quantitative is perhaps used in a different sense by some economists from that implied here. Some might consider Pareto’s work almost wholly quantitative because of his insistence on sharply defined concepts and his use of mathematical equations and transformations, including differential equations and integrals, etc. The notion of marginal utility is in a sense quantitative, and so is the concept of the curve of indifference which Pareto was inclined to make basic. Yet this must be said: That his whole treatise goes very little way, and the whole spirit of it is not conceived in the manner to go far toward the determination of the numerical values which should be inserted in the place of the variables in his equations to arrive at a check on the analysis. Indeed, as I conceive it, he was not interested greatly in that sort of check: his interest lay in the logical analysis of the sorts of situations which could arise. In a sense that is qualitative rather than quantitative, and at any rate I want to make it clear that I used qualitative to cover what others might prefer to call quantitative.

Mathematical analysis depends on conventions. If the convention is adopted that the price of a commodity depends on the amount of that commodity one has the system of Walras, and the mathematics is relatively simple. If one allows that the price of each commodity may depend on the amounts of all commodities one has a more complicated convention leading to more complicated analysis. This latter form of analysis is surely so highly involved that one could scarcely carry it on without the mathematical method. If then commodities are really so interlocked that many important economic events can only be understood by taking into consideration the possibilities that arise through the interlocking and would not arise if there were no interlocking, there is no escape from a consideration of the complex situation and no escape from the use of a good deal of mathematical thinking with no small amount of mathematical symbolism. It is perhaps true that many serious students of economics are today being developed without any considerably training in mathematics. Maybe they can so choose their work throughout their life as to avoid problems which require a knowledge of mathematics, and maybe they will learn their mathematics in later life as W. G. Sumner did, according to his personal testimony to me.

I may say that it has been maintained that man’s essential characteristic lies in his effort to cover not space alone but duration of time (Korzybski). It may be that prices do not depend merely on quantities of commodities in existence but on those and quantities that may come into existence. In recent months we have been told that what was important in the price of a stock was what it was going to sell for. Very likely. There is certainly speculative adjustment of prices. If that complex of phenomena which arise from man’s time-binding propensities is of relatively little economic significance, it may be neglected, but if it be of considerable significance, economists will arise to treat it and they will probably be forced to use much more complicated mathematical thinking than Pareto used – there may be integral equations and integro-differential equations. It is not impossible that they cannot even state adequately the essential logical interconnections of the conceptual situation which arises in time-binding economics and cannot formulate the proper conceptual complex without appeal to a type of mathematics so advanced as to make it necessary for some mathematicians themselves to become economists. Indeed, Pareto started as an engineer, I believe a railroad engineer; Irving Fisher as a mathematician, and so more recently Roos. The mathematical method is not yet through in economics; indeed, it may be just beginning, but it is likely largely to remain the work of a small fraction of students of economics.

(3) The statistical method. Although the statistical method is highly valuable in dealing with classifications of data not yet reduced to quantitative form, presumably the chief interest of the economist in

[p. 5]

statistics is quantitative. There is of course no such thing as the statistical method. Statistics is a complex of techniques. Take, for example, the sampling technique, the sampling error, and the question of the fairness of a sample – this whole group of ideas which is of great importance in social studies and in experimental biology may be of little interest to the economist working in some such line as the theory of the business cycle. If we allow an average duration of 40 months, we have in 40 years some twelve cycles. Of what can those twelve be regarded as a sample? Of course they may be regarded as a sample of the universe defined by themselves, which does not get us ahead very far. Indeed 40 years takes us back to 1890, before Bryan, before the U. S. Steel Corporation, before the war, and before the “New Era” of 1929. In many ways the economic situation has so changed that there may be no sense in asking the question as to what universe the sample comes from. Yet how talk of sampling errors without samples or of samples without their appropriate universe? I do not wish to imply that there are not opportunities to use sampling methods in economics; there are many such, but. on the other hand we have many problems where the opportunity is lacking.

Then there is the regression technique. What a regression equation does is to give us the mean value of the dependent variable in terms of assumed values of the independent variables. A regression equation may not be solved for one of the independent variables to get the new regression equation. This is a limitation on the use of regression equations for mathematical analysis. Indeed the mathematical theory of economics assumes that the variables occurring in the equations are like those occurring in thermodynamics or other fields to which analysis is applied in that they have values, not that all the independent variables have values and the dependent variables only a mean value. This is a real difficulty in coordinating the mathematical and the statistical methods so that the latter furnishes concrete and practical illustrations of the theoretical developments of the former. It is a difficulty which must persist so long as inherent variability due to lack of complete control is present. Thus one of the chief techniques of the mathematical economics is that of counting the number of variables and the number of equations to verify that these numbers are equal and that the problem is therefore determinate, whereas statistical procedures are applied in just those cases in which there still remains indetermination, that is, where the number of equations is fewer than the number of variables and it becomes necessary to treat the dependent variable as an assemblage of values and take the mean or median or some other special value as representing the group of undetermined values.

The analysis of time series is a technique which has remained rather specially that of economic statistics. It is employed very slightly in other applications of the statistical method. Time series are treacherous, but I do not see how their treatment can be ignored. Also it is not easy to see how the treatment can be made scientifically satisfactory; in the nature of the case we may have to be content with exploratory methods. Of course we can apply the method of the periodogram and the resolution into trignometric series. Such analyses work well on observations of the magnitudes of some classes of variable stars for which there are presumptively true periodicities in the background of the observed time series. When however the method is applied to meteorological or economic phenomena somewhat bizarre results are often obtained, results which do not always,

[p. 6]

perhaps do not usually, serve as a satisfactory basis either for forecasting the future or for representing the past except for the limited portion of it which has been used in the analysis. Indeed at the present time I should say that the evidence that there are cycles does not justify one in assuming that there are periods in the sense required for sound
periodogram analysis.
One of the chief aids to the advance of scientific knowledge is the existence of artificial or natural repetition in the sequence of phenomena. The extreme regularity of the real motion of the planets and the moon enabled the ancients very considerably to unsnarl the obvious irregularities of the apparent motions and to construct calendars of a high degree of prevision, to forecast eclipses with considerable success, and in general to develop the science of astronomy. The periods involved were not all short compared with human life, but the basic regularity allowed observations to accumulate. In the laboratory we may repeat experiments as often as we please without serious danger that conditions have seriously changed, – indeed the first and basic type of control is repetition. In the economic field the situation is quite different; so far as is yet known we do not have highly regular basic periods nor do we have conditions that may be repeated without serious changes, and we are very much handicapped thereby in scientific advance. It is true that the rapidity of change in conditions varies greatly at different times. The younger generation of economists have seen tremendous apparent changes within their own relatively short lives. It may be that a prolonged period of relative stagnation might help toward the discovery of some economic laws by making it easier to ignore the trees and concentrate on the forest; such a period would however have compensating disadvantages through the temptation to a feeling of security with its inevitable resulting dogmatism.

After all, it is perhaps remarkable not that so little but that so much has been accomplished in selecting from the mixed, complex, and variable economic field some items which have been reduced to method, by definition, by mathematics and by statistics sufficiently to merit the application of the term economic science. Whether the proportion of economic instruction in our universities which can be rated as scientific is today larger than it was a generation ago may be difficult to determine – there is much more economics taught, much more that is descriptive, illusory and unscientific, also much more that is sound and scientific. In the governmental, banking and business activities of our country there is also an increase in the amount of economics in use and very likely an increase in the proportion of scientific economics. The scientific economist may look at the future with caution as to what economic events may occur, but he may look at it also with confidence that the scientific method will continue to conquer new worlds for him as for his scientific confreres in other scientific fields.

Source: United States Department of Agriculture Graduate School. Special Lectures on Economics, Delivered Before the Graduate School February-March 1930, pp. 1-6.

 

Categories
Courses Economists Harvard Syllabus

Harvard Economics 2. Carver, 1900-01

Note: Economics 2, “Economic Theory in the Nineteenth Century,” was taught by Assistant Professor Thomas Nixon Carver in 1900-01, his first year at Harvard

___________________________

Enrollment Economics 2
1900-01

For Undergraduates and Graduates:—

[Economics] 2. Asst. Professor Carver.— Economic Theory in the Nineteenth Century.

Total 45: 6 Graduates, 15 Seniors, 16 Juniors, 5 Sophomores, 3 Other.

Source: Harvard University. Annual Reports of the President and Treasurer of Harvard College, 1900-01, p. 64.

 

___________________________

ECONOMICS 2.

Topics and references for first half-year. Starred references are prescribed.

I. VALUE.

1.    Adam Smith. Wealth of Nations. Book I. Chs. 5, 6, and 7.

2.    Ricardo. Pol. Econ. Chs. 1 and 4.

3.    Mill.          “        “     Book III. Chs. 1-6.

4.    Cairnes     “        “     Part I.

5.     Jevons. Theory of Pol. Econ. Chs. 2-4.

6.     Sidgwick. Pol. Econ. Book II. Ch. 2.

7*.   Wieser. Natural Value.

8.     Böhm-Bawerk. Positive Theory of Capital. Book III.

9.     Clark. Philosophy of Wealth. Ch. 5

10*. Marshall. Principles of Economics. Books III and V.

 

II. DIMINISHING RETURNS.

1.     Senior. Pol. Econ. Pp. 81-86.

2.    Marshall. Principles of Economics. Book III. Ch. 3

3*.  Commons. The Distribution of Wealth. Ch. 3.

 

III. RENT.

1.     Adam Smith. Wealth of Nation. Book I. Ch. 2. Pts. 1-3.

2.    Ricardo. Pol. Econ. Chs. 2 and 3.

3.    Sidgwick. “     “       Book II. Ch. 7.

4.    Walker.     “     “       Pt. IV. Ch. 2.

5.    Walker. Land and its Rent.

6*.  Marshall. Principles of Economics Book VI. Ch. 9.

7*.   Hyde. The Concept of Price Determining Rent. Jour. Pol. Econ. V.6. p. 368.

 

IV. CAPITAL

1.     Adam Smith. Wealth of Nations. Book II.

2.    Senior. Pol. Econ. P. 58-81.

3.    Mill.        “       “       Book I. Ch. 4-6.

4.    Roscher. “      “       Book I. Ch. 1. Secs. 42-45.

5*.  Böhm-Bawerk. Positive Theory of Capital. Books I and II.

6.    Cannan. Production and Distribution. Ch. 4.

7.    Jevons. Theory of Political Economy Ch. 7.

8*.  Fisher. What is Capital? Economic Journal. Vol. VI. P. 509.

9*.  Taussig. Wages and Capital. Ch. 2.

10.  Clark. The Distribution of Wealth.

 

V. INTEREST.

1.     Adam Smith. Wealth of Nations. Book I. Ch. 9.

2.    Ricardo. Pol. Econ. Ch. 6.

3.    Sidgwick.  “     “        Book II. Ch. 6.

4*.  Böhm-Bawerk. Positive Theory of Capital. Books V, VI, and VII.

5.    Marshall. Principles of Economics. Book VI. Ch. 6.

6.    Clark. Distribution of Wealth.

7*.   Abstinence and the Theory of Interest. Quarterly Journal Ec., Vol. VIII. P. 40.

8.    The Theory of Saver’s Rent. Quarterly Journal Ec. Vol. XIII. P. 345.

 

VI. WAGES.

1.     Adam Smith. Wealth of Nations. Book I. Ch. 8.

2.    Ricardo. Pol. Econ. Ch. 5.

3.    Senior.       “       “      Pp. 141-180 and 200-216.

4.    Senior. Lectures. Pp. 1-62.

5.    Mill. Pol. Econ. Book II. Chs. 11, 12, 13, and 14.

6.    Cairnes. Pol. Econ. Part II. Chs. 1 and 2.

7.    Sidgwick.  “       “      Book II. Ch. 8.

8*.  Walker.     “       “      Part IV. Ch. 5.

9*.  Hadley. Economics. Ch. 10.

10*. Taussig. Wages and Capital. (Entire.)

11*.  Wages and the Theory of Value. Quart. Jour. Econ. Vol. VIII, P. 377.

 

VII. PROFITS.

1*.    Walker. Pol. Econ. Part IV. Ch. 4.

2*.    Hobson. The Law of the Three Rents. Quar. Jour. Econ. Vol. V. P. 263.

3.      Clark. Insurance and Business Profits. Quar. Jour. Econ. Vol. VII. P. 40.

4*.    Hawley, F. B. in Quar. Jour. Econ. Vol. VII. P. 459.

5.      MacVane, in           “         “       “,  Vol. II. P. 1.

6.      Haynes, in               “     “       “     Vol. IX, P. 409.

 

 

Clark’s Distribution of Wealth and parts of Böhm-Bawerk’s Positive Theory of Capital will be read during the second half-year.

______________________

Source: Harvard University Archives. HUC 8522.2.1, Box 1 of 10 (Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in Economics, 1895-2003). Folder: 1900-1901.

Categories
Courses Curriculum Harvard Regulations

Harvard Economics. Courses, Degree Requirements. 1911-12.

