Cambridge. Political economy exam from the moral sciences tripos, 1856

Here is a relatively early specimen of a university examination in economics. This jewel from the University of Cambridge in 1856 was recovered from the Internet archive where there are discoveries still to be made.

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POLITICAL ECONOMY.
[Moral Sciences Tripos, February 1856]

1. State any views of Political Economy, wholly or partly correct, which are found in Greek or Latin authors previous to the Christian Era, as to (1) Mines, (2) Money, (3) Commerce, (4) Banks of Deposit.
2. Explain the origin and use of Metallic and of Paper money.
3. What were the notions which prevailed in the early part of the 18th century as to enriching a country by means of the balance of trade? What were their foundation and error?
4. Explain the way in which the National Wealth is increased, (1) by commerce between different parts of the same country, (2) between a country and its colonies, (3) between a country and foreign nations, and examine the exceptions thereto which Adam Smith suggests.
5. What regulates the price of a commodity according to Ricardo? How far is his view reconcilable with that which supposes it to be regulated by supply and demand?
6. Separate into its component parts the clear income derived by a farmer from the cultivation of his own land.
7. On what do the wages of unskilled labour depend? Explain how they are affected by the increase or diminution of Capital.
8. Explain the effect of the English Poor Laws upon population previously to the introduction of the present system in 1834.
9. State Adam Smith’s view of productive and unproductive labour; and in what points and by what reasons Lord Lauderdale and Mr Garnier have endeavoured to shew its errors and imperfections.
10. In what cases and to what extent does a tax imposed upon the production of any commodity immediately fall on the producer or on the consumer ultimately?
11. Give the reasons for and against providing for a greatly increased national expenditure during one or a few years wholly by immediate taxation; or by loan with additional taxation sufficient only to pay the interest of the loan.

Source:  Cambridge Examination Papers Being a Supplement to the University Calendar for the Year 1856. Moral Sciences Tripos (February, 1856), pp. 78-79.