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Exam Questions Harvard Suggested Reading Syllabus

Harvard. Core economic theory. Readings and Exams. Carver, 1900/01-1902/03

 

 

For the academic years 1900/01 through 1902/03 the core course in economic theory at Harvard was taught by Thomas Nixon Carver. He was substituting for Frank Taussig, who later wrote that he had been “compelled by ill health to withdraw from teaching” (1901-03). [Chapter IX Economics (1871-1929) by The Development of Harvard University since the Inauguration of President Eliot, 1869-1929 Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1930. p. 191].  

Schumpeter provided more detail: “We speak of nervous breakdown in such cases, which indeed are more frequent in the academic profession than one would infer from the general conditions of a professor’s life. He [Taussig] took leave and went abroad for two years, relaxing completely and spending one winter at Meran in the Austrian Alps, another on the Italian Riviera, and the summer between (1902) in Switzerland. Catastrophe was thus avoided, and in the fall of 1903 he was able to return to teaching and the editorship of the Quarterly Journal.” [Joseph A. Schumpeter, Chapter 7 “Frank William Taussig (1859-1940)” in Ten Great Economists from Marx to Keynes. p. 206.]

During the first term of 1903/04 Taussig resumed teaching the core economic theory course with Carver teaching the second term.  Beginning 1904/05 Taussig once again taught the course by himself.

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Economics 2.
Economic Theory in the Nineteenth Century
1900-01

Enrollment
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.

 

Reading list [previously posted]  for the first term

 

ECONOMICS 2
[Mid-year examination, 1901]

  1. Define value and explain why one commodity possesses more value in proportion to its bulk than another.
  2. Explain the various uses of the term diminishing returns, and define it as you think it ought to be defined.
  3. In what sense does a law of diminishing returns apply to all the factors of production.
  4. State briefly Böhm-Bawerk’s explanation of the source of interest.
  5. What, if any, is the relation of abstinence to interest.
  6. Would you make any distinction between the source of wages and the factors which determine rates of wages? If so, what? If not, why not?
  7. Discuss the question: Is a demand for commodities a demand for labor?
  8. What is the relation of the standard of living to wages.
  9. Discuss briefly the following questions relating to speculators’ profits. (a) Do speculators as a class make any profits? (b) Are speculators’ profits in any sense earned?
  10. In what sense, if any, does the value of money come under the law of marginal utility?

Source: Harvard University Archives. Harvard University Mid-year Examinations, 1852-1943. Box 4, Bound volume: Examination Papers, Mid-Years, 1900-01.

 

ECONOMICS 2
[Final examination, June 1901]

Discuss the following topics.

  1. The bearing of the marginal utility theory of value upon the questions of wages and interest.
  2. The definitions of capital as given by Taussig and Clark.
  3. Clark’s explanation of the place of distribution within the natural divisions of economics.
  4. Clark’s method of distinguishing between the product of labor and the product of capital.
  5. Clark’s distinction between rent and interest.
  6. Böhm-Bawerk’s theory of the nature of capital.
  7. The origin of capital, according to Böhm-Bawerk and Clark.
  8. The meaning of the word “productive” in the following proposition: “Protection is an attempt to attract labor and capital from the naturally more productive, to the naturally less productive industries.”
  9. The incidence of tariff duties.
  10. The theory of production and the theory of valuation as the two principal departments of economics.

Source: Harvard University Archives. Harvard University, Examination Papers, 1873-1915. Box 5, Bound volume: Examination Papers, 1900-01. Papers Set for Final Examinations in History, Government, Economics, Philosophy, Education, Fine Arts, Architecture, Landscape Design, Music in Harvard College (June, 1901), pp. 23-24.

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Economics 2.
Economic Theory
1901-02

Enrollment
1901-02

For Undergraduates and Graduates:—

[Economics] 2. Asst. Professor Carver.— Economic Theory.

Total 32: 5 Graduates, 6 Seniors, 17 Juniors, 2 Sophomores, 2 Others.

Source: Harvard University. Annual Reports of the President and Treasurer of Harvard College, 1901-02, p. 77.

ECONOMICS 2.
1901-1902

General Reading. Prescribed.

Marshall. Principles of Economics.
Taussig. Wages and Capital.
Böhm-Bawerk. Positive Theory of Capital.
Clark. The Distribution of Wealth.

References for Collateral Reading. 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.* Clark. Philosophy of Wealth. Ch. 5

II. DIMINISHING RETURNS.

1.    Senior. Pol. Econ. Pp. 81-86.

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

7.  Fetter. The Passing of the Old Rent Concept. Q.J.E. Vol. XV. P. 416.

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.   Cannan. Production and Distribution. Ch. 4.

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

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

8.  Fetter. Recent Discussion of the Capital Concept. Q.J.E. Vol. XV. P. 1.

9.* Carver. Clark’s Distribution of Wealth. Q.J.E., Aug. 1901.

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*.  Carver. Abstinence and the Theory of Interest. Q.J.E, Vol. VIII. P. 40.

5.    Mixter. Theory of Saver’s Rent. Q.J.E. 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*. Carver. Wages and the Theory of Value. Q.J.E. 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; Vol. XV. Pp. 75 and 603.

5.    MacVane, in in Quar. Jour. Econ.,  Vol. II. P. 1.

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

Source: Harvard University Archives. HUC 8522.2.1, Box 1 of 10 (Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in Economics, 1895-2003). Folder: 1901-1902.

 

ECONOMICS 2
[Mid-year examination, 1902]

Discuss the following topics.

  1. The relation of utility to value.
  2. The price of commodities and the price of services.
  3. Various uses of the term “diminishing returns.”
  4. The law of diminishing returns as applied to each of the factors of production.
  5. Prime and supplementary cost: illustrate.
  6. Joint and composite demand and join and composite supply.
  7. Quasi rent.
  8. Real and nominal rent.
  9. Consumer’s rent.
  10. The equilibrium of demand and supply

Source: Harvard University Archives. Harvard University Mid-year Examinations, 1852-1943. Box 6, Bound volume: Examination Papers, Mid-Years, 1901-02.

 

ECONOMICS 2
[Final examination, June 1902]

  1. State some of the different meanings which have been given to the law of diminishing returns, and define the law as you think it ought to be.
  2. Can you apply the law of joint demand to the wages fund questions?
  3. What is meant by an elastic demand and how does it affect monopoly price.
  4. Discuss Clark’s distinction between capital and capital goods.
  5. Under what conditions would there be no rent, and how would these conditions affect the value of products?
  6. Explain Clark’s theory of Economic Causation.
  7. What is the source of interest?
  8. What is the relation of the standard of living to wages?

Source: Harvard University Archives. Harvard University, Examination Papers, 1873-1915. Box 6, Bound volume: Examination Papers, 1902-03. Papers Set for Final Examinations in History, Government, Economics, Philosophy, Education, Fine Arts, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Music in Harvard College (June, 1902), p. 21.

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Economics 2.
Economic Theory
1902-03

Enrollment
1902-03

For Undergraduates and Graduates:—

[Economics] 2. Professor Carver.— Economic Theory.

Total 25: 5 Graduates, 8 Seniors, 7 Juniors, 3 Sophomores, 2 Others.

Source: Harvard University. Annual Reports of the President and Treasurer of Harvard College, 1902-03, p. 67.

 

Course Description
1902-03

For Undergraduates and Graduates

[Economics] 2. Economic Theory. Mon., Wed., Fri., at 2.30 Professors Taussig [sic] and Carver.

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 of selected passages from the leading writers; and in this discussion the students are expected to take an active part. Lectures are given at intervals outlining the present condition of economic theory and some of the problems which call for theoretical solution. Theories of value, diminishing returns, rent, wages, interest, profits, the incidence of taxation, the value of money international trade, and monopoly price, will be discussed. Marshall’s Principles of Economics [4th ed., 1898], Böhm-Bawerk’s Positive Theory of Capital [1888; William Smart translation, 1891], Taussig’s Wages and Capital [1896], and Clark’s Distribution of Wealth [1899] will be read and criticized.

Course 2 is open to students who have passed satisfactorily in Course 1.

Source: Harvard University.  Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Division of History and Political Science Comprising the Departments of History and Government and Economics, 1902-03. The University Publications, New Series, No. 55 (June 14, 1902), pp. 40-41.

 

ECONOMICS 2.
1902-1903

General Reading. Prescribed.

Marshall. Principles of Economics.
Taussig. Wages and Capital.
Böhm-Bawerk. Positive Theory of Capital.
Clark. The Distribution of Wealth.

References for Collateral Reading. 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.* Clark. Philosophy of Wealth. Ch. 5

II. DIMINISHING RETURNS.

1.  Senior. Pol. Econ. Pp. 81-86.

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

3*. Bullock. The Variation of Productive Forces, Q.J.E., August, 1902.

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

7.  Fetter. The Passing of the Old Rent Concept. Q.J.E. Vol. XV. P. 416.

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. Cannan. Production and Distribution. Ch. 4.

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

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

8.  Fetter. Recent Discussion of the Capital Concept. Q.J.E. Vol. XV. P. 1.

9.* Carver. Clark’s Distribution of Wealth. Q.J.E., Aug. 1901.

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*. Carver. Abstinence and the Theory of Interest. Q.J.E, Vol. VIII. P. 40.

5.   Mixter. Theory of Saver’s Rent. Q.J.E. 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*. Carver. Wages and the Theory of Value. Q.J.E. 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; Vol. XV. Pp. 75 and 603.

5.   MacVane, in in Quar. Jour. Econ.,  Vol. II. P. 1.

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

Source: Harvard University Archives. HUC 8522.2.1, Box 1 of 10 (Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in Economics, 1895-2003). Folder: 1902-1903.

 

ECONOMICS 2
[Mid-year examination, 1903]

Explain and illustrate any twelve of the following subjects.

  1. Marginal utility.
  2. Elasticity of wants.
  3. The law of diminishing returns from land.
  4. The extension of the law of diminishing returns to other factors than land.
  5. The law of economy of organization (Bullock).
  6. The law of varied costs (Bullock).
  7. The cause of rent.
  8. The law of rent.
  9. Quasi rent.
  10. Joint and composite demand.
  11. Joint and composite supply.
  12. Prime and supplementary cost.
  13. The relation of rent to the price of products.
  14. The effect of the shortening of the working day upon the demand for labor.

Source: Harvard University Archives. Harvard University Mid-year Examinations, 1852-1943. Box 6, Bound volume: Examination Papers, Mid-Years, 1902-03.