DIVISION OF HISTORY, GOVERNMENT, AND ECONOMICS
1911-12

FIRST EDITION

OFFICIAL REGISTER OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY
VOLUME VIII             JUNE 15, 1911          NUMBER 23
Published by Harvard University
CAMBRIDGE, MASS.

 

 

[p.2]

DIVISION OF HISTORY, GOVERNMENT, AND ECONOMICS

The Division of History, Government, and Economics is one of the eighteen Divisions of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. It comprises the Departments of History, Government, and Economics. The administrative officers of the Division and its Departments are: —

Professor Charles Homer Haskins, Chairman of the Division of History, Government, and Economics.         23 University Hall.

Asst. Professor William Scott Ferguson, Acting Chairman of the Department of History.         17 Chauncy St.

Professor Albert Rushnell Hart, Chairman of the Department of Government.         5 Quincy Chambers.

Professor Frank William Taussig, Chairman of the Department of Economics.         2 Scott St.

Correspondence concerning the degrees of A.M. and of Ph.D. and the degree of A.B. with Distinction should be addressed to the Chairman of the Division; other correspondence should be addressed to the Chairman of the Department concerned.

[p.3]

 

INSTRUCTORS
(Arranged in each Department on the basis of collegiate seniority)

 

History

Ephraim Emerton, Ph.D., Winn Professor of Ecclesiastical History. 19 Chauncy St.

George Foot Moore, A.M., D.D., LL.D., Frothingham Professor of the History of Religion. 3 Divinity Ave.

Edward Caldwell Moore, Ph.D., D.D., Parkman Professor of Theology. 21 Kirkland St.

Edward Channing, Ph.D., Professor of History. [Absent (hiring the first half of the year 1911-12.] 74 Sparks St.

Albert Bushnell Hart, Ph.D., LL.D., Litt.D., Eaton Professor of the Science of Government. [See below.]

Worthington Chauncey Ford, A.M., Lecturer on Historical Manuscripts. 1154 Boylston St., Boston.

Frederick Jackson Turner, Ph.D., LL.D., Litt.D., Professor of History. 153 Brattle St.

John Winthrop Platner, A.M., D.D., Andover Professor of Ecclesiastical History. 119 Walker St.

Archibald Cary Coolidge, Ph.D., Professor of History, and Director of the University Library. 4 Randolph Hall.

Charles Homer Haskins, Ph.D., Litt.D., Professor of History, Chairman of the Division of History, Government, and Economics, and Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. 15 Prescott Hall.

Robert Matteson Johnston, A.M., Assistant Professor of Modern History. [Absent during the first half of the year 1911-12.] 14 Appian Way.

Edwin Francis Gay, Ph.D., Professor of Economics. [See below.]

Charles Howard McIlwain, A.M., Assistant Professor of History.

William Scott Ferguson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of History, and Acting Chairman of the Department of History. 17 Chauncy St.

Roger Bigelow Merriman, Litt.B., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of History. 175 Brattle St.

[p.4]

Harold William Vazeille Temperley, A.M. (Fellow of Peterhouse, Cambridge), Lecturer on History.

Howard Levi Gray, Ph.D., Instructor in History. 17 Conant Hall.

Robert Howard Lord, Ph.D., Instructor in History. 27 Perkins Hall.

 

Government

Frederic Jesup Stimson, A.B., LL.B., Professor of Comparative
Legislation. [Absent during the year 1911-12.] 709 Exchange Bldg., Boston.

Albert Bushnell Hart, Ph.D., LL.D., Litt.D., Eaton Professor of the Science of Government, and Chairman of the Department of Government. [Absent during the second half of the year 1911-12.] 5 Quincy Chambers.

George Grafton Wilson, Ph.D., Professor of International Law. 38 Quincy St.

Charles Howard McIlwain, A.M., Assistant Professor of History. [See above.]

William Bennett Munro, LL.B., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of
Government. 21 Dana Chambers.

Joseph Warren, A.B., LL.B., Lecturer on Persons. 26 Quincy St.

Henry Aaron Yeomans, A.M., LL.B., Instructor in Government. 74 Trapelo Road, Belmont.

Arthur Norman Holcombe, Ph.D., Instructor in Government. 7 Exeter Park.

 

Economics

Francis Greenwood Peabody, A.M., D.D., LL.D., Plummer Professor of Christian Morals. 13 Kirkland St.

Frank William Taussig, LL.B., Ph.D., Henry Lee Professor of Economics, and Chairman of the Department of Economics. 2 Scott St.

Jeffrey Richardson Brackett, Ph.D., Instructor in Charity, Public Aid and Correction. 41 Marlborough St., Boston.

Charles Jesse Bullock, Ph.D., Professor of Economics. 1 Grays Hall.William Morse Cole, A.M., Assistant Professor of Accounting. 35 Langdon St.

[p.5]

Edwin Francis Gay, Ph.D., Professor of Economics, and Dean of the Graduate School of Business Administration. 58 Highland St.

William Zebina Ripley, Ph.D., Professor of Political Economy. Newton Centre.

Thomas Nixon Carver, Ph.D., LL.D., David A. Wells Professor of Political Economy. 16 Kirkland Road.

Oliver Mitchell Wentworth Sprague, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Banking and Finance. 18 Sumner Road.

Bruce Wyman, A.M., LL.B., Professor of Law. 16 Quincy St.

Ray Madding McConnell, S.T.B., Ph.D., Instructor in Social Ethics. 5 Fuller Place.

William Emmanuel Rappard, Lic.-en-droit, J.D., Instructor in Commercial Organization.

Arthur Stone Dewing, Ph.D., Instructor in Economics. 469 Broadway.

Edmund Ezra Day, Ph.D., Instructor in Economics. 15 Perkins Hall.

James Ford, Ph.D., Instructor in Social Ethics. 35 Walker St.

Robert Franz Foerster, Ph.D., Instructor in Social Ethics. 71 Perkins Hall.

 

ASSISTANTS AND AUSTIN TEACHING FELLOWS

Harry Maxwell Varrell, A.M., in History 1.

Carl Stephenson, A.M., in History 1.

James Grover McDonald, A.M., in History 1.

Frank Erskine Crawford in History 1.

Robert Joseph Kerner, A.M., in History 2.

Samuel Eliot Morison, A.M., in History 13.

Oswald Ryan, in History 13.

Lloyd William Brooke, A.B., in History 17.

Henry Warren Cleary, A.B., in Government 1.

Charles Claflin Davis, S.B., LL.B., in Government 1.

Stuart Cameron McLeod, A.M., in Government 1.

Daniel Badger Priest, A.B., in Government 4.

Eliot Jones, A.M., in Economics 1.

Alfred Burpee Balcom, A.M., in Economics 1.

Joseph Stancliffe Davis, A.B., in Economics 1.

Harold Hitchings Burbank, A.M., in Economics 1.

Julius Klein, Litt.M., in Economics 6a and 6b.

[p.6]

 

HISTORY, GOVERNMENT, AND ECONOMICS

HISTORY

Introductory Courses.

I. Ancient and Oriental History.

II. Mediaeval History.

III. Modern European History.

IV. American History.

V. Economic History.

VI. Church History.

VII. History of Religions.

 

GOVERNMENT

I. Introductory Course.

II. Modern Government.

III. Law and Political Theory.

IV. International Law and Diplomacy.

 

ECONOMICS

Introductory Course.

I. Economic Theory and Method.

II. Economic History.

III. Applied Economics.

IV. Courses Preparing for a Business Career.

V. Sociology.

VI. Courses of Research.

_____________________

SOCIAL ETHICS

Introductory Courses.

Intermediate Courses.

Courses of Research.

_____________________

 

[…]

[p.57]

ECONOMICS

GENERAL STATEMENT

Course 1 is introductory to the other courses. It is intended to give a general survey of the subject for those who take but one course in Economics, and also to prepare for the further study of the subject in advanced courses. It is usually taken with most profit by undergraduates in the second year of their college career. It may not be taken by Freshmen without the consent of the instructor. History 1 or Government 1, or both of these courses, will usually be taken to advantage before Economics 1.

Before taking any of the advanced courses, students are strongly advised to consult the instructors. Courses 2, 4, 9b, 14b, 16, 18, 21, 23, 30 may not be taken without the previous consent of the instructors. It is advised that Course 1 be taken in all cases as a preparation for the advanced courses; but some of them may be taken without this preparation. The conditions of admission to the several courses are stated below in the detailed descriptions.

The courses of research are intended primarily for Graduate Students: but Seniors in Harvard College who have had adequate training in the subject may be admitted.

The attention of students who look forward to a business career, and who have already taken Course 1, is called to Courses 4, 5, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8, 9a, 9b, 11, 16, and 30. In addition, Courses 18 and 21 are offered with a special view to their usefulness in preparing for a business career. Of these courses more is said below, on page 67.

The courses preparatory to business, which are described in the pamphlet of the Graduate School of Business Administration, are open to Graduate Students in Economics.

[p.58]

INTRODUCTORY COURSES

Primarily for Undergraduates

  1. Principles of Economies. Tu., Th., Sat., at 11. Professor Taussig, assisted by Dr. Day, and Messrs. Jones, Balcom, Davis, and Burbank. (XII)

Course 1 gives a general introduction to economic study, and a general view of Economics for those who have not further time to give to the subject. It undertakes a consideration of the principles of production, distribution, exchange, money, banking, international trade, and taxation. The relations of labor and capital, the present organization of industry, and the recent currency legislation of the United States will be treated in outline.

The course will be conducted partly by lectures, partly by oral discussion in sections. A course of reading will be laid down, and weekly written exercises will test the work of students in following systematically and continuously the lectures and the prescribed reading. Course 1 may not be taken by Freshmen without the consent of the instructor.

_____________________

I
ECONOMIC THEORY AND METHOD

For Undergraduates and Graduates

*2. Economic Theory. Mon., Wed., Fri., at 2.30. Professor Taussig. (VII)

Course 2 is intended to acquaint the student with some of the later developments of economic thought, and at the same time to train him in the critical consideration of economic principles and the analysis of economic conditions. The exercises are accordingly conducted mainly by the discussion of selected passages from the leading writers; and in this discussion the students are expected to take an active part. The writings of F. A. Walker, Cairnes, Clark, Marshall, Bohm-Bawerk, and other recent authors, will be taken up. Attention will be given chiefly to the theory of exchange and distribution; but other subjects, such as international trade, and free trade and protection, will also be considered.

 

*4. Statistics. — Theory, Method, and Practice. Tu., Th., at 11. Professor Ripley. (XII)

This course is intended rather as an analysis of methods of research and sources of information than as embodying mere results. A brief

[p.59]

history of statistics will be followed by an account of census and other statistical methods in the United States and abroad, with the scientific use and interpretation of results. The main divisions of vital statistics, relating to birth, marriage, morbidity and mortality, life tables, etc.; the statistics of trade and commerce, such as price indexes, etc.; industrial statistics relating to labor, wages, and employment; statistics of agriculture, manufactures, and transportation, will be then considered in order. Laboratory work, amounting to not less than two hours per week, in the preparation of charts, maps, and diagrams from original material, will be required. Course 4 is open to students who have taken Economics 1.

 

14a1hf. The Distribution of Wealth. Half-course (first half-year). Tu., Th., at 1.30. Professor Carver. (XIV)

This course begins with an analysis of the theory of value. The attempt is then made to formulate a positive theory of distribution helpful in explaining the actual incomes of the various classes of producers. Finally the question of justice in distribution is considered. This course is open only to students who have passed in Economics 1.

 

*14b2hf. Methods of Social Reform. — Socialism, Communism, the Single Tax, etc. Half-course (second half-year). Tu., Th., at 1.30. Professor Carver. (XIV)

A study of those plans of social amelioration which involve either a reorganization of society, or a considerable extension of the functions of the state. The course begins with a critical examination of the theories of the leading socialistic writers, with a view to getting a clear understanding of the reasoning which lies back of socialistic movements, and of the economic conditions which tend to make this reasoning acceptable. A similar study will be made of the Single Tax Movement, of State Socialism and the public ownership of monopolistic enterprises, and of Christian Socialism, so called.

This course is open only to those who have passed satisfactorily in Course 14a.

 

291hf. Socialism and the Social Movement in Europe. Half-course (first half-year). Mon., Wed., Fri., at 10. Dr. Rappard. (III)

A careful examination is made of the theories of the chief social reformers and of the leading socialists, both “Utopian ” and “scientific.” There follows a study of those revolutionary outbursts of the nineteenth century which were primarily economic in their origin and social in their aims. The course concludes with a summary of the positive political and institutional achievements of the social movement of the nineteenth century.

[p.60]

Primarily for Graduates

  1. Methods of Economic Investigation. Hours to be arranged with the instructor. Professor Carver.

Course 13 will examine the methods by which the leading writers of modern times have approached economic questions, and the range which they have given their inquiries; and will consider the advantage of different methods, and the expediency of a wider or narrower field of investigation. Methods of reasoning, methods of investigation, and methods of exposition will be considered separately. Selected passages from the works of a considerable number of writers will be studied, with a view to analyzing the nature and scope of their reasoning.