 

ECONOMICS 2
[Final examination, June 1903]

  1. Explain the principal of marginal utility.
  2. Explain the law of diminishing returns and extend it to other factors than land.
  3. What is the relation of cost to value?
  4. What is the relation of rent to value?
  5. What is the relation of waiting to interest?
  6. What is capital?
  7. What is the relation of capital to wages?
  8. Explain joint and composite demand and joint and composite supply.
  9. Does the home consumer necessarily pay the whole of the tariff duty?
    Give reasons for your answer.
  10. Is the value of money determined in all particulars as the value of any other commodity?

Source: Harvard University Archives. Harvard University, Examination Papers, 1873-1915. Box 6, Bound volume: Examination Papers, 1902-03. Papers Set for Final Examinations in History, Government, Economics, History of Religions, Philosophy, Education, Fine Arts, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Music in Harvard College (June, 1903), p. 21.

Source Image: Thomas Nixon Carver, Harvard Class Album 1906.

 

Categories
Cornell Economists Harvard Race

Harvard. Economics Ph.D. alumnus, Michael Francis McPhelin, S.J., 1951

 

 

This post in the series, “Get to know an economics Ph.D.”, began unintentionally with a check of the proper capitalization for the name of a relatively obscure Harvard economics Ph.D. alumnus. The crop of 1950-51 Ph.D.’s was large (41) and included Thomas Schelling, Robert M. Solow, and William Parker who already have dedicated posts here at Economics in the Rear-view Mirror.  I discovered that the Jesuit priest-economist, whose name I double-checked, had been awarded a bronze star as an army chaplain in World War II and later went on to become the founding faculty member of the department of economics at the Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines. This post presents a variety of artifacts associated with Rev. Michael Francis McPhelin, S.J. that I collected after a half-day’s worth of internet trawling.

In the history of U.S. academic economics Professor McPhelin turns out to be associated with a major moment at the intersection of the politics of race and academic freedom. There are quite a few cases of external forces attempting to influence hiring decisions and curricula involving economists (e.g. Samuelson’s textbook), but McPhelin’s case was an inside-the-ivory-tower-job. He put himself in the cross-hairs of student activists who wanted him dismissed for alleged racism in the classroom. A fairly complete accounting of the “McPhelin affair” that included an occupation of the Cornell economics department offices can be found in:

Downs, Donald Alexander. Chapter 4 “Racial Justice Versus Academic Freedom” in his Cornell ’69: Liberalism and the Crisis of the American University. Ithaca, NY Cornell University Press, 1999. pp. 68-96.
A book review by Jon Porter

With respect to Father McPhelin, Downs gives the benefit of the doubt:

McPhelin was treading into an area of delicate expectations and sensitivities, and he was doing so in front of the leading advocates of Black Power on campus. Worse, McPhelin entered this fray with fewer strategic skills than other professors who managed to get away with similar remarks in class. According to Nathan Tarcov, who lived in the same house as the visiting priest, McPhelin was a friendly, decent man who had the misfortune of being obtuse. “He really just could not fully comprehend what was happening to him,” Tarcov said. “He just didn’t get it.” [Downs, p. 72]

I have included a considerably less than flattering portrayal of McPhelin by a Philippine businessman/politician/journalist who clearly bore an anti-colonial grudge against the Jesuit academics, his “Great White Father(s)”.

The former president of the Philippines (Benigno Aquino III) appears to have had a much higher opinion of McPhelin.

The post ends with a list of papers that Professor Michael McPhelin published in the journal Philippine Studies.

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Michael Francis McPhelin (Ph.D., 1950-51)

Michael Francis McPhelin, A.B. (Woodstock Coll.[Baltimore, MD]) 1935, A.M. (ibid.) 1936, S.T.L. (ibid.) 1942.

Special Field, The History of Economic Thought.
Thesis, “The Meaning and Requirements of Economic Order.”

Source: Report of the President of Harvard College, 1950-51, pp. 111.

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New York Times obituary

The Rev. Michael F. McPhelin, a Jesuit who was a former dean of the Fordham University School of Business, died Jan. 21 in Manila. He was 70 years old.

In 1950 he was assigned to the faculty of Ateneo de Manila and had returned there for service over the last two decades. A native of New York, he completed his seminary studies at Woodstock College in Maryland. He served as a chaplain with the 275th Infantry in World War II and then received a doctorate from Columbia University [sic].

He became an assistant professor of economics at Fordham in 1950 and later taught at Gregorian University, Rome. He became dean at Fordham in 1954.

He is survived by a brother, James, and a sister, Ann Young.

Source: The New York Times, January 31, 1981, section 1, page 11.

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War record as Chaplain in the Infantry

McPhelin, Michael F. (New York)

Born: 16 May 1911. Entered Society: 14 Aug 1929. Ordained: 22 Jun 1941. Present Province: Philippines.

Appointed to the Army 6 Jan 1944. Serial number: 0543081. To the rank of Captain 9 Dec 1944; to Major 21 Aug 1946. Assignments: Harvard Chaplain School (10 Feb 1944) ; Monterey, Cal., and Camp Cooke, Cal. (1944) ; 275th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division, at Camp Adair, Ore., at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and in France (1944) ; 275th Infantry Regiment, France (1945) ; 23rd Corps Artillery, Germany (1945) ; 30th Infantry Regiment, Germany (1946) ; Division Artillery, 3rd Infantry Division (1946). Reverted to inactive status 20 Oct 1946. Award: Bronze Star.

Source: Woodstock Letters, vol. 89, no. 4 (November 1, 1960), p. 402.

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War Anecdote

Jan 7, 1945 (-4 to +5 deg F!!!)

…following is the story of Father Michael McPhelin…This being Sunday, he is making his rounds to say Mass. In the daylight, the men cannot stick their heads up without being shot at from Germans on higher ground. When he arrives at Co F in the forward-right sector below Baerenthal, he is told that the men could not possibly risk coming together for Mass. Chaplain McPhelin replied, “Well, if that’s the case, I will have to go to them. That’s my job.” While there is every expectation that the Germans will shoot him, since they can clearly see him move from foxhole to foxhole, they don’t.”

Source: Timothy McG. Millhiser and Ross R. Millhiser (June, 2000) “Operation Northwind” History of Company A, 275th  Regiment, 70th Division.

Cf. Charles Whiting. The Other Battle of the Bulge: Operation Northwind. The History Press (2007). Chapter 3.

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Ateneo Economics Department:
A BRIEF HISTORY

Over the past fifty years, the Ateneo Economics Department has distinguished itself with its rich history and the countless contributions its alumni have made to Philippine society.

The Economics Department started out as a subdepartment of Social Science. Although it was recognized as a separate department, Economics had no official head and was under control of the chair of Social Science. When the Economics Department was finally established in 1953, it had only Rev. Michael McPhelin, S.J. as its lone faculty member. He became the first moderator of the Economics of the Ateneo (ESA) when it was founded in 1962.

In the school year 1957-1958, the Economics Department achieved greater autonomy with the appointment of a chair separate from that of the Department of Social Science. This was Rev. William J. Nicholson, S.J., who was one of four faculty members in 1955. A notable faculty member who also became chair of the Department was Dr. Vicente Valdepeñas, who would subsequently become the director-general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). He is currently a member of the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

The year 1970 was significant for the Economics Department. For the first time, it acquired female faculty, among them Victoria Valdez, Ellen Palanca, and later Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The last two would go on to acquire doctorates and continue teaching in the Department. Mrs. Macapagal –Arroyo would eventually leave the academe to become a member of the Aquino cabinet, senator, vice president, and President of the Republic.

Today, the Ateneo Economics Department is widely recognized as one of the most important academic groups in the country. It boasts of faculty members who not only provide analytical assistance to government agencies, multilateral organizations and non-government organizations, but also lead their students into careers that are dedicated to the improvement of the national economy and national well-being.

The Department tirelessly and resolutely charts new directions for growth and development. It continues to offer the bachelor’s and master programs begun in 1951, the Management Economics Program introduced in 1984, and the Ph.D. program initiated in 2002. Three thousand men and women have graduated with degrees in the Department’s various courses, and thousands more will follow in the coming years.

Indeed, the Economics Department of the Ateneo de Manila is keeping alive the Jesuit tradition of academic excellence and service to God and the Filipino people.

Source: Ateneo de Manila University Economics Department website.

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The Great White Father
by Hilarion M. Henares, Jr.

Hilarion

Philippine Daily Inquirer
September 24, 1986

…Abrasive in manner and speech, a cruel glint in his eyes, inveterate party goer, he was a racist who was thrown out of Cornell University for lectures telling the Negroes they were bioogically inferior to the whites. He was Father Michael McPhelin, head of the Economics Department of Ateneo University, suspected CIA agent, a hanger-on at Malacañang as some sort of Rasputin, and the beloved mentor of NEDA Director Vince Valdepeñas…

The first time I met Father McPhelin was as a young businessman just fresh out of college invited to speak before the Ateneo Economic Society. He was the rudest person I ever met, he kept interrupting me, making insulting remarks about the integrity and competence of Filipino businessmen, and made no bones about his conviction that American multinationals should be given free rein to exploit our country…

Finally, I spoke to him thus: “McPhelin, you have me at a disadvantage. In the first place, you are a priest; that means God must be on your side. In the second place, you are a Jesuit priest, which means that you are probably one of the most brilliant of holy men. Above all, you are an American Jesuit priest, which makes you in the worst and most ominous sense of the term, a Great White Father about whom we Ateneans and Filipinos have a colonial mentality. But mark this, McPhelin, from here on, there will be no public forum you will ever attend that I will not grace with my presence.  And I promise you when we meet in debate, I will wipe the floor with the two protuberances of your ischia–that is, with your butt!” He was shocked out of his wits at the first Pinoy that ever talked back to him.

This big bully Father McPhelin browbeat an entire generation of Ateneo students into being Little Brown Brothers, without pride of race or faith in the Filipino. I hounded him for years, challenging him to a debate, questioning him in the open forum period, till he developed diarrhea at the very sight of me. Everywhere he went, he brought his assistant with him, a nice harmless young man named Vicente Valdepeñas Jr.; and when he saw me, he rushed out leaving poor Vince to face me as I complained: “Must I spend the rest of my life debating with altar boys?” And golly I still am….

Source:  From Hiarion M. Henares, Jr. Make My Day

For a personal report about Henares: see the blogpost in honor of his 88th birthday by Bel Cunanan “How to solve a problem like Larry Henares” from April 10, 2013.

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President (2010-2016) Benigno Aquino III
recalls his economics professor

President Aquino “…was the keynote speaker at the opening program of the Ignatian Festival 2013 on his alma mater’s [Ateneo de Manila University] campus in Loyola Heights, Quezon City, with the theme “Lahing Loyola Para sa Kapwa (A Loyola Race for Others)…

…He said he “owed a debt of gratitude” to his former teachers and mentors for molding his character.

Ateneo teaches that “I am in the position to help” improve the lives of others, he said, without adding that state universities and other schools also do the same.

Repeating the age-old dichotomy between success and public service (or servant leadership, as Ateneans like to call it), Mr. Aquino asked: “Isn’t this more sensible than the other institutions’ drive to enhance their students ability to quickly ascend the ladder of wealth and prestige?”

He cited the pivotal role played by his economics professor, Fr. Michael McPhelin, a Harvard alumnus, in enriching his knowledge of the subject.

He recalled debating with McPhelin matters dealing with economics and statistics during the “last 15 minutes of each and every class” held three times a week.

After passing the course, he was told by McPhelin that “he just wanted me to be like my father so he pressured me… into getting used to going through a lot of tests,” Mr. Aquino said.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer Sunday July 21, 2013.

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Papers by Michael F. McPhelin
published in Philippine Studies

Vol 7, No 4 (1959) The Margin Act

Vol 7, No 4 (1959) Economic Freedom: Adam Smith vs. The Papacy

Vol 8, No 1 (1960) Political Transmission 15 I. Economics of the Transmission

Vol 8, No 2 (1960) The “Filipino First” Policy

Vol 8, No 3 (1960) Post-Summit Reflections

Vol 8, No 3 (1960) Inducement to Invest: The United States Investment Guaranty Program and Foreign Investment

Vol 9, No 1 (1961) Financial Achievement of 1960

Vol 9, No 2 (1961) The Chinese Question

Vol 9, No 2 (1961) Where Angels Fear To Tread: Too Many Asians

Vol 9, No 3 (1961) The Purchase of Meralco

Vol 10, No 2 (1962) Not One But Ten: Southeast Asia Today and Tomorrow

Vol 10, No 4 (1962) Boeke’s Thesis Examined: Indonesian Economics

Vol 12, No 2 (1964) A Philippine Economic Geography: Shadows on the Land

Vol 12, No 4 (1964) The Economic Development Foundation

Vol 13, No 2 (1965) A Practical Man’s Economics Guide: The Planning and Execution of Economic Development

Vol 13, No 4 (1965) National Development and Human Resources: Manpower and Education

Vol 14, No 1 (1966) Wages and Justice

Vol 14, No 1 (1966) A Source Book For Economic Geography: World Economic Development

Vol 14, No 4 (1966) Philippine: International Trade and Problems of Modernization

Vol 17, No 2 (1969) Economic Dilemma of Asian Countries Asian Drama

Vol 17, No 3 (1969) On the Diversity of Philippine Geography: The Philippine Island World

Vol 17, No 4 (1969) Manila: The Primate City

Vol 18, No 1 (1970) Economic Nationalism and Planned Stagnation

Vol 18, No 3 (1970) An Inquiry into Economic Nationalism

Vol 20, No 4 (1972) The Philippines: Problems and Prospects

Vol 20, No 4 (1972) Sicat: Economic Policy and Philippine Development

Vol 24, No 4 (1976) The Philippines: An Economic and Social Geography

Vol 24, No 4 (1976) Foreign Trade Regimes and Economic Development: The Philippines

Vol 25, No 4 (1977) The Tropics and Economic Development A Provocative Inquiry into the Poverty of Nations

Categories
Exam Questions Harvard Suggested Reading Syllabus

Harvard. Economics of Social Security. Reading list and exam. Harris, 1951

 

While the following syllabus was filed with the Harvard economics syllabi for 1951-52, Seymour Harris’ course on the economics of social security was actually not offered that year. It was offered during the spring term of 1950-51 for which there is a final exam to be found. Both the course reading list and the exam are transcribed below.

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Course Announcement

Economics 186 (formerly Economics 86a). Economics of Social Security

Half-course (spring term). Mon., Wed., and (at the pleasure of the instructor) Fri., at 12. Professor Harris.

Economics 286 (formerly Economics 186b). Social Security and its Relation to Fiscal and Cycle Problems

Half-course (spring term). Mon., Wed., and (at the pleasure of the instructor) Fri., at 12. Professor Harris.

This course treats of the United States Social Security programs primarily, and foreign areas secondarily. Unemployment, health, old age insurance, education receive much attention; also assistance programs. Methods of finance, relations to economic activity, effects on income distribution are also considered.

Source: Harvard University Archives. Courses of Instruction, Box 6. Official Register of Harvard University vol. 47, no. 23 (September, 1950). Final Announcement of the Courses of Instruction offered by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences during 1950-51, pp. 82-83, 89.

____________________

Prof. S. E. Harris

Economics 186 and 286
1951

I. Social Security and the National Economy—Four weeks

Philosophy; problems of distribution; monetary, financial and cyclical aspects; broad outlines of the American and British systems.

Assignment:

E. Burns: The American Social Security System, Chs. 1-3

Haber and Cohen: Readings in Social Security, Chs. 1-3

Suggested readings:

*The Beveridge Report (Social Insurance and Allied Problems)

+*W.R. Robson (Ed.): Social Security

R.C. Davison: The Unemployed

*R.C. Davison: British Unemployment Policy

S.E. Harris: Economics of Social Security, pp. 1-161

A.H. Hansen: Full Recovery or Stagnation? pp. 137-192

III. Attacks on Insecurity

The Old Age Problem—Two weeks

Assignment: Burns, Chs. 4,5; Haber-Cohen, pp. 249-322

Assistance—One week

Assignment: Burns, Chs. 11, 12

Unemployment—Two weeks

Assignment: Burns, Chs. 6,7; Haber-Cohen, Ch. 4

Sickness and Health Insurance—Two weeks

Assignment: The Practitioner, pp. 1-61; Haber-Cohen, Ch. 6

Veterans

Assignment: Burns, Ch. 10

 

Suggested Readings:

H.M. Stationary Office: Social Insurance, Part I, 1944

The Final Report of the Committee on the Costs of Medical Care, 1932

Backman and Meriam: The Issue of Compulsory Health Insurance (The Brookings Institution)

+S.E. Harris: Economics of Social Security, pp. 162-443

*Recommendations for Social Security Legislation: Reports of the Advisory Council on Social Security to the Senate Committee on Finance, 1949.

The Nation’s Health: A Ten Years Program

+Millis and Montgomery: Labor’s Risk and Social Insurance

*Report to the President of the Committee on Economic Security, 1935

*Reading period: Any one of these items.

+Graduate students: Read 300 pages additional from one of these three items (but exclusive of your reading period choice) and write a 2500-word comment on the additional reading.

Source: Harvard University Archives, Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in Economics, 1895-2003, Box 5, Folder “Economics, 1951-1952 (2 of 2)”.

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1950-51
HARVARD UNIVERSITY

ECONOMICS 186 AND 286
[Final Examination. June, 1951]

Economics 186: Answer five questions, including number 6.

Economics 286: Answer four questions, including numbers 5 and 6.

Indicate Class next to your name.

  1. “Under the British National Health Service Act, the relative position of practitioners, nurses, specialists, dentists, obstetricians, and the relative outlays on various services have been affected.” Discuss this quotation on the basis of your reading in The Practitioner and lectures.
  2. Compare the present status of British and American programs of social security.
  3. Give the main provisions, major weaknesses, and suggest methods of improvement of the U.S. Unemployment Insurance Program.
  4. Under Old Age Insurance (U.S.A.), the problem of appropriate benefits is a difficult one. Consider some of the crucial problems raised in developing appropriate benefits.
  5. Relate the problem of economic fluctuations to the American Social Security program.
  6. Summarize and comment on the reading period assignment. (30 Minutes.)

Source: Harvard University Archives. Final Examinations, 1853-2001. Box 27. Papers Printed for Final Examinations [in] History, History of Religions,…,Economics,…, Air Sciences, Naval Science. June, 1951.

Image Source: Seymour Harris in the Harvard Class Album 1957.

Categories
Exam Questions Harvard Suggested Reading

Harvard. Readings, exams for business cycles. Hansen and Haberler, 1942-44

Materials from the 1941-42 course in business cycles co-taught by Gottfried Haberler and Alvin Hansen have been posted earlier. This post adds material for the same courses offered in the next two years.

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Enrollment, 1942-43

45a. [and 145a] (winter term) Professors Hansen and Haberler.—Business Cycles.

Total 45: 10 Graduates, 15 Seniors, 13 Juniors, 5 Sophomores, 1 Public Administration, 1 Other.

Source: Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College, 1942-43, pp. 47.

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SPECIFIC READING ASSIGNMENTS IN ECONOMICS 45a
1943

  1. Types of Cycles and Statistical Materials(about 3 weeks)
    1. Haberler: Prosperity and Depression, Chapters 1, 9, 10,11
    2. Hansen: Fiscal Policy and Business Cycles, Chapters 1,2
    3. Schumpeter: Business Cycles, pp. 325-351
    4. Schumpeter: “Analysis of Economic Change,” Review of Economic Statistics, May, 1935
    5. Kondratieff: “The Long Waves in Economic Life,” Review of Economic Statistics, November 1935
    6. Federal Reserve Chart Book (Available at the Coop. 50¢)
  2. General Theoretical Analysis
    1. Hansen: Full Recovery or Stagnation?, Chapters 1-2
    2. Haberler: Prosperity and Depression, Chapters 2-4: 7-8; 13
    3. Hansen: Business Cycle Theory, Chapter 4
    4. Hansen: Fiscal Policy and Business Cycles, Chapters 11,12
    5. Wilson, T., Fluctuations in Income and Employment, (Pitman) 1942.
    6. Hansen: Full Recovery or Stagnation?, Chapters 16-20
  3. Reading Period (Choose A or B):
    1. 1. Mitchell: “Business Cycles,Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, Vol. 3, pp. 92-106.
      2. Hansen: Fiscal Policy and Business Cycles, Chs. 3-5; 16-17; 23-24.
    2. Clark, J.M.: Strategic Factors in Business Cycles (entire book).

Source: Harvard University Archives. Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in Economics, 1895-2003, Box 3, Folder “Economics, 1942-1943 (2 of 2)”.

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DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS
Reading Period
April 26-May 8, 1943

Economics 45a: Choose A or B:

A.

(1) Mitchell, “Business Cycles, Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, Vol. 3, pp. 92-106.
(2) Hansen, Fiscal Policy and Business Cycles, Chs. 3-5; 16-17; 23-24.