Course 13 is designed mainly for students who take or have taken Course 2 or Course 15; but it is open to mature students having a general acquaintance with economic theory.

 

‡15. History and Literature of Economics to the year 1848. Mon., Wed., and (at the pleasure of the instructor) Fri., at 11. Professor Bullock. (IV)

The purpose of this course is to trace the development of economic thought from classical antiquity to the middle of the nineteenth century. Emphasis is placed upon the relation of economics to philosophical and political theories, as well as to political and industrial conditions.

A considerable amount of reading of prominent writers will be assigned, and opportunity given for the preparation of theses. Much of the instruction is necessarily given by means of lectures.

No undergraduates will be admitted to the course who are not candidates for distinction in economics.

 

  1. German and French Economists of the Nineteenth Century. Two consecutive evening hours per week, to be arranged with the instructor. Professor Gay.

In this course selections from the works of a number of the more important German and French economists will be read and informally discussed. The influence of the English classical school will be traced, together with the criticism directed against this school by the socialists and the historical economists. Attention will also be given to the question of methods in economic investigation.

A moderate reading knowledge of German and French will of course be necessary.

[p.61]

II
ECONOMIC HISTORY

 

For Undergraduates and Graduates

6a1hf. European Industry and Commerce in the Nineteenth Century. Half-course (first half-year). Tu., Th., and (at the pleasure of the instructor) Sat., at 9. Professor Gay, assisted by Mr. Klein. (X)

Course 6a undertakes to present the general outlines of the economic history of western Europe since the Industrial Revolution. Such topics as the following will be discussed: the economic aspects of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic regime, the Stein-Hardenberg reforms, the Zoll-Verein, Cobden and free trade in England, labor legislation and social reform, nationalism and the recrudescence of protectionism, railways and waterways, the effects of transoceanic competition, the rise of industrial Germany.

Since attention will be directed in this course to those phases of the subject which are related to the economic history of the United States, it may be taken usefully before Economics 6b. It is open to students who have passed in Economics 1, and, with the consent of the instructor, to students who have taken or are taking Economics 1.

 

6b2hf. Economic and Financial History of the United States. Halfcourse (second half-year). Tu., Th., and (at the pleasure of the instructor) Sat., at 9. Professor Gay, assisted by Mr. Klein. (X)

The following are among the subjects considered: aspects of the Revolution and commercial relations during the Confederation and the European wars; the history of the protective tariff policy and the growth of manufacturing industries; the settlement of the West and the history of transportation, including the early canal and turnpike enterprises of the states, the various phases of railway building and the establishment of public regulation of railways; banking and currency experiences; various aspects of agrarian history, such as the public land policy, the growth of foreign demand for American produce and the subsequent competition of other sources of supply; certain social topics, such as slavery and its economic basis, and the effects of immigration.

It is open to students who have passed in Economics 1, and, with the consent of the instructor, to all students except Freshmen who are taking Economics 1.

[p.62]

  1. Modern Economic History of Europe. Tu., Th., and (at the pleasure of the instructor) Sat., at 10. Professor Gay and Dr. Gray. (XI)

At the outset a survey will be made of economic and social conditions in the chief European countries at the close of the Middle Ages. The history of agriculture, industry, and commerce in the succeeding periods down to the beginning of the nineteenth century will then be treated in some detail. England will receive the emphasis due to its increasing importance during this period.

Course 11 is open to students who have passed satisfactorily in Economics 1 or History 1.

 

Primarily for Graduates

[102hf. Mediaeval Economic History of Europe. Half-course (second half-year). Mon., Wed., and (at the pleasure of the instructor) Fri., at 2.30. Dr. Gray.] (VII)

Omitted in 1911-12.

After a preliminary examination of early economic and social institutions, this course aims to give a general view of the economic development of society during the Middle Ages. Among other topics, the following will be considered: mediaeval agriculture and serfdom; the manorial system and the economic aspects of feudalism; the beginnings of town life and the gild-system of industry; and the Italian and Hanseatic commercial supremacy.

It is essential that students should possess some reading knowledge of Latin.

 

[261hf. The Economic Development of Antiquity. Half-course (first half-year). Asst. Professor Ferguson.]

Omitted in 1911-12.

A series of lectures upon the agrarian, commercial, and industrial relations of the chief peoples of antiquity. Discussions of labor, money, banking, prices, transport, guilds, monopolies, and their economic, social, and political bearings.

_____________________

[p.63]

III

APPLIED ECONOMICS

 

For Undergraduates and Graduates

51hf. Economics of Transportation. Half-course (first half-year). Tu., Th., and (at the pleasure of the instructor) Sat., at 10. Professor Ripley, assisted by Dr. Dewing. (XI)

A brief outline of the historical development of rail and water transportation in the United States will be followed by a description of the condition of transportation systems at the present time. The four main subdivisions of rates and rate-making, finance, traffic operation, and legislation will be considered in turn. The first deals with the relation of the railroad to shippers, comprehending an analysis of the theory and practice of rate-making. An outline will be given of the nature of railroad securities, the principles of capitalization, and the interpretation of railroad accounts. Railroad operation will deal with the practical problems of the traffic department, such as the collection and interpretation of statistics of operation, pro-rating, the apportionment of cost, depreciation and maintenance, etc. Under legislation, the course of state regulation and control in the United States and Europe will be traced.

Course 5 is open only to students who have passed in Economics 1.

 

7a1hf. Introduction to Public Finance. Half-course (first half-year). Mon., Wed., Fri., at 9. Professor Bullock. (II)

This course covers the general field of public finance exclusive of taxation. After a brief survey of the history of public finance, the following subjects are studied: public expenditures, public revenues other than taxes, public debts, financial administration, and financial legislation. Attention is given both to the theory and to the practice of various countries.

A systematic course of readings is prescribed, and most of the exercises are conducted by the method of informal discussion. Candidates for honors will be given an opportunity to write theses. The course is open only to students who have passed in Economics 1. Graduate students are advised to take Economics 16. Course 7a is not open to students who in the year 1910-11 elected Economics 7, but such students may be admitted to Economics 1b with the consent of the instructor.

 

7b2hf. The Theory and Methods of Taxation. Half-course (second half-year). Mon., Wed., Fri., at 9. Professor Bullock. (II)

[p.64]

In this course the theory of taxation is first examined; then the tax systems of the United States and leading countries of Europe are studied. Finally proposals for reforming the methods employed in the United States are considered historically and critically.

The course will be conducted in the same manner as Economics 7a, and admission is subject to the same conditions. Students who do not elect this course at the beginning of the year will be admitted in February only with the consent of the instructor.

 

  1. Money, Banking, and Crises. Mon., Wed., Fri., at 1.30. Dr. Day. (VI)

This course aims to analyze the principal problems of money and credit. An examination is first made of the more important existing monetary systems. This is followed by a careful review of the more instructive chapters in the monetary history of England, Germany, France, the United States, Austria, British India, Mexico, and the Philippines.

The nature, origin, and early growth of commercial banking are considered. A thorough investigation of present banking practice in England, France, Germany, and Canada is followed by a study of banking history and present banking problems in the United States. In this connection foreign exchange and the money markets of London, Paris, Berlin, and New York are examined.

Finally attention is turned to those problems of money and credit which appear most prominently in connection with economic crises. Though emphasis is thrown upon the financial aspects of the trade cycle, the investigation covers the more fundamental factors causing commercial and industrial fluctuations.

Short papers upon assigned topics will be required of all students. The course is open to those only who have passed in Economics 1.

 

9a1hf. Problems of Labor. Half-course (first half-year). Tu., Th., and (at the pleasure of the instructor) Sat., at 1.30. Professor Ripley, assisted by Mr. ——. (XIV)

This course will deal mainly with the economic and social relations of employer and employed, with especial reference to legislation. Among the topics included will be: collective bargaining; labor organizations; factory legislation in the United States and Europe; strikes, strike legislation and legal decisions; conciliation and arbitration; employers’ liability and compulsory compensation; compulsory insurance with particular reference to European experience; the problem of the unemployed; apprenticeship, and trade and technical education.

[p. 65]

Each student will make at least one report upon a labor union, from the original documents. Two lectures a week, with one recitation, will be the usual practice. This course is open to students who hare passed in Economics 1 and to Juniors and Seniors of good standing who are taking Economics 1 at the same time.

 

*9b2hf. Economics of Corporations. Half-course (second half-year). Tu., Th., and (at the pleasure of the instructor) Sat., at 10. Professor Ripley, assisted by Dr. Dewing. (XI)

This course will treat of the fiscal and industrial organization of capital, especially in the corporate form. The principal topic considered will be industrial combination and the so-called trust problem. This will be broadly discussed, with comparative study of conditions in the United States and Europe. The development of corporate enterprise, promotion, and financing, accounting, liability of directors and underwriters, will be described, not from their legal but from their purely economic aspects; and the effects of industrial combination upon efficiency, profits, wages, prices, the development of export trade, and international competition will be considered in turn.

The course is open to those students only who have passed in Economics 1. Systematic reading and report work will be assigned from time to time.

 

*232hf. Economics of Agriculture, with special reference to American conditions. Half-course (second half-year). Tu., Th., at 2.30. Professor Carver. (XV)

A study of the relation of agriculture to the whole industrial system, the relative importance of rural and urban economics, the conditions of rural life in different parts of the United States, the forms of land tenure and methods of rent payment, the comparative merits of large and small holdings, the status and wages of farm labor, the influence of farm machinery, farmers’ organizations, the marketing and distribution of farm products, agricultural credit, the policy of the government toward agriculture, and the probable future of American agriculture.

This course is open to students who have passed in Economics 1, and, with the consent of the instructor, to Juniors and Seniors of good standing who are taking Economics 1 at the same time.

 

*301hf. The Financial Aspects of Combinations. Half-course (first half-year). Tu., Th., and (at the pleasure of the instructor) Sat., at 12. Dr. Dewing. (XIII)

The course considers the financial aspects of combinations in the United States, giving attention, however, to the economic rather than to the

[p. 66]

business or legal problems involved. Examples of financial history and policy will be considered in some detail. The psychological as well as the economic conditions that determine the market price of railroad and industrial securities will be described with the purpose of formulating general principles. Each student will select a typical episode in the history of some combination and some general subject, such as promotion, minority rights, effect on prices, and will present reports at conferences which will sometimes replace the lectures of the course. This course is open only to those who have passed in Economics 1.

 

Attention is also called to the following courses :—

Government 32a1hf. Public Ownership and Control. Dr. Holcombe.

Government 32b2hf. Selected Problems in Public Ownership and Control. Dr. Holcombe.

 

Primarily for Graduates

*16. Public Finance (advanced course). Mon., Wed., and (at the pleasure of the instructor) Fri., at 10. Professor Bullock. (III)

The course is devoted to the examination of the financial institutions of the principal modern countries, in the light of both theory and history. One or more reports calling for independent investigation will ordinarily be required. Special emphasis will be placed upon questions of American finance. Ability to read French or German is presupposed. Undergraduates are admitted only by consent of the instructor.

_____________________

IV
COURSES ESPECIALLY PREPARING FOR A BUSINESS CAREER

Among the courses described above, those on the industrial and financial phenomena of modern times are useful for students who propose to enter on a business career. Such are the courses on Money, Banking, and Crises (8), Economics of Transportation (5), Problems of Labor (9a), the Economics of Corporations (9b), the Economic and Financial History of the United States (6b), and European Industry and Commerce in the Nineteenth Century (6a). In addition, the following courses are designed more particularly to aid in the understanding of the problems likely to be met in business

[p. 67]

life, and are arranged with special regard to the needs of those looking to such a career. They are primarily for students who have reached or approached the close of their general education.

 

*18. Principles of Accounting. Mon., Wed., and (at the pleasure of the instructor) Fri., at 11. Asst. Professor Cole and assistants. (IV)

This course is designed to show the processes by which the earnings and values of business properties are computed. It is not intended primarily to afford practice in book-keeping; but since intelligent construction and interpretation of accounts is impossible without a knowledge of certain main types of book-keeping, practice sufficient to give the student familiarity with elementary technique will form an important part of the work of the course. The chief work, however, will be a study of the principles that underlie the determination of profit, cost, and valuation. These will be considered as they appear in several types of business enterprise. Published accounts of corporations will be examined, and practice in interpretation will be afforded. The instruction will be chiefly by assigned readings, discussions, and written work.

Course 18 is not open to students before their last year of undergraduate work. For men completing their work at the end of the first half-year, it will be counted as a half-course. It is regularly open only to Seniors and to Graduates who have passed in Economics 1. Students intending to enter the Graduate School of Business Administration are expected to take this course in preparation for the advanced courses in accounting.

 

*211hf. The Law of Competition and Combination. Half-course (first half-year). Mon., Wed., Fri., at 12. Professor Wyman, assisted by Mr. —— . (V)

Course 21 is not open to students before their last year of undergraduate work, and is only open to those who have passed in Economics 1.