B. Clark, J.M., Strategic Factors in Business Cycles(entire book).

Source: Harvard University Archives. Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in Economics, 1895-2003, Box 3, Folder “Economics, 1942-1943 (1 of 2)”.

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1942-43
HARVARD UNIVERSITY

ECONOMICS 45a
[Final examination, May 1943]

I
(Answer any four questions in Part I)

  1. If the downward movement is cumulative why should it ever come to an end short of zero employment?
  2. Discuss cycles of different length and their possible interrelation and causation. Say something about the literature and state your own opinion.
  3. How is the business cycle as a whole, or particular phases of it, likely to be influenced by the widespread existence of monopolies? State your own opinion and give your reasons for it and, if you like, report about other people’s views.
  4. Is it circular reasoning to say that consumption depends on investment as explained by the multiplier and that investment depends on consumption as stated by the acceleration principle?
  5. “The kind of wave-like movement, which we call the business cycle, is incident to industrial change and would be impossible in an economic world in which there are no industrial innovations and discoveries.” Discuss.
  6. Why is it that the production of durable goods shows wider percentage fluctuations than that of perishable goods? Is this a cause or consequence of the cycle? Suppose by social security payments or otherwise, consumer spending were kept on an even keel (constant or steadily rising), could fluctuations in output and employment then arise?

II
(Answer either A or B)

  1. Discuss the relation of population growth to the business cycle.
  2. What are Clark’s findings about the amplitude of fluctuation in various series? Are these useful in explaining the business cycle?

Source:Harvard University Archives. Final Examinations, 1853-2001. Box 7. Papers Printed for Final Examinations: History, History of Religions,…, Economic,…, Military Science, Naval Science. May, 1943.

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Enrollment, 1943-44

45a. (winter term) Professor Hansen.—Business Cycles.

Total 34: 4 Seniors, 6 Juniors, 2 Sophomores, 2 Freshmen 3 Public Administration, 6 Radcliffe, 9 Navy V-12, 2 ROTC.

145a. (winter term) Professor Hansen.—Business Cycles and Economic Forecasting.

Total 8: 4 Graduates, 3 Public Administration, 1 Other.

Source: Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College, 1943-44, pp. 56, 58.

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1943-44
HARVARD UNIVERSITY

ECONOMICS 45 and 145
[Final examination, February 1944]

  1. Discuss and compare the explanations of the cycle as developed by the following writers:
    1. Schumpeter
    2. Spiethoff
    3. Keynes
  2. Give a full discussion of the factors that bring about a termination of the boom—in short, an explanation of the upper turning point in the cycle. In this connection introduce the views of different cycle theorists, and consider the role of the acceleration principle.
  3. (Undergraduates should choose one of the following; graduates must write on )
    1. What are the strategic factors in business cycles according to Clark?
    2. With respect to Mitchell, discuss:
      1. “specific cycles” and “business cycles”
      2. The various phases of the business cycle.

Source: Harvard University Archives. Final Examinations, 1853-2001. Box 8. Papers Printed for Final Examinations: History, History of Religions,…, Economic,…, Military Science, Naval Science. February, 1944.

Image Source:  Alvin Hansen and Gottfried Haberler in the Harvard Class Album, 1942.

Categories
Exam Questions Harvard Suggested Reading

Harvard. Readings and Exams for undergraduate money, banking, and crises. Harris and Williams, 1941-42

 

A staple of the undergraduate economics program at Harvard throughout the first half of the 20th century covered both money/banking and commercial crises. For this academic year that included the entry of the United States into World War II, I have only been able to locate the first semester course outline and the final exam for both semesters. If I ever come across the course outline for the second semester, I will be sure to post it!

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Course Material from
Other Years

1937-38
1938-39 (Paper topics)
1940-41

______________________

Course enrollment

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

Total 81: 18 Seniors, 50 Juniors, 11 Sophomores, 1 School of Public Administration, 1 Other

Source: Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College, 1941-42, p. 63.

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1941-42
Readings in Economics 41 (First Term)

  1. Introductory Survey
    1. “The Federal Reserve System—Its Purposes and Functions”
      (Published by Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; a good brief statement of our deposit banking and Federal Reserve mechanism.)
  2. Nature and Functions of Banking
    1. Dunbar, “Theory and History of Banking”, Chs. 1,2,3,4, pp. 1-60.
    2. White, “Money and Banking”, Ch. 16, pp. 349-372.
  3. Note Issue
    1. Currie. “Supply and Control of Money”, Ch. 10, pp. 110-115.
    2. Longstreet, “Currency System of United States”, in Banking Studies by Members of the Staff, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, pp. 65-83.
  4. Creation of Deposits
    1. Phillips, “Bank Credit”, Ch. 3., pp. 32-77.
    2. Currie, op. cit., Chs. 6, pp. 65-68.
  5. Commercial Loan Theory
    1. Robertson, “Money”, Ch. 5, pp. 92-117.
    2. Currie, op.  cit., Ch. 4, pp. 34-46.
  6. Central Banking; Federal Reserve System
    1. “Banking Studies”, pp. 1-476.
    2. Federal Reserve Bulletin, July 1935: “Supply and Use of Member Bank Reserve Funds,” pp. 419-428.
    3. Langum, “The Statement of Supply and Use of Member Bank Reserve Funds,” Review of Economic Statistics, August, 1939, pp. 110-115.
    4. Williams, “The Banking Act of 1935”, American Economic Review Supplement, March 19366, pp. 95-105.
  7. Some Current Problems of Reserve Organization
    Excess reserves; 100 per cent reserves; special reserves against inter-bank deposits; “ceiling plan”, et cetera; branch banking
  8. International Monetary Organization and Policy; The “Gold Problem”
    1. Graham and Whittlesey, “Golden Avalanche”.
    2. Hansen, “Gold in a Warring World”, Yale Review, June, 1940, pp. 668-686.
    3. Williams, “The Adequacy of Existing Currency Mechanisms Under Varying Circumstances”. American Economic Review Supplement, March, 1937, pp. 151-168.

Source: Harvard University Archives. Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in Economics, 1895-2003. Box 3, Folder “Economics, 1941-42”.

Reading Period
Jan. 5-14, 1942
Economics 41

Read one of the following:

  1. Hardy, Federal Reserve Policy.
  2. Hawtrey, Art of Central Banking, pp. 116-303.
  3. Keynes, Treatise on Money, Vol. II, Book VII.
  4. Sprague, Crises under the National Banking System.

Source: Harvard University Archives. Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in Economics, 1895-2003. Box 3, Folder “Economics, 1941-42”.

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1941-42
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
ECONOMICS 41
Money, Banking and Commercial Crises
Mid-Year Examination

Please put the day and hour of your section meeting on the cover of your first blue book.

Part I
(Answer all three questions.)

  1. Supply and Use of Member Bank Reserve Funds.
(millions of dollars)
Nov. 19— Nov. 19—
Bills discounted 2,762 1,228
Bills bought 276 79
U.S. Government securities 320 208
Other Reserve bank credit 109 29
Monetary gold stock 2,586 3,308
Treasury and National bank currency, 1,711 1,835
Money in circulation 5,375 4,386
Treasury cash and deposits with the Federal Reserve banks 236 260
Non-member deposits 27 28
Other Federal Reserve accounts 344 350
Member bank reserve balances 1,782 ?
    1. For each of the above items, give the meaning, indicate the manner in which it influences the volume of member bank reserve balances, and state in figures what its actual effect was on these balances in the period covered by the example.
    2. Calculate what member bank reserve balances were at the later date and explain in words their change from the earlier.
    3. To what years do you think the statement might apply?
    4. What can you deduce from these figures about monetary changes and central bank policy during this period?
  1. What is meant by the difference between “compensated” and “uncompensated” deposits or withdrawals, and how do their effects differ? Describe briefly all the types of “uncompensated” payments.
  2. Reading period. Answer one of the following:
    1. Hardy: Give a résumé of the problem of “qualitative” vs. “quantitative” credit control by the Federal Reserve. What was its meaning and importance?
    2. Sprague: “Somewhere in the banking system of a country there should be a reserve of lending power.” Discuss with relation to any one of the crises prior to 1914.
    3. Hawtrey or Keynes: Contrast the more significant differences between the working of the Federal Reserve System and the Bank of England. Assess their importance in practice.
    4. Keynes: Can the banking system control the rate of investment?

Part II
Answer any TWO questions.

  1. Discuss: “The cost of acquiring [gold] imposes a heavy burden; the purchase constitutes a subsidy to producers; the chief benefit goes to foreigners.” Do you regard this as a correct analysis of the cost of our huge gold imports during the last eight years?
  2. What, in your view, are the chief merits and defects of the 100% reserve plan?
  3. Discuss the significance of “liquidity” for the operation of the commercial banking system.
  4. Discuss: “Whereas the lack of a banking crisis in 1920 or 1929 led us to believe the Federal Reserve System a satisfactory cure for the evils of the national banking system, the bank holiday in 1933 proved that this is not the case.”
  5. Would you agree that the function of the central bank is to enable the banking system “to accommodate the needs of trade”?
  6. What limitations are placed on domestic monetary policy by external considerations?

 

Source: Harvard University Archives. Harvard University Mid-term Examinations, 1852-1943, Box 15. Papers Printed for Mid-Year Examinations [in] History, History of Religions, …, Economics, …,Military Science, Naval Science. January-February, 1942.

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Reading Period.
May 4-23, 1942

Economics 41. Read one of the following:

  1. Keynes, General Theory of Employment, Chs. 1-19, omit appendices.
  2. Hawtrey, Capital and Employment, all but Chs. 8, 9, 11.
  3. Hawtrey, Art of Central Banking, Chs. 1, 2, 4, 8.
  4. Durbin, The Problem of Credit Policy.
  5. Hansen, Full Recovery or Stagnation.
  6. K. Wicksell, Interest and Prices, and Keynes, Treatise, I, Chs. 2-5, 7, 14.
  7. G. Haberler, Prosperity and Depression (1939 ed.), Part I.
  8. E. Wood, English Theories of Central Banking Control.
  9. Paper Pound of 1797-1821 (Cannan edition), and
  10. Heckscher, Sweden in the World War, Part III.

Source: Harvard University Archives. Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in Economics, 1895-2003. Box 3, Folder “Economics, 1941-42”.

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1941-42
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
ECONOMICS 41
Final Examination

Answer five questions, one in Part I, the question in Part II, and three in Part III.

Part I
(Take one hour. Answer one question only.)

  1. “The gold standard limits the discretion and fetters the independent action of the Government or Central Bank of any country which has bound itself to the international gold standard. It may not be the ideal system, but it maintains a certain standard of efficiency and avoids violent disturbances and gross aberrations of policy.” Discuss this point and assess its importance in the advantages and disadvantages of the gold standard.
  2. Can the banking system control the price level?
  3. “The question now arises whether the magnitude of this velocity of circulation can be regarded as determined by independent factors; or whether, rather as is sometimes maintained, it is not merely the resultant, given the quantity of goods exchanged and of available money, of the particular level of commodity prices, themselves determined by quite different ” What does Wicksell say about this? If you disagree on any points give your reasons.

Part II
(Answer one question.)

  1. Write an essay on some one topic discussed in the book you took as the reading period assignment. Do notwrite a summary of the book.

Part III
(Answer any three questions.)

  1. What is the relation of the gold standard and the quantity theory of money? Discuss the relationship as a factor contributing towards the breakdown of the gold standard? Mention briefly some other factors contributing towards the collapse of the gold standard.
  2. What kind of foreign exchange policy would you advocate for the U.S. after the war? Support your recommendations.
  3. “The real cause of a rise in prices is to be looked for, not in the expansion of the amount of money as such but in the provision by the Bank of easier credit, which is itself the cause of the expansion.”
  4. What is the nature of the relations between the quantity of money and interest and prices?
  5. “The problem of war finance is simple. If the government wishes to avoid inflation, it must not allow any increase in the quantity of money.” Do you agree?
  6. Is Chandler a Keynesian?

Source: Harvard University Archives. Harvard University Final Examinations, 1853-2001, Box 6, Papers Printed for Final Examinations [in] History, History of Religions, …, Economics, …,Military Science, Naval Science. June, 1942.

Image Source: John H. Williams (left) and Seymour Harris (right) from Harvard Class Album 1939.

 

 

Categories
Exam Questions Harvard Suggested Reading Syllabus

Harvard. Graduate Money and Banking. Williams and Hansen, 1941-42

 

This post adds to the growing stock of course materials for the money and banking field taught in the Harvard economics department.

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Course materials for graduate money and banking taught by John Williams and Alvin Hansen for other years posted at Economics in the Rear-view Mirror.

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Course Enrollment

Economics 141. Professors Williams and Hansen.—Principles of Money and Banking.

Total 37: 24 Graduates, 7 School of Public Administration, 2 Radcliffe, 4 Others.

Source: Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College, 1941-42, p. 64.

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ECONOMICS 141
Principles of Money and Banking
1941-1942

  1. Pre-requisite reading. (For those who have not had advanced undergraduate course in Money and Banking.)
    1. Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System: Banking Studies — 1941
    2. Escher, Franklin: Modern Foreign Exchange — Macmillan, 1935
  1. Minimum required Reading (It is recommended to begin with Robertson’s book on Money, and then the chapters indicated in Wicksell’s Interest and Prices and Hawtrey’s A Century of Bank Rate. This may be followed by the chapters required in Keynes’ A Treatise on Money.)
  1. Books:
    1. Angell, James W.: Investment and Business Cycles — McGraw-Hill, 1941
    2. Haberler, Gottfried:  Prosperity and Depression — League of Nations, 1939), Chapter 8.
    3. Hansen, Alvin H.: Fiscal Policy and Business Cycles — Norton, 1941
    4. Hansen, Alvin H.: Full Recovery or Stagnation? — Norton, 1938
    5. Hansen, Alvin H.: Business Cycle Theory — Ginn 1927. Chapter IV.
    6. Hawtrey, R.G.: A Century of Bank Rate — Longmans, 1938
    7. Hayek, F. A.: Prices and Production — Routledge, 1935 (rev. ed.)
    8. Keynes, J. M.: Treatise on Money — Harcourt, Brace, 1930. Chapters 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 30.
    9. Keynes, J. M.: General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money — Harcourt, Brace, 1936.
    10. Lindahl, Erik: Studies in the Theory of Money and Capital — Allen and Unwin, 1939. Part II. Chapters III, IV, V, VI.
    11. Myrdal, G.: Monetary Equilibrium — Hodge, 1939. Chapters I, II, III
    12. Robertson, D. H.: Money — Harcourt, Brace, 1929. (2nd ed.)
    13. Robertson, D. H.: Essays in Monetary Theory — King, 1940
    14. Schumpeter, J. A.: Business Cycles — McGraw-Hill, 1939. Chapters 14, 15
    15. Wicksell, K.: Interest and Prices — Macmillan, 1936. Introduction by Bertil Ohlin, Author’s Preface, and Chapters 5, 7, 8, 11
  1. Articles:

See articles marked * in general reference list below.

  1. General reference reading

Angell, J.W.: Behavior of Money — McGraw-Hill, 1935

Armstrong, W.E.: Saving and Investment — Routledge, 1936

Beach, W.E.: British International Gold Movements and Banking Policy — Harvard U. Press, 1935

Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System: Twenty-Fifth Annual Report

Bresciani-Turroni, C.: The Economics of Inflation — Allen & Unwin, 1937

Brookings Institution: The Recovery Problem in the United States — 1936

Burgess, W.R.: The Reserve Banks and the Money Market — Harpers, 1936

Cassel, G.: The Downfall of the Gold Standard — Clarendon Press, 1936

Cassel, G.: On Quantitative Thinking in Economics — Clarendon Press, 1935.

Cassel, G.: Money and Foreign Exchange after 1914 — Macmillan, 1923.

Chandler, L.V.: An Introduction to Monetary Theory — Harper, 1940

Clark, Colin: National Income and Outlay — Macmillan, 1938

Clark, J.M.: Economics of Planning Public Works — Gov’t .Printing Office, 1935

Clark, J.M.: Strategic Factors in the Business Cycle — National Bureau of Economic Research, 1934

Cole, G.D.H.: What Everybody Wants to Know about Money — Knopf, 1933

Committee on Finance and Industry: Macmillan Report — H.M.S.O., 1931

Copland, Douglas: Australia in the World Crisis, 1929-1933 — Macmillan, 1934

Coulborn, W, A. L.: An Introduction to Money — Longmans, 1938

Crowther, G.: An Outline of Money — Nelson, 1941

Currie, L.: Supply and Control of Money in the United States — Harvard U. Press, 1934

Durbin, E.F.M.: Purchasing Power and Trade Depressions — Cape, 1933

Durbin, E.F.M.: The Problem of Credit Policy — Van Nostrand, 1935

Economic Essays in Honour of Gustav Cassel — Allen & Unwin, 1933

Economic Reconstruction — Report of Columbia Commission, Columbia U. Press, 1934

Einzig, Paul: World Finance, 1939-40 — Kegan, Paul, 1940

Ellis, H.S.: German Monetary Theory — Harvard U. Press, 1934

Ellsworth, P.T.: International Economics — Macmillan, 1938

Fisher, Irving: Purchasing Power of Money — Macmillan, 1911

Fisher, Irving: Booms and Depressions — Adelphi, 1932

Fisher, Irving. 100 Per Cent Money — Adelphi, 1935

Foster and Catchings: Money — Houghton, Mifflin, 1930

Foster and Catchings: Profits — Houghton, Mifflin, 1925

Gayer, A.D.: Monetary Policy and Economic Stabilization — Macmillan, 1935

Gayer, A.D.: Public Works in Prosperity and Depression — N.B.E.R., 1935

Gilbert, Milton: Currency Depreciation and Monetary Policy — U. of Penn. Press, 1939

Graham, F.D.: Exchange, Prices and Production in Hyper-Inflation: Germany, 1920-1923 — Princeton U. Press, 1930

Graham, F.D. and Whittlesey, C.R.: Golden Avalanche — Princeton U. Press, 1939

Gregory, T.E.: The Gold Standard and its Future — Dutton, 1935

Greidanus, T.: The Development of Keynes’ Economic Theories — King, 1939

Hall, N.F.: The Exchange Equalization Account — Macmillan, 1935

Hamilton, E.J.: American Treasure and the Price Revolution in Spain — Harvard U. Press, 1934

Hansen, Alvin H.: Economic Stabilization in an Unbalanced World — Harcourt, Brace, 1932

Hansen, Alvin H.: International Economic Relations, Part III — Hutchins Commission, U. of Minnesota Press, 1934.

Hardy, C.O. Credit Policies of the Federal Reserve System — Brookings, 1932

Hardy, C.O. Is There Enough Gold? — Brookings, 1936

Harris Institute Lectures: Gold and Monetary Stabilization — U. of Chicago Press, 1932

Harris, S.E.: Assignats — Harvard U. Press, 1930

Harris, S.E.: Monetary Problems of the British Empire-Macmillan, 1931

Harris, S.E.: Twenty Years of Federal Reserve Policy — Harvard U. Press, 1933

Harris, S.E.: Exchange Depreciation — Harvard U. Press, 1936.

Harris, S.E.: Economics of the American Defense Program — Norton, 1941

Harrod, R. F.: The Trade Cycle — Clarendon Press, 1936.

Harrod, R. F.: International Economics — Nisbet, 1939.

Hawtrey, R.G.: Currency and Credit — Longmans, 1928

Hawtrey, R.G.: Art of Central Banking — Longmans, 1932

Hawtrey, R.G.: A Century of Bank Rate — Longmans, 1939

Hayek, F.A.: Monetary Theory and the Trade Cycle — Harcourt, Brace, 1933

Hayek, F.A.: Beiträge zur Geldtheorie — Springer, 1933

Hayek, F.A.: Monetary Nationalism and International Stability — Longmans, 1937

Hayek, F.A.: Profits, Interest and Investment — Routledge, 1939

Hayek, F.A.: The Pure Theory of Capital — Macmillan, 1941

Heilperin, M.A.: International Monetary Economics — Longmans, 1939

Hicks, J.R.: Value and Capital — Oxford U. Press, 1939

Iversen, Carl: International Capital Movements — Oxford U. Press, 1936

Johnson, G.G.: The Treasury and Monetary Policy, 1933-38 — Harvard U. Press, 1939

Kalecki, M.: The Theory of Economic Fluctuations — Farrar and Rinehart, 1939

Kemmerer, E.W.: The A B C of the Federal Reserve System — Princeton U. Press, 1938

Kemmerer, E.W.: The Gold Standard — its Nature and Future — Economists Nat’l Com. On Monetary Policy, 1940

Keynes, J.M.: A Tract on Monetary Reform — Macmillan, 1923

Keynes, J.M.: Unemployment as a World Problem — U. of Chicago, 1931 (pp. 1-42)