The course considers certain rules of the law governing the course of modern trade and the organization of modern industry. As the course deals with adjudication and legislation on questions of first importance in the economic development of modern times, it is of advantage to all those who wish to equip themselves for the intelligent discussion of issues having both legal and economic aspects. In 1911-12 four principal topics will be discussed: competition; combination; association; consolidation, — some very briefly, some with more detail. The conduct of the course will be by the reading and discussion of cases from the law reports, which are contained in an edited series of case books.

[p. 68]

Attention is also called to the following courses : —

Botany 5. Outlines of Economic Botany.

Engineering 4a. Surveying. Asst. Professor Hughes.

Engineering 4d. Railroad Engineering. Asst. Professor Hughes.

Engineering 11a2hf. Steam Machinery. Professor Hollis and Messrs. Markham and ——.

Geology 92hf. Geographic Influences in North America. Asst. Professor D. W. Johnson.

Geology 21hf. Geography of South America. Professor Ward.

_____________________

V
SOCIOLOGY
See further the courses in Social Ethics.

 

For Undergraduates and Graduates

Economics 3. Principles of Sociology.—Theories of Social Progress. Mon., Wed., and (at the pleasure of the instructor) Fri., at 1.30. Professor Carver, assisted by ——. (VI)

An analytical study of social life and of the factors and forces which hold society together and give it an orderly development. The leading social institutions will also be studied with a view to finding out their relation to social well-being and progress.

Spencer’s Principles of Sociology and Carver’s Sociology and Social Progress will be read in full. Students are expected to take part in the discussion of the books read and of the lectures delivered.

Course 3 is open only to students who have passed in Economics 1.

 

Anthropology 122hf. Primitive Sociology. Half-course (second half-year). Mon., Wed., Fri., at 1.30. Dr. Tozzer. (VI)

This course deals with the early history of such institutions as marriage, the family, property, government, law, and ethical standards. The social organization of primitive peoples will be examined. Totemism in its various phases will also be considered.

 

Attention is also called to the following courses : —

Philosophy 4. Ethics. Professor Palmer.

Philosophy 6a1hf. Philosophy of Religion. Professor E. C. Moore.

[p. 69]

Philosophy 32hf. Philosophy of Nature, with especial reference to Man’s Place in Nature. Asst. Professor G. P. Adams (University of California).

Philosophy 20d. Seminary in Ethics. Professor Palmer.

History of Religions 2. History of Religions in Outline. Professor G. F. Moore.

Anthropology 1. General Anthropology. Dr Tozzer.

Anthropology 5. American Archaeology and Ethnography. Asst. Professor Dixon and Drs. Farabee and Tozzer.

Anthropology 71hf. Ethnography of Oceania. Asst. Professor Dixon.

Anthropology 112hf. Ethnography of Asia. Asst. Professor Dixon.

_____________________

VI
COURSES OF RESEARCH

The following courses indicate those fields within which the members of the Department ordinarily undertake to guide students in research: —

Economics 20a. The Economic History of England. Professor Gay.

Economics 20b. Economic Theory. Professor Carver.

Economics 20c. Principles of Corporation Finance. Professor Ripley.

Economics 20d. The Economic History of the United States, with special reference to Tariff Legislation. Professor Taussig.

Economics 20e. American Taxation and Finance. Professor Bullock.

Economics 20f. Currency and Crises. Asst. Professor Sprague.

Economics 20g. Banking. Asst. Professor Sprague.

Economics 20h. Mediaeval Economic History. Dr. Gray.

 

The Seminary in Economics. Mon., at 4.30.

Meetings are held each week by instructors and advanced students for the presentation of the results of investigation. At intervals, other persons are invited to address the Seminary on subjects of theoretic or practical interest, giving opportunity for contact and discussion with the non-academic world. All graduate students of economics are expected to attend.

[…]

[p. 75]

GENERAL INFORMATION

_____________________ 

ORGANIZATION

The Division of History, Government, and Economics comprises three departments: History; Government; and Economics. The Division has charge of the administration of the degree of A.B. with Distinction in History, in Economics, and in Political Science, and of the degrees of Ph.D. in History, in Political Science, and in Economics. The recommendation of candidates for assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships is in the hands of the respective Departments; and each Department has charge of all matters relating specially to its own instruction.

 

DEGREE OF A.B.

The degree of Bachelor of Arts is conferred usually after four years of residence, although a student who enters college without serious deficiency may complete the requirements for the degree in three years or three years and a half. At least one year of residence is required. Graduates of other colleges and students of the higher classes of other colleges are admitted to advanced standing in Harvard College, without examination, on presenting testimonials of scholarship and character, and satisfactory evidence of work well performed in the institutions previously attended.

 

THE DEGREE OF A.B. WITH DISTINCTION IN HISTORY, IN ECONOMICS, AND IN POLITICAL SCIENCE

In the opinion of the Faculty every undergraduate of superior ability should look to a considerable amount of advanced work in some subject or related subjects as a natural part of his undergraduate career; but it is not to be imagined that the Faculty intends to call for anything like original research on the part of undergraduates, or for the passing of examinations similar to those required for the higher degrees. The Degree with Distinction, it is believed, is so planned as to be within the reach of every student of good ability.

[p. 76]

General Regulations. — The candidate for the degree of A.B. with Distinction in History, Government, and Economics shall make application, not later than November 1 of the year in which he expects to receive the degree, to the Division of History, Government, and Economics; he shall, at the same time, record his name and purpose at the office of the Dean of Harvard College. Students intending to become candidates are urged to put themselves, as early as the beginning of their Sophomore year, under the guidance of the Division.

The requirements for the degree cum laude and magna cum laude are the same. The grade of distinction depends on the excellence of the student’s work, as determined by the Division. If his work be judged unworthy of distinction, but worthy of a degree, the Division may recommend him for a degree without distinction.

Special Regulations. — Not later than November 1 of his final year of preparation, the candidate must present, for approval by the Division, a plan of study, which shall comprise at least seven courses, selected from those offered by the Division, and not including more than two from the courses regularly open to Freshmen. This plan of study may, however, with the approval of the Division, include related courses offered by other Departments of the University, and also, by special vote of the Division, suitable work done outside of regular courses. If four or more of the seven courses are courses in History, the candidate, if successful, will be recommended for the Degree with Distinction in History; if four or more of them are courses in Economics, he will be recommended for the Degree with Distinction in Economics; if less than four of them are courses in History, and less than four are courses in Economics, he will be recommended for the Degree with Distinction in Political Science.

Besides this minimum requirement, the candidate may indicate in his plan of study any additional work done in History, Government, Economics, or in related subjects. The character and range of this work will be taken into account in determining the recommendation for the Degree with Distinction. The winning of a University prize in any of the subjects represented in the Division, such as a Bowdoin, Toppan, or Sumner prize, may, at the Division’s discretion, be accepted as evidence towards establishing a candidate’s qualification for the Degree with Distinction.

[p. 77]

Not later than May 1 of his Senior year, the candidate will present to the Chairman of the Division a thesis; and he will be required to pass an oral examination on the general field covered by the courses he offers, or on such portion of the field as the Division may determine. Successful candidates at the oral examination will be excused from the final examinations in their Senior year in the courses offered for the Degree with Distinction; and unsuccessful candidates at the oral examination may be recommended by the Division for the ordinary degree without taking the final examinations in such courses.

In the award of the Dillaway Fellowship preference will be given to the most successful candidate for the Degree with Distinction in History; and the Philip Washburn Prize is offered for the best thesis, of sufficient merit, on an historical subject presented by a successful candidate for the Degree with Distinction in History.

[…]

[p. 78]

Degree with Distinction in Philosophy and Economics

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences have established a degree with distinction in Philosophy and Economics, intended to represent special attainment in the study of social problems, theoretical and practical. This degree is to be administered by a standing committee of three under the following rules : —

As early as possible in his college career, and not later than November 1 of his final year, the candidate must present a plan of study to the Chairman of the Committee on Degrees with Distinction in Philosophy and Economics.

Such a plan must comprise at least eight courses, of which at least two must be in (1) Philosophy, (2) Social Ethics, and (3) Economics, respectively. Of these courses at least one in each of these

[p. 79]

groups and at least six in all must be of the grade not open to Freshmen. The courses in Economics and Philosophy which form a part of the plan must be approved by the Committee as suitable to the general purposes of the degree.

Not later than May 1 of his final year, the candidate must submit a thesis on some topic in social theory or practice. The subject must be approved by the Committee not later than the beginning of the second half of the candidate’s final year. This thesis may, with the instructors1 permission, replace the regular thesis work connected with the courses which the candidate is taking.

At some date after May 1 of the candidate’s final year, he will be examined on the field covered by the courses which he offers in his plan of study. With the consent of the instructors concerned he may be excused from the final examinations in those courses of his programme which fall in his final year.

 

DEGREE OF A.M.

The ordinary requirement for the degree of Master of Arts for a graduate of a college of good standing consists of at least one year of residence and study devoted to advanced work approved by the Administrative Board of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences as affording suitable preparation for the degree and completed with distinction. Graduates of colleges whose requirements for admission and graduation are considerably below those of Harvard College, or of colleges whose standing is not well known to the Administrative Board, and graduates of any college who have not sufficient preparation for advanced work in their particular subject of study, are ordinarily required to devote at least two years to their study for this degree. In special cases this period may be shortened to one year or one year and a half for students whose work in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences shows unusual excellence.

The programme of study for the degree of Master of Arts must form a consistent plan of work pursued with some definite aim, whether it lies wholly in a single department or field of study or in more than one; this work may be done either in, or in connection with, the regular courses of instruction, or independently of them. Programmes should he submitted early in the academic

[p. 80]

year, and no programme will ordinarily be approved that is received after January 15 of the academic year in which the degree is to be taken. All applications should be addressed to the Secretary of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

All candidates must possess an elementary knowledge of two modern foreign languages, ordinarily French and German.

 

DEGREE OF PH.D.

For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy not less than two years devoted to advanced studies, approved as affording suitable preparation for the degree, are required of graduates of colleges of good standing. This degree is not usually taken in less than three years after the attainment of the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Harvard College, or an equivalent. A graduate of another college may ascertain by writing to the Secretary of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences whether any special conditions will be imposed upon him. In order to be admitted to the degree the candidate must show a general training in the whole field of study, firm grasp of his special subject within the field, and independent research in some portion of that subject. He must present a thesis, showing original treatment or investigation, and must pass such examination or examinations as may be required by the Division. The degree is given on the ground of thorough study and high attainments. Appropriate studies carried on in the graduate school of another university may be recognized as a part of the candidate’s preparation for the degree. The minimum period of residence at Harvard University is one year.

The University confers the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History; in Political Science; and in Economics. Candidates for the degree under any of these heads are subject to supervision and examination by the Division of History, Government, and Economics. In order to indicate the grounds on which it is prepared to recommend candidates for the degree, the Division has adopted the following statements and suggestions.

 

All communications relative to the doctorate should be sent to the Chairman of the Division of History, Government, and Economics.

[p. 81]

General Preparation

Every candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy is required, at an early stage in his preparation, to submit to the Division, through its chairman, evidence of the extent and quality of his general studies. A command of good English, spoken and written, the ability to make free use of French and German books, and a fair acquaintance with general history are expected in all cases. On the evidence presented, the Division will decide, provisionally, as to the sufficiency of the candidate’s general training. No set examinations will be held at this stage, but before he is admitted to the general examination each candidate must present a certificate from some member of the Division stating that he is able to make free use of French and German books. Such a certificate may be given on the basis either of a special test or of the candidate’s use of these languages in connection with the regular courses of instruction. Candidates may be required to make up deficiencies by pursuing specified College courses, or in such other way as the Division may designate. The provisional acceptance of a candidate, as regards this portion of his preparation, does not preclude the Division from rejecting him later, if, in the examination on specific subjects, it shall appear that his general education is insufficient.

Candidates must ordinarily pass two examinations: the first general, the second (after the acceptance of the thesis) on a special field, defined in each case by vote of the Division.

I. General Examination

The first examination will be held not later than the beginning of the last year of study for the degree, and candidates are recommended to present themselves for this examination in the course of the preceding academic year. The object of this test is to ascertain the applicant’s attainments within a considerable range of subjects in the field of History, Political Science, or Economics. He will ordinarily be examined in six subjects in all, chosen from the groups defined below under the respective departments of study, but the ground of his special field will not be covered in the general examination. Candidates are not required, however, to follow the details of these plans. They may present, for the consideration of the

[p. 82]

Division, reasonable substitutes for any of the topics named, and may offer appropriate combinations of parts of the separate subjects. They are advised, in all cases, to submit their plans of study for approval at an early date. In judging of the candidate’s fitness for the degree, regard will be had to the general grasp and maturity shown, as well as to the range and accuracy of his attainments in the specific subjects of examination.

II. Thesis

The thesis must be in the hands of the Chairman of the Division on or before April 1 of the year in which the degree is sought. It must be accepted as satisfactory before the candidate can be admitted to the final examination. It must show an original treatment of the subject, or give evidence of independent research, and must also be in good literary form and suitable for publication.*

_____________________

* A list of the theses which have been accepted for the Ph.D. in the Division of History, Government, and Economics will be found in the list of Doctors of Philosophy and Doctors of Science who have received their degree in course from Harvard University, 1873-1909, published by the University in 1910.

_____________________

III. Special Examination

The second examination will be on a single limited subject agreed upon in advance. It is intended that each candidate should have, as far as possible, freedom of choice in selecting his subject, but it is expected that he will submit, for approval, an outline of work to be presented in satisfaction of this requirement. It is desirable that this outline should be submitted a year in advance of the examination. Ordinarily the ground covered by the special examination will not be greater in extent than one of the subjects offered by the candidate at his general examination, and may be identical with one of these subjects. Or the candidate may limit his more special preparation to an approved portion of this field, which will regularly include the period or topic within which the thesis lies. At the final examination, the candidate will be expected to show such a mastery of his special field, and such an acquaintance with the literature, general and special, bearing on it, as would qualify him to give instruction to mature students.

[…]

[p. 85]

THE DEGREE OF PH.D. IN ECONOMICS

General Preparation

Candidates for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Economics must meet the general requirements stated on page 81. They should also be well grounded in the main outlines of European and American history, and should have had a general view of the nature and growth of political institutions and constitutional law.

[p. 86]

General Examination

This examination (the general conditions of which are stated on p. 81) will include six subjects, chosen from the following list. Of the six subjects, at least one must be taken from each of the groups A, B, C, and D, the first three of these groups being purely economic, while the fourth, more general in character, is intended to secure a somewhat broader basis of preparation. In all cases at least one of the subjects chosen must be historical in character, either economic history under group B or one of the historical fields defined under Group D.

 

Group A

  1. Economic Theory and its History.

 

Group B

  1. Economic History to 1750.
  2. Economic History since 1750.
  3. Sociology and Social Reform.
  4. Statistics (Literature, Methods, and Results).

 

Group C

  1. Money, Banking, and Commercial Crises.
  2. Public Finance and Financial History.
  3. Transportation and Foreign Commerce.
  4. Labor Problems and Industrial Organization.

 

Group D

Selected topics from one or more of the following fields : —

  1. History of Political Institutions in Mediaeval Europe, including England.
  2. History of Political Institutions since 1500 in Europe, including England.
  3. History of American Institutions.
  4. Modern Government and Comparative Constitutional Law.
  5. Jurisprudence.
  6. Philosophy.
  7. Anthropology

In the case of a candidate whose special subject is in the Department of Social Ethics, the six subjects for examination will be chosen

[p. 87]

from the two following groups. The candidate will be examined in all four of the subjects in Group E, and is expected to be proficient in the history of one of them. He will select two subjects from Group F.

Group E

  1. Ethical Theory.
  2. Economic Theory.
  3. Poor Relief.
  4. Social Reforms.

Group F

  1. Sociology.
  2. Statistics.
  3. Economic History.
  4. The Labor Question.
  5. Criminology and Penology.
  6. Problems of Municipal Government.
  7. Anthropology.

 

FELLOWSHIPS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

About $50,000 is distributed annually among undergraduate students, in amounts ranging from $40 to $450. About thirty-five fellowships and ninety scholarships are also annually assigned to graduate students, the former varying in amount from $400 to $1150, the latter from $150 to $400. Many of these appointments are open to persons not already members of the University. Some of the fellowships permit the holders to study abroad as travelling fellows; others require residence in Cambridge. There is also a special endowment of $350,000, the Frederick Sheldon Fund, for Travelling Fellowships. Non-resident appointments are awarded only to persons who have been resident students in some department of the University.

Eleven of the fellowships and scholarships have special reference to historical, political, and economic studies, namely: the Bayard Cutting Fellowship (income $1150), for the study of History; the Woodhury Lowery Fund (income $900), for research in Historical Archives; the Robert Treat Paine Fellowship (income $600), for the study of Social Science; the South End House Fellowship ($600), for the study of Social Problems; the Henry Lee Memorial Fellowship (income $525), for the study of Political

[p. 88]

Economy; the Henry Bromfield Rogers Memorial Fellowship (income $525), for the study of Ethics in its relation to Jurisprudence or to Sociology; the Ozias Goodwin Memorial Fellowship (income $525), assigned to students of Constitutional or International Law; the Charles Wyman Scholarship in History (income $450); the Adams Woods Fellowship ($400), for the study of heredity in American History; the George W. Dillaway Fellowship (income $250), “in favor of the graduate from year to year who passes his examination with highest honor in Modern History”; and a special fellowship of $600 in Social Ethics.

Applications for graduate fellowships and scholarships should be made upon a special form which may be obtained from the Secretary of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, 24 University Hall, Cambridge. Applications must be in the hands of the Committee on Fellowships by March 15. Full information concerning the various fellowships and scholarships will be found in the University Catalogue or in the announcement of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

Through the liberality of the École Libre des Sciences Politiques of Paris, Harvard University has the privilege each year of nominating a scholar for membership in the school without payment of fees.

 

PRIZES

The following prizes are open to competition by students of History, Government, or Economics: three Bowdoin Prizes for Undergraduates ($250, $100, $100) for dissertations upon any subject approved by the Chairman of the Committee on Bowdoin Prizes; a Bowdoin Prize for Graduates ($200) for essays within certain special fields of learning, open for the year 1911-12 to students of History and Political Science; the Philip Washburn Prize ($75) for the best thesis on an historical subject presented by a successful candidate for the degree of A.B. with Distinction in History or in Political Science; the Toppan Prize ($150) for Graduates “for the best essay (of sufficient merit) on a subject in Political Science”; the Sumner Prize ($100) open to any student “for the best dissertation on a subject connected with the topic of universal peace and the methods by which war may be permanently superseded”; the Bennett Prize ($40) open to

[p. 89]

Seniors and third or fourth year Special Students “for the best essay on some subject pi American governmental domestic or foreign policy of contemporaneous interest”; the Ricardo Prize Scholarship ($350) open to those who are Seniors or members of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in 1911-12, and awarded after a special examination; the David A. Wells Prize in Economics ($500) open to Seniors in the College and Graduates of any department of the University of not more than three years’ standing “for the best thesis embodying the results of original investigation” upon a subject within the field of Economics. The successful thesis will be printed by the University from the income of a fund likewise provided by the will of the late David A. Wells.

Further details concerning these prizes may be found in the University Catalogue.

[…]

[p. 90]

The Department of Economics publishes the Quarterly Journal of Economics, now in its twenty-fifth volume. It also publishes the Harvard Economic Studies, of which the following volumes have appeared:—

  1. The English Patents of Monopoly. By William Hyde Price, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Political Economy in Yale University.
  2. The Lodging House Problem in Boston. By Albert Benedict Wolfe, Ph.D., Professor of Economics and Sociology in Oberlin College.
  3. The Stannaries. A Study of the Early English Miner. By George Randall Lewis, Ph.D.
  4. Railroad Reorganizations. By Stuart Daggett, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Economics in the University of California.
  5. Wool-Growing and the Tariff. A Study in the Economic History of the United States. By Chester Whitney Wright, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Political Economy in the University of Chicago.
  6. Public Ownership of Telephones on the Continent of Europe. By Arthur Norman Holcombe, Ph.D., Instructor in Government in Harvard University.
  7. The British Post Office. By Joseph Clarence Hemmeon, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Economies in McGill University. (In press.)

 

Source: Division of History, Government, and Economics: 1911-12 (1st ed.). Official Register of Harvard University, Vol. VIII, No. 23 (June 15, 1911).

Categories
Courses Curriculum Economists Harvard Regulations

Harvard Economics. Courses, Degree Requirements 1897-98

For a Ph.D. in Political Science (that was awarded for government and economics) candidates to demonstrate a “good knowledge” in examination on seven subjects of twelve listed, only three of which economics. Only sections directly bearing on economics included here. Entire document can be downloaded here.

_________________________

Harvard University

FACULTY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
DIVISION OF HISTORY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE
COMPRISING THE DEPARTMENTS OF HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT[,]
AND ECONOMICS

1897-98

[p. 2]

DIVISION OF HISTORY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE.

The Division of History and Political Science is one of the twelve Divisions of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. It comprises the departments of History and Government, and Economics. The administrative officers of the Division and Departments are : —

Professor F. W. Taussig, Chairman of the Division, 2 Scott St.

Professor Charles Gross, Chairman of the Department of History and Government, 11 Putnam Ave.

 Professor W. J. Ashley, Chairman of the Department of Economics, 6 Acacia St.

 

[p. 3]

INSTRUCTORS.

History and Government.

James Bradley Thayer, LL.B., LL.D., Weld Professor of Law, 5 Phillips Place.

Ephraim Emerton, Ph.D., Winn Professor of Ecclesiastical History, 19 Chauncy St.

Silas Marcus Macvane, Ph.D., McLean Professor of Ancient and Modern History, 34 Kirkland St,

Abbot Lawrence Lowell, A.B., LL.B., Lecturer on Existing Political Systems, 709 Exchange Building, Boston.

Edward Channing, Ph.D., Professor of History, 1 Brewster St.

Charles Gross, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of History, and Chairman of the Department of History and Government, 11 Putnam Ave.

Albert Bushnell Hart, Ph.D., Professor of History, 15 Appian Way.

Joseph Henry Beale, Jr., A.M., LL.B., Professor of Law, 13 Chauncy St.

John Winthrop Platner, A.B., Assistant Professor of Ecclesiastical History, 14 Avon St.

Archibald Cary Coolidge, Ph.D., Instructor in History, 15 Ware Hall.

George Willis Botsford, Ph.D., Instructor in the History of Greece and Rome, 45 Walker St.

Frank Beverly Williams, A.M., Assistant Professor of Law, 29 Thayer Hall.

James Sullivan, Jr., A.M., Instructor in History and Palaeography .

 

[p. 4]

Economics.

 Charles Franklin Dunbar, LL.D., Professor of Political Economy, 64 Highland St.

Frank William Taussig, LL.B., Ph.D., Professor of Political Economy, and Chairman of the Division, 2 Scott St.

William James Ashley, A.M., Professor of Economic History, and Chairman of the Department of Economics, 6 Acacia St.

Edward Cummings, A.M., Assistant Professor of Sociology, Corner of Irving St. and Scott St.

John Cummings, Ph.D., Instructor in Political Economy, 7 Thayer Hall.

Hugo Richard Meyer, A.M., Instructor in Political Economy, 53 Weld Hall.

Guy Stevens Callender, A.M., Instructor in Political Economy.

 

ASSISTANTS.

Joseph Dana Allen, A.B., in History 1.

John Charles States Andrew, A.B., in History 1.

Sidney Bradshaw Fay, A.B., in History 1.

———— in History 10.

———— in History 12.

Henry Barrett Learned, A.M., in History 13.

Edward Henry Warren, A.M., in History 13.

Charles Edward Seaman, A.M., in Government 1 and 7.

Harry Augustus Bigelow, A.B., in Government 4.

Charles Sumner Griffin, A.M., in Economics 1.

Edward Henry Warren, A.M., in Economics 1.

———— in Economics 1.

———— in Economics 3 and 14.

 

[p. 5]

COURSES IN HISTORY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE.

An asterisk (*) prefixed to the title of a course indicates that it can be taken only with the previous consent of the instructor.

The courses primarily for Graduates are also open to Undergraduates of adequate training. Whether taken by Graduates or Undergraduates, the instructor must first be consulted.

Knowledge of German will be of advantage in any of the courses; and ability to make use of French books will be assumed.

[…]

[p. 30]

ECONOMICS.

 

GENERAL STATEMENT.

Course 1 is introductory to the other courses. It is intended to give a general survey of the subject for those who take but one course in Economics, and also to prepare for the further study of the subject in advanced courses. It is usually taken with most profit by undergraduates in the second or third year of their college career. It may be taken with advantage in the second year by those who are attracted to political and social subjects. A knowledge of general history (such as is given in Course 1 in History) is a useful preparation.

The advanced courses divide themselves into two groups. The first group contains Courses 2, 3, 13, 14, 15, which are concerned chiefly with economic and social theory. Courses 2 and 15 follow the development of economic theory from its beginnings to the present time, with critical examination of the conclusions reached by economists of the past and the present. Course 13, on scope and method in economic investigation, continues the same subjects; it is taken to best advantage after either 2 or 15. Course 3 considers the wider aspects of economic and social study, and reviews the progress of sociological inquiry. Course 14 takes up the history and literature of socialistic and communistic proposals, and leads to a discussion of the foundations of existing institutions.

The second group contains the remaining courses, which are of a more descriptive and historical character. In all of them, however, attention is given to principles as well as to facts, and some acquaintance with the outlines of economic theory is called for.

Before taking any of the advanced courses, students are strongly advised to consult with the instructors. Courses 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 may not be taken without the previous consent of the instructors. It is advised that Course 1 be taken in all cases as a preparation for the advanced courses; and such students only as have passed satisfactorily in Course 1 will be admitted to Courses 2, 3, 4, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. But Courses 5, 7, and 9, may also be

[p. 31]

taken by Juniors and Seniors of good rank who are taking Course 1 at the same time; Course 6 is open to students who have taken or are taking cither History 13 or Economies 1; and Courses 10 and 11 are open to students who have passed satisfactorily either in History 1 or in Economics 1.