Keynes, J.M.: Means to Prosperity — Harcourt, Brace, 1933

Keynes, J.M.: How to Pay for the War — Harcourt, Brace, 1940

King, W.T.C.: History of the London Discount Market — Routledge, 1936

Knight, A.W.: What is Wrong with the Economic System — Longmans, 1939

Kuznets, S.S.: National Income and Capital Formation, 1919-1935 — Nat’l Bureau of Econ. Research, 1937

League of Nations: Final Report on Gold–1932

League of Nations: World Economic Survey (Annual)

League of Nations: Money and Banking; Monetary Review, Commercial and Central Banks (Vols. I and II) Annual

Lester, R.A.: Monetary Experiments — Princeton U. Press, 1939

Lundberg, E.: Economic Expansion — King, 1937

Machlup, Fritz: The Stock Market, Credit, and Capital Formation — Hodge, 1940

Madden, J.R. and Nadler, M.: International Money Markets — Prentice-Hall, 1935

Marget, A.W.: The Theory of Prices — Prentice-Hall, 1938

Marshall: Money, Credit, and Commerce — Macmillan, 1923

Marshall: Official Papers — Macmillan, 1926

Meade, J.E.: An Introduction to Economic Analysis and Policy — Oxford U. Press, 1938

Meade, J.E.: Consumers’ Credits and Unemployment — Oxford U. Press, 1938

Mises, L.: The Theory of Money and Credit — Harcourt, Brace, 1935

Moulton, H.G.: The Formation of Capital — Brookings, 1935

Moulton, H.G.: Income and Economic Progress — Brookings, 1935

Moulton, H.G.: Financial Organization and the Economic System — McGraw-Hill, 1938

Myers, Margaret G.: Paris as a Financial Centre — Columbia U. Press, 1936

National Industrial Conference Board: The Availability of Bank Credit, 1933-38 — 1939

Northrup, Mildred B.: Control Policies of the Reichsbank — Columbia U. Press, 1938

Ohlin, B.: Penningpolitik, Offentliga Arbeiten, etc., — Nordstedt, 1934

Ohlin, B.: Interregional and International Trade — Harvard U. Press, 1933

Ohlin, B.: Editor of issue of The Annals, May 1938 on Some Problems and Policies in Sweden

Paris, J.D.: Monetary Policies of the U.S., 1932-38 — Columbia U. Press, 1938

Phillips, C.A.; McManus, T.F. and Nelson, R.W.: Banking and the Business Cycle — Macmillan, 1939

Pigou, A.C.: The Theory of Unemployment — Macmillan, 1933

Pigou, A.C.: Employment and Equilibrium — Macmillan, 1941

Plumptre, A.F.W.: Central Banking in the British Dominions — U. of Toronto Press, 1940

Prather, C.L.: Money and Banking — Irwin, 1940

Riefler, W.W.: Money Rates and the Money Market — Harper, 1930

Robbins, Lionel: The Great Depression — Macmillan, 1934

Robinson, Joan: Introduction to the Theory of Employment — Macmillan, 1937

Roll, Erich: About Money — Faber and Faber, 1934

Saulnier, R.J.: Contemporary Monetary Theory — Columbia U. Press, 1938

Sayers, R.S.: Modern Banking — Oxford U. Press, 1937

Schumpeter, J.A.: The Theory of Economic Development — Harvard U. Press, 1934

Shackle, G.L.S.: Expectations, Investment and Income — Oxford U. Press, 1938

Shepherd, Henry L.: The Monetary Experience of Belgium, 1914-1936 — Princeton U. Press, 1936

Spahr, Walter E.: The Case for the Gold Standard — Economists’ Nat’l Com. On Monetary Policy, 1940

Thornton, Henry: An Enquiry into the Nature and Effects of the Paper Credit of Great Britain (1802) — Farrar and Rinehart, 1939 (Introduction by Hayek)

Thorp, Willard L.: Economic Problems in a Changing World — Farrar and Rinehart, 1939

Timoshenko, V.: World Agriculture and the Depression — U. of Michigan, Bureau of Business Research, 1933

Turner, R.C.: Member-Bank Borrowing — Ohio State U., 1938

Veblen, T.: Theory of Business Enterprise — Scribner’s, 1904

Veblen, T.: The Engineers and the Price System — Huebsch, 1921

Villard, H.H.: Deficit Spending and the National Income — Farrar and Rinehart, 1941

Vineberg, P.F.: The French Franc and the Gold Standard — McGill U., 1938

Viner, Jacob: Studies in the Theory of International Trade — Harper, 1937

Warren and Pearson: Gold and Prices — Chapman and Hall, 1935

Warren and Pearson: World Prices and the Building Industry — Wiley, 1937

Westerfield, R.B.: Our Silver Debacle — Ronald Press, 1936

Westerfield, R.B.: Money, Credit and Banking — Ronald Press, 1938

Whitaker, A.C.: Foreign Exchange — Appleton-Century, 2nd ed., 1933

White, Horace: Money and Banking — Ginn, 1936 (revised edition by Tippetts and Froman)

Whittlesey, C.R.: International Monetary Issues — McGraw-Hill, 1937

Wicksell, K.: Lectures on Political Economy, Money — Macmillan, 1935

Williams, J.H.: Argentine Trade under Inconvertible Paper — Harvard U. Press, 1920.

Willis, H.P., and Beckhart, B.H.: Foreign Banking System — Holt, 1929

Wood, Elmer: English Theories of Central Banking Control, 1819-1858 — Harvard U. Press, 1939

Articles

Angell, J.W.: “The 100% Reserve Plan” Quarterly Journal of Economics, November 1935

Angell, J.W.: “Foreign Exchange” Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, Volume 6

Beveridge, W. H.: “Unemployment in the Trade Cycle”, Economic Journal, March, 1939.

Clark, Colin: “The Determination of the Multiplier from National Income Statistics”, Economic Journal, September, 1938.

Currie, L.: “The Failure of Monetary Policy to Prevent the Depression of 1929-32”, Journal of Political Economy, April 1934.

Curtis, Myra: “Is Money Saving Equal to Investment?” Quarterly Journal of Economics, August 1937

Duncan, A.J., and Gilboy, E.W.: “Propensity to Consume” Quarterly Journal of Economics, August 1939

Eddy, George A.: “The Present Status of New Security Issues”, Review of Economic Statistics, August 1939.

Ellis, Howard: “Some Fundamentals in the Theory of Velocity”, Quarterly Journal of Economics, May 1939.

Ellis, Howard: “Notes on Recent Business-Cycle Literature”, Review of Economic Statistics, August, 1938.

Ellis, Howard: “Exchange Control in Austria and Hungary” Quarterly Journal of Economics November 1939. Part II.

Graham, F.D.: “100% Reserves: comment”, American Economic Review, June, 1941.

Haberler, G.: “Mr. Kahn’s Review of ‘Prosperity and Depression’”, with rejoinder by R.F.Kahn, Economic Journal, June 1938

Hansen, Alvin H.: “Progress and Declining Population” American Economic Review, March 1939

Hansen*, Alvin H.: “Gold in a Warring World,” Yale Review, Summer, 1940

Hansen*, Alvin H.: “Monetary and Fiscal Controls in War Time” Yale Review, Winter, 1940

Hansen, Alvin H.: “Income, Consumption, and National Defense” Yale Review, Winter, 1940

Harris*, S.E.: “American Gold Policy and Allied War Economics”, Economic Journal, September, 1940.

Harrod R.F.: “An Essay in Dynamic Theory”, Economic Journal, March, 1939.

Hicks*, J.R.: “Mr. Keynes’ Theory of Employment”, Economic Journal, June, 1936.

Hicks*, J.R.: “Mr. Keynes and the ‘Classics’”: a Suggested Interpretation” Econometrica, April 1937

Hicks*, J.R.: “Mr. Hawtrey on Bank Rate and the Long-Term Rate of Interest,” The Manchester School, Vol. X, no. 1, 1939

Holden, G.R.: “Rationing and Exchange Control in British War Finance” Quarterly Journal of Economics, February 1940

Horsefield, J.K.: “Currency Devaluation and Public Finance, 1929-37” Economica, August 1939

Kaldor, Nicholas: “Capital Intensity and the Trade Cycle”, Economica, February, 1939.

Kaldor*, Nicholas: “Stability and Full Employment”, Economic Journal, December, 1938.

Kalecki, M.: “The Short-Term Rate of Interest and Velocity of Cash Circulation”, Review of Economic Statistics, May, 1941.

Keynes*, J.M.: “Alternative Theories of the Rate of Interest”, Economic Journal, June, 1937.

Keynes*, J.M.: “Relative Movements in Real Wages and Output” Economic Journal, March 1939

Kondratieff, M.D.: “The Long Waves in Economic Life”, Review of Economic Statistics, November, 1935.

Lange*, Oscar: “The Rate of Interest and the Optimum Propensity to Consume”, Economica, February 1938

Langum, J.K.: “The Statement of Supply and Use of Member Bank Reserve Funds”, Review of Economics Statistics, August, 1939.

Lehmann, Fritz: “One Hundred Per Cent Money”, Social Research, February, 1936.

Lerner*, A.P.: “Mr. Keynes’ General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money”, International Labour Review, October 1936 and November 1937.

Lerner, A.P.: “Saving Equals Investment”, Quarterly Journal of Economics, February 1938.

Lerner, A.P.: Alternative Formulations of the Theory of Interest,” Economic Journal, June, 1938.

Lerner*, Lange, Curtis, Lutz: “Saving and Investment”, Quarterly Journal of Economics, August, 1939.

Long, C.D.: “Long Cycles in the Building Industry, 1856-1935”, Quarterly Journal of Economics, May, 1939.

Lutz, F.A.: “The Outcome of the Saving-Investment Discussion”, Quarterly Journal of Economics, August, 1938.

Lutz, F.A.: “Velocity Analysis and the Theory of the Creation of Deposits”, Economica, May 1939.

Machlup*, F.: “Period Analysis and the Multiplier Theory”, Quarterly Journal of Economics, November, 1939.

Machlup, F.: “The Theory of Foreign Exchanges”, Economica, November, 1939.

Marget, A.W.: “The Monetary Aspects of the Walrasian System”, Journal of Political Economy, April 1935.

Marget, A.W.: “Leon Walras and the ‘Cash-Balance’ Approach to the Problem of the Value of Money”, Journal of Political Economy, October, 1931.

Morgenstern, O.: “Professor Hicks on Value and Capital” Journal of Political Economy, June 1941

Ohlin, Robertson, Hawtrey: “Alternative Theories of the Rate of Interest: Three Rejoinders”, Economic Journal, September, 1937.