The Seminary in Economics is intended primarily for Graduate Students; but Seniors in Harvard College, who have had adequate training in the subject, may be admitted to it.

 

 

  1. Outlines of Economics. —Principles of Political Economy.— Lectures on Social Questions and Monetary Legislation. Mon., Wed., Fri., at 9. Professor Taussig, Asst. Professor Edward Cummings, Dr. John Cummings, assisted by Messrs. Griffin, Warren, and ——.   (I)

Course 1 gives a general introduction to economic study, and a general view of Economics sufficient for those who have not further time to give to the subject. It begins with a consideration of the principles of production, distribution, exchange, money, and international trade, which is continued through the first half-year. In the second half-year, some of the applications of economic principles and some wider aspects of economic study are taken up. Social questions and the relations of labor and capital, the theory and practice of banking, and the recent currency legislation of the United States, will be successively treated in outline.

Course 1 will be conducted mainly by lectures. A course of reading will be laid down, and weekly written exercises will test the work of students in following systematically and continuously the lectures and the prescribed reading. Large parts of Mill’s Principles of Political Economy will be read, as well as parts of other general books; while detailed references will be given for the reading on the application and illustration of economic principles.

 

 

[*10. The Mediaeval Economic History of Europe. Tu., Th., (and at the pleasure of the instructor) Sat., at 12. Professor Ashley.]     (X)

Omitted in 1897-98.

The object of this course is to give a general view of the economic development of society during the Middle Ages. It will deal, among others, with the following topics: — the manorial system in its relation to mediaeval agriculture and serfdom ; the merchant gilds and the beginnings of town life and of trade ; the craft gild and the gild-system of

[p. 32]

industry, compared with earlier and later forms; the commercial supremacy of the Hanseatic and Italian merchants ; the trade routes of the Middle Ages and of the sixteenth century ; the merchant adventurers and the great trading companies ; the agrarian changes of the fifteenth nd sixteenth centuries and the break-up of the mediaeval organization of social classes ; the appearance of new manufactures and of the domestic industry.

Special attention will be devoted to England, but that country will be treated as illustrating the broader features of the economic evolution of the whole of western Europe; and attention will be called to the chief peculiarities of the economic history of France, Germany, and Italy.

Students will be introduced in this course to the use of the original sources, and they will need to be able to translate easy Latin.

It is desirable that they should already possess some general acquaintance with mediaeval history, and those who are deficient in this respect will be expected to read one or two supplementary books, to be suggested by the instructor. The course is conveniently taken after, before, or in conjunction with History 9; and it will be of especial use to those who intend to study the law of Real Property.

 

 

  1. The Modern Economic History of Europe and America (from 1500). Tu., Th., (and at the pleasure of the instructor) Sat., at 12. Professor Ashley. (X)

This course, — which will usually alternate with Course 10 in successive years, — while intended to form a sequel to Course 10, will nevertheless be independent, and may usefully be taken by those who have not followed the history of the earlier period. The main thread of connection will be found in the history of trade; but the outlines of the history of agriculture and industry will also be set forth, and the forms of social organization dependent upon them. England, as the first home of the “great industry,” will demand a large share of attention; but the parallel or divergent economic history of the United States, and of the great countries of western Europe, will be considered side by side with it.

 

 

  1. The Economic History of the United States. Tu., Th., at 2.30, and a third hour at the pleasure of the instructors. Mr. Callender. (XI)

Course 6 gives a general survey of the economic history of the United States from the formation of the Union to the present time, and considers also the mode in which economic principles are illustrated by the experience so surveyed. A review is made of the financial history of the United

 

[p. 33]

States, including Hamilton’s financial system, the second Bank of the United States and the banking systems of the period preceding the Civil War, coinage history, the finances of the Civil War, and the banking and currency history of the period since the Civil War. The history of manufacturing industries is taken up in connection with the course of international trade and of tariff legislation, the successive tariffs being followed and their economic effects considered. The land policy of the United States is examined partly in its relation to the growth of population and the inflow of immigrants, and partly in its relation to the history of transportation, including the movement for internal improvements, the beginnings of the railway system, the land grants and subsidies, and the successive bursts of activity in railway building. Comparison will be made from time to time with the contemporary economic history of European countries.

Written work will be required of all students, and a course of reading will be prescribed, and tested by examination. The course is taken advantageously with or after History 13. While an acquaintance with economic principles is not indispensable, students are strongly advised to take the course after having taken Economics 1, or, if this be not easy to arrange, at the same time with that course.

 

 

*15. The History and Literature of Economics to the Close of the Eighteenth Century. Mon., Wed., (and at the pleasure of the instructor) Fri., at 12.     Professor Ashley. (IV)

The course of economic speculation will here be followed, in its relation alike to the general movement of contemporary thought and to contemporary social conditions. The lectures will consider the economic theories of Plato and Aristotle; the economic ideas underlying Roman law; the mediaeval church and the canonist doctrine; mercantilism in its diverse forms; “political arithmetic;” the origin of the belief in natural rights and its influence on economic thought; the physiocratic doctrine; the work and influence of Adam Smith; the doctrine of population as presented by Malthus; Say and the Erench school; and the beginnings of academic instruction in economics.

The lectures will be interrupted from time to time for the examination of selected portions of particular authors; and careful study will be given to portions of Plato’s Republic and Aristotle’s Politics (in translation) to Mun’s England’s Treasure, Locke’s Considerations of the Consequences of the Lowering of Interest, certain Essays of Hume, Turgot’s Réflexions, and specified chapters of Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations, and Malthus’ Essay. Students taking the course are expected to procure the texts of the chief authors considered, and to consult the following critical works:

[p. 34]

Ingram, History of Political Economy; Cossa, Introduction to the Study of Political Economy; Cannan, History of the Theories of Production and Distribution; Bonar, Philosophy and Political Economy; Bohm-Bawerk, Capital and Interest; Taussig, Wages and Capital.

 

 

*2. Economic Theory in the Nineteenth Century. Mon., Wed., Fri., at 2.30. Professor Taussig.     (V)

Course 2 is designed to acquaint the student with the history of economic thought during the nineteenth century, and to give him at the same time training in the critical consideration of economic principles. The exercises are accordingly conducted mainly by the discussion of selected passages from the important writers; and in this discussion students are expected to take an active part. Lectures are given at intervals, tracing the general movement of economic thought and describing its literature. Special attention will be given to the theory of distribution.

The course opens with an examination of Ricardo’s doctrines, selections from Ricardo’s writings being read and discussed. These will then be compared with the appropriate chapters in Mill’s Principles of Political Economy, and further with passages in Cairnes’ Leading Principles. The theory of wages, and the related theory of business profits, will then be followed in the writings of F. A. Walker, Sidgwick, and Marshall, and a general survey made of the present stage of economic theory in England and the United States. The development on the continent of Europe will be traced chiefly in lectures; but toward the close of the year a critical examination will be made of the doctrines of the modern Austrian school.

Course 2 is taken with advantage in the next year after Course 1; but Course 15 may also be taken with advantage after Course 1, and then followed by Course 2, or taken contemporaneously with it.

 

 

*132 hf. Scope and Method in Economic Theory and Investigation. Half-course (second half-year). Mon., Wed., Fri., at 11. Professor Ashley.     (III)

Course 13 will examine the methods by which the important writers, from Adam Smith to the present time, have approached economic questions, and the range which they have given their inquiries; and will consider the advantage of different methods, and the expediency of a wider or narrower scope of investigation. Mill’s essay on the Definition of Political Economy; Cairnes’ Logical Method of Political Economy; Keynes’ Scope and Method of Political Economy; certain sections of Wagner’s Grundlegung and Schmoller’s essay on Volkswirthschaft will be carefully examined. The conscious consideration of method by the later writers of the classic school and by their successors in England; the

[p. 35]

rise of the historical school and its influence; the mode in which contemporary writers approach the subject, — will he successively followed.

Course 13 is open to students who take or have taken Course 2 or Course 15. A fair reading knowledge of German as well as of French will be expected of students, and the opportunity will be taken to assist them to acquire facility in reading scientific German. Subjects will be assigned for investigation and report, and the results of such investigations will be presented for discussion.

 

 

*3. The Principles of Sociology. Mon., Wed., and (at the pleasure of the instructor) Fri., at 1.30. Asst. Professor Edward Cummings.     (XIII)

Course 3 begins with a general survey of the structure and development of society; showing the changing elements of which a progressive society is composed, the forces which manifest themselves at different stages in the transition from primitive conditions to complex phases of civilized life, and the structural outlines upon which successive phases of social, political, and industrial organization proceed. Following this, is an examination of the historical aspects which this evolution has actually assumed: Primitive man, elementary forms of association, the various forms of family organization, and the contributions which family, clan and tribe have made to the constitution of more comprehensive ethnical and political groups ; the functions of the State, the circumstances which determine types of political association, the corresponding expansion of social consciousness, and the relative importance of military, economic, and ethical ideas at successive stages of civilization. Special attention is given to the attempts to formulate physical and psychological laws of social growth; to the relative importance of natural and of artificial selection in social development; the law of social survival; the dangers which threaten civilization; and the bearing of such general consideration upon the practical problems of vice, crime, poverty, pauperism, and upon mooted methods of social reform.

The student is thus acquainted with the main schools of sociological thought, and opportunity is given for a critical comparison of earlier phases of sociological theory with more recent contributions in Europe and the United States. Regular and systematic reading is essential. Topics are assigned for special investigation in connection with practical or theoretical aspects of the course.

 

 

*14. Socialism and Communism, — History and Literature. Tu., Th., and at the pleasure of the instructor) Sat., at 9. Asst. Professor Edward Cummings.     (VII)

Course 14 is primarily an historical and critical study of socialism and communism. It traces the history and significance of schemes for social

[p. 36]

reconstruction from the earliest times to the present day. It discusses the historical evidences of primitive communism, the forms assumed by private ownership at different stages of civilization, the bearing of these considerations upon the claims of modern socialism, and the outcome of experimental communities in which socialism and communism have actually been tried. Special attention, however, is devoted to the recent history of socialism, — the precursors and the followers of Marx and Lassalle, the economic and political programmes of socialistic parties in Germany, France, and other countries.

The primary object is in every case to trace the relation of historical evolution to these programmes; to discover how far they have modified history or found expression in the policy of parties or statesmen; how far they must be regarded simply as protests against existing phases of social evolution; and how far they may be said to embody a sane philosophy of social and political organization.

The criticism and analysis of these schemes gives opportunity for discussing from different points of view the ethical and historical value of social and political institutions, the relation of the State to the individual, the political and economic bearing of current socialistic theories.

The work is especially adapted to students who have had some introductory training in Ethics as well as in Economics. A systematic course of reading covers the authors discussed; and special topics for investigation may be assigned in connection with this reading.

 

 

  1. The Labor Question in Europe and the United States. — The Social and Economic Condition of Workingmen. Tu., Th., Sat., at 10. Asst. Professor Edward Cummings and Dr. John Cummings.    (VIII)

Course 9 is a comparative study of the condition and environments of workingmen in the United States and European countries. It is chiefly concerned with problems growing out of the relations of labor and capital. There is careful study of the voluntarily organizations of labor, — trade unions, friendly societies, and the various forms of cooperation; of profit-sharing, sliding scales, and joint standing committees for the settlement of disputes ; of factory legislation, employers’ liability, the legal status of laborers and labor organizations, state courts of arbitration, and compulsory government insurance against the exigencies of sickness, accident, and old age. All these expedients, together with the phenomena of international migration, the questions of a shorter working day and convict labor, are discussed in the light of experience and of economic theory, with a view to determining the merits, defects, and possibilities of existing movements.

[p. 37]

The descriptive and theoretical aspects of the course are supplemented by statistical evidence in regard to wages, prices, standards of living, and the social condition of labor in different countries.

Topics will be assigned for special investigation, and students will be expected to participate in the discussion of selections from authors recommended for a systematic course of reading.

The course is open not only for students who have taken Course 1, but to Juniors and Seniors of good rank who are taking Course 1.

 

 

*4. Statistics. — Applications to Social and Economic Problems. — Studies in Movements of Population. — Theory and Method. Mon., Wed., Fri., at 11. Dr. John Cummings.     (III)

This course deals with statistical methods used in the observation and analysis of social conditions, with the purpose of showing the relation of statistical studies to Economics and Sociology, and the scope of statistical inductions. It undertakes an examination of the views entertained by various writers regarding the theory and use of statistics, and an historical and descriptive examination of the practical methods of carrying out statistical investigations. The application of statistical methods is illustrated by studies in political, fiscal, and vital statistics, in the increase and migration of population, the growth of cities, the care of criminals and paupers, the accumulation of capital, and the production and distribution of wealth.

 

 

52 hf. Railways and other Public Works, under Government and Corporate management. Half-course (second half-year). Tu., Th., and (at the pleasure of the instructor) Sat., at 1.30. Mr. Meyer.     (XIV)

 

In this course it is proposed to review the history and working of different modes of dealing with railway transportation, and to deal summarily with other similar industries, such as the telegraph, street railways, water and gas supply. Consideration will be given to the economic characteristics of these industries, the theory and history of railway rates, the effects of railway service and railway charges on other industries, the causes and consequences of monopoly conditions. The history of legislation in the more important European countries will be followed, as well as the different modes in which they have undertaken the regulation and control of private corporations, or have assumed direct ownership, with or without management and operation. Some attention will be given also to the experience of the British colonies, and more especially of those in Australia. In the United States, there will be consideration of the growth of the great systems, the course of legislation by the federal government,

[p. 38]

the working of the Interstate Commerce Act, and the modes of regulation, through legislation and through Commissions, at the hands of the several States. So far as time permits, other industries, analogous to railways, will be discussed in a similar manner.

Written work, in the preparation of papers on assigned topics, will be expected of all students in the course.

 

 

*71 hf. The Theory and Methods of Taxation, with special reference to local taxation in the United States. Half-course (first half-year). Tu., Th., and (at the pleasure of the instructor) Sat., at 1.30. Professor Taussig.     (XIV)

Course 71 undertakes an examination of the theory of taxation, based upon the comparative study of methods as practised in different countries and in different States of the American Union. This examination necessarily includes some discussion of leading questions in revenue legislation, such as the taxation of incomes and personal property, the single tax, progressive taxation, and indirect taxes.

 

 

*72 hf. Financial Administration and Public Debts. Half-course (second half-year). Tu., Th., Sat., at 11. Professor Dunbar.       (IX)

Course 72 is devoted to an examination of the budget systems of leading countries, and their methods of controlling expenditure, the methods of borrowing and of extinguishing debts practised by modern states, the form and obligation of the securities issued, and the general management of public credit.

Topics will be assigned for investigation by the students, and a list of topics, references, and required reading will be used.

 

 

* 121 hf. International Payments and the Flow of the Precious Metals. Half-course (first half-year). Tu., Th., Sat., at 11. Professor Dunbar and Mr. Meyer. (IX)

 

[*122 hf. Banking and the History of the leading Banking Systems. Half -course (second half-year). Tu., Th., Sat., at 11. Professor Dunbar.]     (IX)

Omitted in 1897-98.

Course 121 is taken up with the discussion of the movements of goods, securities, and money, in the exchanges between nations and in the settlement of international demands. After a preliminary study of the general doctrine of international trade and of the use and significance of bills of exchange, it is proposed to make a close examination of some cases of

[p. 39]

payments on a great scale, and to trace the adjustments of imports and exports under temporary or abnormal financial conditions. Such examples as the payment of the indemnity by France to Germany after the war of 1870-71, the distribution of gold by the mining countries, and the movements of the foreign trade of the United States since 1879, will be investigated and used for the illustration of the general principles regulating exchanges and the distribution of money between nations.

In Course 122 the modern system of banking by deposit and discount is examined, and its development in various countries is studied. The different systems of note-issue are then reviewed and compared, and the relations of banks to financial crises carefully analyzed. Practical banking does not come within the scope of this course. The study is historical and comparative in its methods, requiring some examination of important legislation in different countries, practice in the interpretation of banking movements, and investigation of the general effects of banking. The course, therefore, naturally leads to an examination of the questions now raised as to bank issues in the United States.

 

 

*162 hf. Selected Topics in the Financial Legislation of the United States. Half-course (second half-year). Tu., Th., at 2.30. Professor Dunbar.      (XI)

The topics for study in this course for 1897-98 will be: (1) The Legal Tender Issues of the Civil War; (2) Development of the National Banking System. Subjects will be assigned and reports called for, requiring thorough investigation in the debates of Congress and other contemporary sources of information, for the purpose of tracing the history and significance of the legislative acts to be discussed, and a close study of such financial and commercial statistics as may throw light upon the operation of the acts.

Arrangements will be made by which graduate students and candidates for Final Honors in Political Science may take this course in connection with the Seminary in Economics as a full course running through the year.

 

 

  1. Seminary in Economics. Mon., at 4.30. Professors Dunbar, Taussig, and Ashley, and Asst. Professor Edward Cummings.

In the Seminary the instructors receive Graduate Students, and Seniors of high rank and adequate preparation, for training in investigation and discussion. No endeavor is made to limit the work of the Seminary to any one set of subjects. Subjects are assigned to students according to their needs and opportunities, and may be selected from any of the larger fields covered by the courses in which stated instruction is given. They

[p . 40]

may accordingly be in economic theory, in economic history, in applied economics, in sociology, or in statistics. It will usually be advisible for members of the Seminary to undertake their special investigation in a subject with whose general outlines they are already acquainted; but it may sometimes be advantageous to combine general work in one of the systematic courses with special investigation of a part of the field.

The general meetings of the Seminary are held on the first and third Mondays of each month. The members of the Seminary confer individually, at stated times arranged after consultation, with the instructors under whose special guidance they are conducting their researches.

At the regular meetings, the results of the investigations of members are presented and discussed. The instructors also at times present the results of their own work, and give accounts of the specialized literature of Economics. At intervals, other persons are invited to address the Seminary on subjects of theoretic or practical interest, giving opportunity for contact and discussion with the non-academic world. Among those who thus contributed to the Seminary in 1895-97 were President Francis A. Walker, Dr. Frederick H. Wines, Mr. S. N. D. North, Mr. A. T. Lyman, Mr. E. W. Hooper, and Mr. F. C. Lowell.

In 1896-97 the Seminary had fifteen members, of whom twelve were Graduate Students, two were Seniors in Harvard College, and one was a Law Student. Among the subjects under investigation in that year were: The Woollen Industry in England during the 17th and 18th centuries; Over-production and Over-accumulation in Economic Theory; The Taxation of Sugar in the United States and in Foreign Countries; The National Banking System with regard to its operation in the West and South; The Financial History of the Pennsylvania Railway; The Financial History of the Union Pacific Railway; The History of Immigration into the United States.

 

[p. 41]

GENERAL INFORMATION.

ORGANIZATION.

The Division of History and Political Science comprises two departments: History and Government, and Economics. The Division has charge of the administration of Final Honors, and of the Degree of Ph.D., in History and Political Science. The recommendation of candidates for assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships is in the hands of the respective departments; Second-Year Honors in History and Government are administered by the Department of History and Government; and in general each Department has charge of all matters relating specially to its own instruction.

 

HONORS.

Honors are awarded to students who attain high grades in a certain number of courses in one subject or group of subjects, and who give satisfactory evidence, at a special examination, as to the range and accuracy of their general knowledge of the subject in which the Honors are awarded.

Second-Year Honors in History and Government are awarded, at the end of the Sophomore or Junior year, on the following conditions : —

1. Distinguished excellence in the work of three and a half courses in History and Government or of three such courses and one course in Political Economy.

2. Passing with distinction a special examination, which shall be a test of the candidate’s general acquirements in History and Government.

3. The study of a special topic upon which the candidate may be required to report in written form. This report must be presented not later than May 15 to the instructor under whose direction it has been prepared.

Candidates for Second-Year Honors are required to register their names at the office of the Dean of the College, as early as the first

[p. 42]

day of April of the year in which they present themselves for examination.

The examinations for Second-Year Honors are conducted by the Department of History and Government.

Final Honors in History and Government or in Political Science are awarded, usually with the degree of A.B. or A.M., on the following conditions : —

Every student who wishes to be regarded as a candidate must present a written application to the Dean of the College before November 1, in his Senior year. Blank forms of application may be obtained from the Recorder.

 

[…]

In Political Science the candidate will present for approval by the Division of History and Political Science, not later than October 10 of his final year of preparation, a plan of study which shall comprise not less than five courses, not elementary, selected from those offered under History and Government, and Economics, including at least one course in Economics, one in History, and one in Government.

[p. 43]

The candidate may also state in his plan of study further work in Political Science which he desires to have considered in determining the award of Honors.

Not later than May 15, the candidate will present a thesis, which may also be counted as part of his work in one or more courses, and which should be handed to the instructor under whose guidance it is prepared; and he will be required to pass an examination on the general field of his studies in Political Science.

 

DEGREES.

The degree of Bachelor of Arts is conferred usually after four years of residence. At least one year of residence is required. Graduates of other colleges and students of the higher classes of other colleges are admitted to advanced standing in Harvard College, without examination, on presenting testimonials of scholarship and character, and satisfactory evidence of work well performed in the institutions previously attended.

The degree of Master of Arts is conferred on persons who have the degree of Bachelor of Arts from Harvard College (or who have pursued successfully at some other college a course of study accepted by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences as equivalent to the A.B. of Harvard College), and who have pursued at Harvard University advanced studies with high credit for a whole year.

For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy no set period of study is prescribed. It is not usually taken in less than three years after the attainment of the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Harvard College, or an equivalent. In order to be admitted to the degree the candidate must show a general training in the whole field of study, firm grasp of his special subject within the field, and independent research in some portion of that subject. He must present a thesis, showing original treatment or investigation, and must pass such examination or examinations as may be required by the Division. The degree is given on the ground of thorough study and high attainments. Appropriate studies carried on in the Graduate School of any other university may be recognized as a part of the candidate’s preparation for the degree. The minimum period of residence at Harvard University is one year.

[p. 44]

The University confers the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History and in Political Science. Candidates for the degree under either of these heads are subject to supervision and examination by the Division of History and Political Science. In order to indicate the grounds on which it is prepared to recommend candidates for the degree, the Division has adopted the following statements and suggestions.

All communications relative to the doctorate should be sent to the Chairman of the Division of History and Political Science.

 

 

THE DEGREE OF PH.D. IN POLITICAL SCIENCE.

General Preparation.

Every candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science, will be expected, at an early stage in his preparation, to submit to the Division, through its chairman, evidence of the extent and quality of his general studies. A command of good English, spoken and written, the ability to make free use of French and German books, and a fair acquaintance with general history, are expected in all cases. On the evidence presented, the Division will decide, provisionally, as to the sufficiency of the candidate’s general training. No set examinations will be held in any of these elementary requirements. Candidates may be required to make up deficiencies by pursuing specified College courses, or in such other way as the Division may designate. The provisional acceptance of a candidate, as regards this portion of his preparation, does not preclude the Division from rejecting him later, if, in the examination on specific subjects, it shall appear that his general education is insufficient.

 

Examinations.

Candidates must ordinarily pass two examinations: the first general, the second on a special field, defined in each case by vote of the Division.

I. The aim of the first examination is to ascertain the candidate’s acquaintance with a considerable range of subjects included within the scope of Political Science. He may satisfy this requirement by showing a good knowledge of any seven of the subjects named in

[p. 45]

the following list, — at least one to be taken from each of the three groups :

 

Group A.

  1. Political Institutions of Mediaeval Europe, including England.
  1. History of Political Institutions in Continental Europe since 1500.
  1. Constitutional History of England since the beginning of the Tudor period.
  1. History of American Institutions, including the Colonial period.

 

Group B.

  1. Theory of the State.
  1. Modern Government and Comparative Constitutional Law.
  1. International Law and Diplomatic History.
  1. Roman Law and selected topics in the history of Legal Institutions.

 

Group C.

 

  1. Economic Theory and its history.
  1. Applied Economics : Money and Banking, International Trade, Taxation and Finance.
  1. Economic History: either the outlines of the economic history of Europe and the United States ; or economic history of the United States with special reference to the Tariff, Financial Legislation, and Transportation.
  1. Sociology.

 

Candidates are not required, however, to follow the details of this plan. They may present, for the consideration of the Division, reasonable substitutes for any of the topics named, and may offer appropriate combinations of parts of the separate subjects. They are advised, in all cases, to submit their plans of study for approval at an early date. The examination of each candidate will be confined to the subjects selected by him and approved by the Division; but in judging of his fitness for the degree, regard will be had to the general grasp and maturity shown, as well as to the range and accuracy of his attainments in the specific subjects of examination.

II. The second examination will be on a single limited subject agreed upon in advance. It is intended that each candidate should have, as far as possible, freedom of choice in selecting his subject, but it is expected that he will submit, for approval, an outline of work to be presented in satisfaction of this requirement. It is desirable that this outline should be submitted a year in advance of

[p. 46]

the examination. The ground covered may properly be less extensive than that included in any of the general subjects named above and may lie within one of the general subjects offered by the candidate. At the final examination the candidate will be expected to show such a mastery of his chosen subject, and such an acquaintance with the literature bearing on it, as would qualify him to give instruction to mature students.

 

Thesis.

The thesis must be in the hands of the Division on or before May 1 of the year in which the degree is sought. It must be accepted as satisfactory before the candidate can be admitted to the final examination. It must show an original treatment of the subject, or give evidence of independent research, and must also be in good literary form and suitable for publication.

[…]

[p. 49]

 

[…]

FELLOWSHIPS AND SCHOLARSHIPS.