Ohlin*, B.: Some Notes on the Stockholm Theory of Savings and Investment”, Economic Journal, March 1937, June, 1937.

Ohlin, B.: “Mechanism and Objectives of Exchange Control”, Supplement to American Economic Review, March 1937.

Pigou, A.C.: “Mr. J.M. Keynes’ ‘General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money” Economica, May 1936

Plumptre, A. F. W.: “Interest Rates and Bank Credit in the British Dominions”, Economic Journal, June, 1939.

Poole, K.H.: “Tax Remission as a Means of Influencing Cyclical Fluctuations” Quarterly Journal of Economics, February 1939

Robinson*, Joan: The Concept of Hoarding”, Economic Journal, June, 1938.

Samuelson*, P.: “Interactions between the Multiplier Analysis and the Principle of Acceleration”, Review of Economic Statistics, May, 1939.

Samuelson, P.: “The Rate of Interest under Ideal Conditions”, Quarterly Journal of Economics, February, 1939.

Schumpeter, J. A.: “An Analysis of Economic Change”, Review of Economic Statistics, May, 1935.

Shirras, G. F.: “The Position and Prospects of Gold,” Economic Journal, June-September, 1940.

Simmons*, E. C.: “Treasury Deposits and Excess Reserves”, Journal of Political Economy, June, 1940.

Simons, H. C.: “Rules versus Authority in Monetary Policy”, Journal of Political Economy, February, 1936.

Somers, H. M.: “Monetary Policy and the Theory of Interest”, Quarterly Journal of Economics, May, 1941.

Viner, Jacob: “Mr. Keynes on the Causes of Unemployment: A Review” Quarterly Journal of Economics, November, 1936.

Watkins, L. L.: “The Expansion Power of the English Banking System,” Quarterly Journal of Economics, November, 1938.

Williams, J.H.: “The Adequacy of Existing Mechanisms under Varying Circumstances” Supplement to American Economic Review, March, 1937.

Williams*, John H.: “Fiscal Policy and Preparedness”, Proceedings, Academy of Political Science, May, 1939.

Williams, John H.: “Economic and Monetary Aspects of the Defense Program”, Federal Reserve Bulletin, February, 1941.

Source: Harvard University Archives. Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in economics, 1895-2003, Box 3, Folder “Economics, 1941-1942”.

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1941-42
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
ECONOMICS 141
Principles of Money and Banking
Mid-Year Examination

(Three hours)

  1. Choose any three from questions I-IV.
    1. Compare the formulations of (a) Robertson and (b) Keynes (Treatise and General Theory) with respect to the following:
      Equality or inequality of Saving and Investment (give equations and define terms).
      2. The role of investment as a determinant of income and employment.
    2. Develop Keynes’ theory of interest and compare with the theories (a) of the classicals and (b) of Wicksell and others belonging to his school.
      2. What is the role of the rate of interest as a determinant of income and employment?
    3. “The validity of the multiplier theory rests upon the stability of the consumption function.” Explain and evaluate this statement.
    4. Give a compact summary statement describing the most significant monetary events of the two decades 1920-1940, and indicate the lessons to be learned from each.
  1. Choose one from questions V and VI.
    1. According to Angell: (1) what are the inter-relations of (a) anticipations, (b) investment, and (c) income, and what are the determinants of each; (2) what are the determinants and the role of (a) market rates of interest, (b) the money supply, an (c) money hoards?
    2. Critically state and evaluate the central thesis in Hayek’s Prices and Production.

Source: Harvard University Archives. Harvard University Mid-term Examinations, 1852-1943, Box 15. Papers Printed for Mid-Year Examinations [in] History, History of Religions, …, Economics, …,Military Science, Naval Science. January-February, 1942.

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1941-42
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
ECONOMICS 141
Principles of Money and Banking
Final Examination

(Three hours)

Discuss THREE topics.

  1. The relation of consumption to income and its significance for fiscal policy.
  2. The implications of fiscal policy for monetary policy and the banking system.
  3. The ideas of Foster and Catchings and of Hayek regarding the “paradox of savings.”
  4. Fellner’s analysis of the “technological argument of the stagnation thesis.”
  5. Milton Gilbert’s analysis of war expenditures and national production.

Source: Harvard University Archives. Harvard University Final Examinations, 1853-2001, Box 6, Papers Printed for Final Examinations [in] History, History of Religions, …, Economics, …,Military Science, Naval Science. June, 1942.

Images Source:  Hansen and Williams from Harvard Classbook 1942.

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Exam Questions Harvard

Harvard. Readings and Final Exam for Business Cycles. Hansen and Haberler, 1942

 

Reading assignments and the final exam for the business cycles course taught at Harvard in 1938 by Alvin Hansen and Gottfried Haberler were posted earlier.

Also posted earlier are the Course outline and exam for 1949 and the course outline for 1950. that were taught by Alvin Hansen.

For 1955-56 we have the course outline and reading assignments again jointly taught by Hansen and Haberler.

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Course Enrollment

Economics 45a 2hf. Professors Hansen and Haberler. — Business Cycles.

Total 59: 2 Graduates, 14 Seniors, 30 Juniors, 11 Sophomores, 1 School of Public Administration, 1 Other.

Source: Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College, 1941-42, p. 63.

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SPECIFIC READING ASSIGNMENTS
IN ECONOMICS 45a

1941-42

  1. First four weeks:
    1. Haberler: Prosperity and Depression, Chapters 1, 9, 10, 11
    2. Hansen: Fiscal Policy and Business Cycles, Chapters 1, 2
    3. Schumpeter: Business Cycles, pp. 325-351
    4. Schumpeter: “Analysis of Economic Change,” Review of Economic Statistics, May 1935
    5. Kondratieff: “The Long Waves in Economic Life,” Review of Economic Statistics, November 1935
    6. Mitchell: Business Cycles, Chapter 3
    7. Federal Reserve Chart Book (Available at the Coop. 60¢)
  2. Six weeks:
    1. Hansen: Full Recovery or Stagnation? Chapters 1-5
    2. Haberler: Prosperity and Depression, Chapters 2-8; 13
    3. Hansen: Fiscal Policy and Business Cycles, Chapters 11, 12
  3. Last two weeks:
    1. Hansen: Business Cycle Theory, Chapters 4 and 8
    2. Hansen: Full Recovery or Stagnation?, Chapters 16-20
  4. Reading Period (Choose A or B):
    1. 1. Mitchell: “Business Cycles,” Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, Vol. 3, pp. 92-106
      2. Hansen: Fiscal Policy and Business Cycles, Chapters 3-5: 16-17; 23-24
    2. Clark, J.M.: Strategic Factors in Business Cycles (entire book)

Source: Harvard University Archives. Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in economics, 1895-2003. Box 3, Folder “Economics, 1941-1942”.

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1941-42
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
ECONOMICS 45a
BUSINESS CYCLES
Final Examination

I

(Answer any THREE of the four questions in Part I.)

  1. Enumerate, describe and compare waves of different length suggested in the literature on business cycles. Discuss especially Schumpeter, Kondratieff, and Hansen with respect to the schema they suggest and the analysis they make of these different wave movements.
  2. Discuss the typical behavior of interest rates in the cycle and the role attributed to interest rates in the explanation of the cycle by different theorists.
  3. Compare the downturn in 1929 with that in 1937. How do they differ, and what are the differences in the explanations suggested thereby?
  4. Discuss briefly the essential features of (a) the multiplier principle and (b) the acceleration principle. Discuss their interaction and indicate the various types of movement which may result from their interaction.

II

(Answer EITHER A or B)

A.

(1) Discuss the technique used by Mitchell in the article in the Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences for the analysis of business cycles.

(2) Compare the role of (a) monetary policy, and (b) fiscal policy in the United States in the recovery from 1933 to 1936.

B. Sketch the theoretical skeleton of J.M. Clark’s Strategic Factors in Business Cycles.

 

Source: Harvard University Archives. Harvard University Final Examinations, 1853-2001, Box 6, Papers Printed for Final Examinations [in] History, History of Religions, …, Economics, …,Military Science, Naval Science. June, 1942.

Image Source:  Alvin Hansen and Gottfried Haberler in the Harvard Class Album, 1942.

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Exam Questions Harvard

Harvard. Graduate course on money, banking and the business cycle. Schumpeter, 1933-34

 

It took Joseph Schumpeter a few years to establish his personal teaching niche in the Harvard economics department. This post provides material I have found (thus far) from Schumpeter’s graduate course covering monetary economics, policy, and business cycles from his second year as a permanent faculty member.

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Economics 50. (formerly Economics 38). Professor Schumpeter. — Money, Banking, and the Business Cycle.

Total 31: 10 Graduates, 15 Seniors, 1 Junior 4 Radcliffe, 1 Other.

Source: Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College, 1933-34, p. 86.

_____________________

Reading Period Titles for Economics 50

Reading Period. Fall Term, 1933-34.

Suggested Readings:

(1) Pigou, A.C., Industrial Fluctuations.
(2) Mitchell, The Business Cycle.
(3) Hansen, Theories of the Business Cycle.
(4) Snyder, C., Business Measurements.
(5) Persons, W.M., Business Forecasting.
(6) Hawtrey, R.G., The Art of Central Banking

Reading Period. Spring Term, 1933-34.

Suggested readings:

League of Nations (B. Ohlin), The Course and Phases of the World Economic Depression, 1931.
J.M. Clark, Strategic Factors in Business Cycles (National Bureau of Economic Research), 1934.
J.M. Rogers, The Process of Inflation in France, 1914-1927 (Columbia University Press, 1929).

Source: Harvard University Archives. Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in Economics, 1895-2003. Box 2, Folder “Economics, 1933-34”.

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1933-34
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
ECONOMICS 50
Mid-Year Examination.

Answer any FOUR of the following questions.

  1. Is the equation of exchange (MV = PT) a tautology, and if so, in what sense? What do you think of Mr. Keynes’ claim that his equations are no mere identities?
  2. How are we to measure the amount of credit creation, and what is the distinction between it and the net increase of producers purchasing power above what it would be if there were no credit creation?
  3. “A fall in the prices of consumption-goods due to an excess of saving over investment does not in itself…require any opposite change in the price of new investment goods.” Explain and criticize.
  4. Explain the fact that the general price level and the rate of both short and long interest consistently vary together.
  5. “If the banking system controls the terms of credit in such a way that savings are equal to the value of new investment, then the average price-level of output as a whole is stable.” What do you think of this?
  6. How do you define “value of money”? Discuss the difficulties in the concept of the General Level of Prices.
  7. In what ways might speculation in securities affect business activity?