About $40,000 is distributed annually among undergraduate students, in amounts ranging from $40 to $450. Eighteen fellowships and about forty-seven scholarships are also annually assigned to graduate students, the former varying in amount from $400 to $750, the latter from $150 to $300. Many of these appointments may be given or promised to persons not already members of the University. Some of the Fellowships permit the holders to study either at Harvard University or elsewhere; others require residence in Cambridge.

Four of the Fellowships have special reference to political and economic studies, namely: the Henry Lee Memorial Fellowship (income $450), for the study of Political Economy; the Robert

Treat Paine Fellowship (income $500), for the study of Social Science; the Henry Bromfield Rogers Memorial Fellowship (income $450), for the study of Ethics in its relation to Jurisprudence or to Sociology; the Ozias Goodwin Memorial Fellowship (income $450), assigned to students of Constitutional or International Law.

_______________________________

Source: Harvard University. Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Division of History and Political Science Comprising the Departments of History and Government and Economics, 1897-98.

Categories
Chicago Harvard

Harvard Graduate Alumnus, Hugo Richard Meyer in 1912

 

HUGO RICHARD MEYER

Attended Harvard 1884-85, 1888-92, A.B. 1892 (’93); Graduate School 1892-97, A.M. 1894.

Was instructor in economics at Harvard from 1896 to 1903; lecturer on economics, 1903-04.

Meyer does not reply to the Secretary’s letters. The following information is kindly supplied by a member of the class: “After leaving Harvard, Meyer spent six months at the University of Chicago. He then went to Denver, and is now (August, 1907) going to Australia to be gone from four to six years. He expects to be in Melbourne for a year and a half and an equal length of time in Sydney. He will return to the States via Europe. He will spend his time in Australia in research work, looking up such subjects as state ownership of railways, wage scales, and kindred subjects.”

Has published ” The British State Telegraphs,” sub-title: “A Story of the Problem of a Large Body of Civil Servants in a Democracy,” Macmillan.

Source: Secretary’s Report Harvard Class of 1892, No. V. Boston, Fort Hill Press, 1912, p. 113.

____________________

H. R. Meyer, ’92, sometime instructor in Economics at Harvard, now assistant professor at the University of Chicago, has published an important book on “Government Regulation of Railroad Rates.”

Source: The Harvard Graduates’ Magazine, vol. 14, (December 1905), p. 337.

____________________

MEYER, Hugo Richard, American author and economist: b. Cincinnati, Ohio, 1 April 1866. He was graduated at Harvard in 1892, and attended the Harvard Graduate School in 1892-96. He was instructor in political economy at Harvard in 1897-1903, and was assistant professor in that subject at the University of Chicago in 1904-05. Since 1907 he has been engaged at Melbourne in writing a history of State Ownership in Victoria, Australia. Author of ‘Government Regulation of Railroad Rates’ (1905); ‘Municipal Ownership in Great Britain’ (1906); ‘The British State Telegraphs’ (1907); ‘Public Ownership and the Telephone in Great Britain’ (1907).

Source:  The Encyclopedia Americana (1920).

____________________

APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION–NATIVE CITIZEN

I, Hugo R. Meyer, hereby apply to the Consulate of the United States at Melbourne for registration as an American citizen.

I was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, on April 1, 1866.

My father, Henry Meyer, was born in Schotmar Germany and [is] deceased. He emigrated to the United States on or about 1851; resided 23 years, uninterruptedly, in the United States, from 1882 to 1905, at Denver, Colo., and was naturalized as a citizen of the United States before the District Court of Hamilton County at Cincinnati, Ohio on March 22, 1867 as shown by the Certificat of Naturalization presented herewith.

I last left the United States on July 1907, arriving at Melbourne, Australia on Aug. 1907, where I am now residing for the purpose of Historical work, on behalf of myself.

I have resided outside the United States at the following places for the following periods. Germany, from 1878 to 1882. Australia from 1907 to date.

My legal domicile is in Denver, Colorado, my permanent residence being at [blank]; my temporary local address is Melbourne.

I desire to remain a citizen of the United States and intend to return thereto permanently to reside and perform the duties of citizenship within— years, or when my researches are completed.

I do pay the American Income Tax at Baltimore, Maryland.

I last applied for registration at the Consulate of the United States at Melbourne on Nov. 21 1916.

…

I am married to Udona Beard, who was born in Illinois (Peoria) on Sept 3, 1877, and is now residing at Melbourne [no children]

[Signed and sworn]

19th day of December, 1907-

The applicant’s physical description:

Age, 61, height, 5 feet 9 1/2 inches; blue eyes, gray hair, ruddy complexion.

[Re-registration on Jan. 16, 1922.]

____________________

REPORT OF THE DEATH OF AN AMERICAN CITIZEN

Consular Service, U.S.A.
Melbourne, Australia, July 2, 1923.

Name: Hugo Richard Meyer

Native or naturalized: Native

Date of death: June 15, 1923

Place of death: 146 Orrong Road, Toorak. Victoria, Australia

Cause of death: Angina Pectoris

Disposition of remains: Interred in Brighton Cemetery, Brighton, Victoria

Disposition of Effects: Bequeathed by will to his wife, Udona Beard Meyer.

Categories
Harvard

Harvard Graduate Alumnus, Charles Beardsley, Jr. in 1896 and 1912

CHARLES BEARDSLEY, JR.

At Burlington, Iowa, 1892-93. In Graduate School, Harvard, 1893-94. Instructor in Economics, State University of Iowa, since September, 1894. Member of American Academy of Political and Social Science.

Published “Effects of an Eight Hours’ Day on Wages and the Unemployed,” in Quarterly Journal of Economics, July, 1895.

Source: Secretary’s Report Harvard Class of 1892, No. II. Andover Press, 1896, p. 18.

___________________________________________

CHARLES BEARDSLEY

Son of Charles and Eliza McCIoud (Pool) Beardsley. Born at Burlington, Ia., December 26, 1867. Prepared for college at High School, Washington, D. C. Attended Harvard 1888-92, A.B.; Graduate School 1893-94; 1896-97, A.M.

Instructor in economics, State University of Iowa, September, 1894. Instructor in economics in Harvard University, 1898-99; Austin Teaching Fellow in Harvard University,1900-01; also during the same year instructor in economics at Rhode Island Agricultural College, Kingston, R. I. September, 1901, became instructor in economics and history at the Washington Agricultural College, Pullman, Wash. Has since given up teaching and is now farming in Nebraska. Is a member of the American Academy of Political and Social Science and of the American Economic Association.

Home address: Clarks, Neb.

Source: Secretary’s Report Harvard Class of 1892, No. V. Boston, Fort Hill Press, 1912, pp. 22-3.

 

Categories
Chicago Harvard

Harvard Graduate Alumnus, Carlos Carleton Closson in 1896 and 1912

CARLOS CARLETON CLOSSON.

Studied in Harvard Graduate School, and received A.M. in 1893. Travelled and studied abroad. Now instructor in Political Economy, Univ. of Chicago. Married, Aug. 20, 1895, to Sophie Merz, at Boston.

Secretary’s Report Harvard Class of 1892, No. II. Andover Press, 1896, p. 25.

 

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

CARLOS CARLETON CLOSSON

Son of Carlos Carleton and Charlotte Ann Judson (Holt) Closson. Born October 8, 1869. Attended Harvard 1888-92, A.B.; Graduate School 1892-95; A.M. 1893. Married Sophie Mere, at Boston, Mass., August 20, 1895.

Was formerly located in Los Angeles, Cal. Later removed to Seattle, Wash., where he “is secretary of the Port of Seattle, a separate municipality, co-extensive with the boundaries of King County, Washington, organized to acquire, construct, maintain, operate, and regulate a system of harbor improvements and rail and water transfer and terminal facilities for Seattle and King County.”

Source: Secretary’s Report Harvard Class of 1892, No. V. Boston, Fort Hill Press, 1912, p. 41.

 

Categories
Chicago Harvard

Harvard Graduate Alumnus, George Ole Virtue in 1896 and 1912

GEORGE OLE VIRTUE.

“1892-94, Harvard Graduate School. 1894-95, instructor in Political Economy in Harvard. At present [1895-] tutor in Political Economy in the University Extension Department of the University of Chicago.” Received Harvard A. M. in 1893.

Is a member of the American Economic Association. Author of “Gold Shipments,” Quarterly Journal of Economics, July, 1892; “Public Control of Mineral Lands in the U. S.,” Journal of Political Economy, March, 1895.

Present address, 5724 Madison Ave., Chicago, Ill.

Source: Secretary’s Report Harvard Class of 1892, No. II. Andover Press, 1896, p. 69.

__________________________________

GEORGE OLIEN VIRTUE

Son of John Freeborn and Cynthia (Jackson) Virtue. Born at Abingdon, Ill., November 4, 1862. Prepared for college at the Bedford, la., High School. Was a member of the class of 1892 in the University of Kansas, from which he received the degree of A.B. in 1892. Attended Harvard 1891-92, A.B.; Graduate School 1892-95, A.M. 1893; Ph.D. 1897. Married Meta Vogel, daughter of Bernhardt and Auguste Vogel, at Green Island, N. Y., September 14, 1897. Children: John Bernhardt, born at Winona, Minn., September 25, 1901; Ruth Vogel, born August 31, 1904.

From 1892 to 1894 was in Harvard Graduate School. From 1894 to 1895 instructor in political economy in Harvard. From 1895 to 1896 tutor in political economy in the University Extension Department of the University of Chicago. From 1896 to 1897 instructor in political economy in Harvard (second appointment). In 1897 became instructor in political science in the State Normal School at Winona, Minn., where he remained till 1909.

 

“In 1909 was elected professor of political economy and public finance at the University of Nebraska. Published a little book on the civil government of Minnesota in 1910 (Scribner’s) and a study of the labor conditions on the Minnesota iron ranges in the Bulletin of the Department of Labor, Washington, 1910. In 1911 was appointed special agent of the census, with headquarters at Lincoln. Am a member of the National Tax Association and serving as an advisory member of the Nebraska Rural Life Commission.”

Home address: Lincoln, Neb.

Source: Secretary’s Report Harvard Class of 1892, No. V. Boston, Fort Hill Press, 1912, p. 163.

Categories
Columbia Harvard

Harvard Graduate Alumnus, Arthur Morgan Day in 1896 and 1912

 

This material has been considerably expanded in a later post.

__________________

[With the preponderance of “Harvard Men” attending graduate school at Harvard (or elsewhere), such reports of Class Secretaries give us answers to the proverbial alumnus/a question, “Whatever happened to…?”]

ARTHUR MORGAN DAY.

“1892-93, graduate student in History and Economics, H. U.; 1893-94, graduate student in History and Economics and assistant in History, H. U.; 1894-95, assistant in Economics, School of Political Science, Columbia College; 1895-96, assistant and lecturer in Economics, School of Political Science, Columbia College, and lecturer in Economics, Barnard College.”

Published ” Syllabus of six lectures on ‘Money’ for Extension Department of Rutgers College, 1895.”

Delivered “six lectures on ‘Money,’ Univ. Ex. course, New Brunswick, N. J., December-January, 1894-95; two lectures on ‘Monetary Literature in U. S.’ in course of ‘ Free Lectures to the People,’ under direction of Board of Education, N. Y.”

Source: Secretary’s Report Harvard Class of 1892, No. II. Andover Press, 1896, 30-31.

_________________________________

ARTHUR MORGAN DAY

Son of Josiah Lyon and Ellen Louisa (Baldwin) Day. Born at Danbury, Conn., April 12, 1867. Prepared for college at the Danbury High School. Attended Harvard 1888-92, A.B. and A.M.; Graduate School 1892-94.

1892 to 1894, graduate student in history and economics at Harvard; 1893-94, assistant in history at Harvard;1894-1902, successively assistant, lecturer, and instructor in economics at Columbia and Barnard colleges; also assistant editor of Political Science Quarterly and Columbia University Quarterly; in March, 1902, resigned from Columbia to become registrar of the Tenement House Department of New York City for Brooklyn, Queens, and Richmond. In May, 1902, resigned registrarship to become assistant to president of Manhattan Trust Company; in July, 1903, was made secretary and treasurer of Casualty Company of America; in January, 1905, entered publicity business; in June, 1906, employed by United Gas Improvement Company of Philadelphia; in August, 1906, serious attack of typhoid caused long absence from business; in June, 1908, with Blair & Co., bankers, New York; in April, 1910, began independent work as financial agent for various clients; in January, 1912, entered bond department of Prudential Insurance Company at Newark. Has published syllabi of lectures on “Money” and “Economic History,” signed reviews in the Political Science Quarterly and elsewhere, and editorials in a New York daily. Assisted in the preparation of Seligman’s “Essays in Taxation” and “Incidence of Taxation,” Giddings’ “Democracy and Empire,” Clark’s “Distribution of Wealth,” and the second edition (rewritten) of White’s “Money and Banking.” Belongs to Harvard Club of New York.

Source: Secretary’s Report Harvard Class of 1892, No. V. Boston, Fort Hill Press, 1912, p. 54.

Image Source:  Secretary’s Report for the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary. Harvard College Class of 1892, Number VI, (1917), between pp. 68-69.