Source: Harvard University Archives. Mid-year examinations, 1852-1943. Box 12. Bound Volume: Examination Papers, Mid-Years 1933-34.

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1933-34
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
ECONOMICS 50
Final Examination.

Answer fully any FOUR of the following SIX questions.

  1. What were, according to your opinion, the causes of the inflow of gold into France after the stabilization of the French franc?
  2. If you were to recommend a policy conducive to the elimination or the smoothing down of business fluctuations, what would you try to stabilize: the sum total of incomes, incomes per capita, the price level, any particular group of prices, the rate of interest, the rate of exchange, profits?
  3. “Both international and national considerations called for a reversal of restrictive monetary policy early in 1929.” What do you think of this?
  4. What do you think were the most important “intensifying factors” which account for the unusual severity of the present world’s crisis?
  5. What is meant by Carl Snyder’s Trade Credit Ratio and what do you think of its significance?
  6. How would you define the relation between gold and prices? What consequences would you expect from the devaluation of the dollar (a) for the internal price level of this country in the short and in the long run, (b) for the external trade of the United States?

Source: Harvard University Archives. Harvard University. Examination Papers, Finals (HUC 7000.28, 76 of 284), June 1934.

Image Source: Harvard Archives. Irving Fisher and Joseph Schumpeter (May 12, 1934).

Categories
Exam Questions Harvard

Harvard. Midyear Exam for Money, Banking and Cycles. Harris, 1934

 

This post adds an item to the course materials for Seymour Harris’ 1933-34 undergraduate Harvard course “Money, Banking and Cycles”.

Previously posted:

Syllabus and reading assignments for both semesters.

Course Final Examination from June 1934.

_____________________

1933-34
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
ECONOMICS 3
Mid-Year Examination

  1. Answer (a), (b) or (c)
    1. What banking weaknesses were revealed by the major crises in the U.S. in the fifty years preceding the War?
    2. Give the main outline of Bank of England policy during the Restriction Period (Napoleonic Wars) with critical comments.
    3. Discuss the principles of Central Banking embodied in the Bank Charter Act of 1844. Was England’s success in maintaining the gold standard before the War because of or in spite of the Act? Would you favor the adoption of the principles of the Bank Act of 1844 in this country at the present time?
  2. Spend one hour on this question.
    The more important items on the balance-sheet of the Federal reserve authorities were as follows in the months designated:
(Millions of dollars)
Bills Discounted Bills Bought U.S. Govt. Securities Monetary Gold Stock Money in Circulation Member Bank Reserve Balances
March ‘32 714 105 809 4372 5531 1899
March ‘33 994 379 1875 4260 6998 1914
Sept. ‘33 138 7 2202 4327 5632 2489

What inferences as to policies and developments in this period can be drawn from these figures? Elaborate.

  1. Answer two of the following three questions:
    1. Discuss the relation of the banks to the capital market.
    2. What concern should a central bank have with security speculation?
    3. What limits, if any, are there to the creation of deposits? What limits, if any, are there to the creation of deposits? Discuss in this connection the varying reserve requirements against time and demand deposits.

Source: Harvard University Archives. Mid-year examinations, 1852-1943. Box 12. Bound Volume: Examination Papers, Mid-Years 1933-34.

Image SourceHarvard Class Album 1934.

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Harvard Suggested Reading Syllabus Undergraduate

Harvard. Junior tutorials in economics. Smithies and Chamberlin, 1960-61

 

The previous post is a Harvard Crimson article that reported on a major re-evaluation of the undergraduate economics program in 1959. The place of the junior tutorial was described as follows:

“The analytic material ejected from Ec. 1 has found refuge in Sophomore tutorial, while Ec. 98 (Junior tutorial) although heavily biased towards the empirical is the only course in the Department offering an overall view of the field.”

_____________________________

Course Enrollments

[Economics] 98a Tutorial for Credit—Junior Year. Professor Smithies. Half course, Fall.

Total 65: 11 Seniors, 48 Juniors, 2 Sophomores, 4 Radcliffe.

[Economics] 98b Tutorial for Credit—Junior Year. Professor Chamberlin. Half course, Spring.

Total 61: 13 Seniors, 46 Juniors, 2 Radcliffe.

Source: Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College, 1960-61. Page 75.

_____________________________

HARVARD UNIVERSITY
Department of Economics
Fall 1960

Economics 98a
MACROECONOMICS
Professor Smithies

Reading List

  1. The English Classical System

Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, Book I, chs. 1, 2, 3; Book II; Book IV, chs. 1, 3, 8.

David Ricardo, Principles of Political Economy, chs. 2-6, 21.

W. J. Baumol, Economic Dynamics, ch. 2.

Malthus, T. R., An Essay on the Principle of Population (1st & 2nd editions), Macmillan, London, 1914.

Malthus, T. R., Principles of Political Economy, Book II, ch. I, “On the Process of Wealth.”

  1. Marxian Dynamics

M.M. Bober, Karl Marx’s Interpretation of History, chs. 1-3 and 9-13.

P. Sweezy, The Theory of Capitalist Development, chs. 4-6, 8, 9.

Suggested:

Joan Robinson, An Essay on Marxian Economics.

J. A. Schumpeter, Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy, Part I.

  1. The Neo-Classical School and the Schumpeterian System

J. A. Schumpeter, The Theory of Economic Development.

____________, Business Cycles, Vol. I, chs. 3, 4.

____________, Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy, Part II.

A. Marshall, Principles of Economics, Book VI, chs. 12, 13, Appendixes A, C, D.

Suggested:

A. A. Young, “Increasing Returns and Economic Progress,” Economic Journal, December 1928, reprinted in R. V. Clemence (ed.) Readings in Economic Analysis, Vol. 1.

R. Solow, “A Contribution to the Theory of Economic Growth,” QJE, Feb. 1956.

A. Smithies, “Productivity, Real Wages, and Economic Growth,” QJE, May 1960.

  1. Keynesian Economics.

J. M. Keynes, The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money, chs. 3, 19, 22-24.

A. Hansen, Monetary Theory and Fiscal Policy, chs. 3-6.

L. Klein, The Keynesian Revolution, ch. 3.

Suggested:

Income, Employment and Public Policy, “Essays in Honor of Alvin H. Hansen”, chs. 1, 5, 6.

S. E. Harris (ed.), The New Economics, chs. 39, 40.

  1. Business Cycles.

A.H. Hansen, Business Cycles and National Income, chs. 11-24.

Tinbergen and Polak, The Dynamics of Business Cycles, ch. 13.

  1. Business Cycles and Economic Growth.

E. Domar, “Expansion and Employment,” American Economic Review, March 1947, also reprinted in Essays in the Theory of Economic Growth, ch. IV.

A. Smithies, “Economic Fluctuations and Growth,” Econometrica, January 1957.

Wm. Fellner, “The Capital-Output Ratio in Dynamic Economics,” in Money, Trade, and Economic Growth (Essays in Honor of J. H. Williams).

  1. Inflation.

Bernstein and Patel, “Inflation in Relation to Economic Development,” International Monetary Fund, Staff Papers, Nov. 1952.

Kenneth K. Kurihara, Post-Keynesian Economics, ch. 2.

Staff Report on Employment, Growth, and Price Levels, Joint Economic Committee, Congress of the U.S., December 24, 1959, ch. 5.

  1. Economic Analysis and Economic Policy.

J. Tinbergen, Economic Policy: Principles and Design, chs. 1, 2, 3.

Source: Harvard University Archives. Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in economics, 1895-2003. Box 7, Folder “Economics, 1960-1961 (1 of 2)”.

_____________________________

HARVARD UNIVERSITY
Department of Economics

Economics 98b
MICROECONOMICS
Spring 1961

Professor Chamberlin

Week of Tuesday

Feb. 7

Markets, Perfect and Imperfect

Chamberlin, Monopolistic Competition, Chapter II, including note on Deviation from Equilibrium.

Feb. 14, 21

General Relations of Demand, Supply, Cost and Value

Marshall, Principles, Book V, Chapters 1-11, Appendix H.

Robinson, Joan, “Rising Supply Price,” Economica, New Series VIII, (1941). (Also in AEA Readings in Price Theory, Vol. VI, and in Robinson, Joan, Collected Economic papers).

Feb. 28

The Production Function and the Cost Curve of the Firm

(No lecture)

Boulding, Economic Analysis, Third Edition, chapters 28, 34, or revised edition, Chapters 24, 31 to p. 698.

Monopolistic Competition, 6th or 7th edition, Appendix B. (Also in Towards a More General Theory of Value, Essay 9.)

Mar. 7, 14

General Analysis of Monopolistic Competition. Product Differentiation. The Group

Monopolistic Competition, Chapters 1, 4, 5, 9.

Chamberlin, “Monopolistic Competition Revisited,” Towards a More General Theory of Value, Essay 3.

Robinson, Joan, Imperfect Competition, Foreword, Introduction, Chapters 1, 2.

Triffin, Monopolistic Competition and General Equilibrium Theory, pp. 78-89.

Mar. 21

Oligopoly

Monopolistic Competition, Chapter 3, Appendix A.

Fellner, Competition Among the Few, Chapter 1.

Arant, Willard, “Competition of the Few Among the Many,” QJE, 70:327 (1956).

Clark, J.M., “Toward a Concept of Workable Competition,” AER, 1940. (Also in AEA Readings in Price Theory)

Suggested: Fellner, further chapters.

Mar. 28

Nonprice Competition

“The Product as an Economic Variable,” Towards a More General Theory of Value, Essay 6.

Monopolistic Competition, Appendix C, Chapters 6, 7.

Apr. 2-9

SPRING VACATION

Apr. 11, 18, 25,
May 2

Microincome Theory, Wages, Exploitation, Collective Bargaining
Hicks, The Theory of Wages, Chapters 1, 2, 4.

Robertson, “Wage Grumbles,” Readings in Income Distribution, No. 12.

Robinson, Imperfect Competition, Chapter 25.

Monopolistic Competition, (5th or later edition), Chapter 8; pp. 215-18.

Chamberlin, “Monopoly Power of Labor,” Towards a More General Theory of Value, Essay 12.

Dunlop, “Wage Policies of Trade Unions,” Readings, No. 19.

Source: Harvard University Archives. Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in economics, 1895-2003. Box 7, Folder “Economics, 1960-1961 (2 of 2)”.

 _____________________________

ECONOMICS 98b—PAPER
[Spring 1961]
Due any time, but not later than May 9.

The purpose of this paper is to give an opportunity for a bit of “theorizing” of your own. The paper may be either constructive or critical, but the emphasis should be on your own contribution, rather than on developing the subject more generally, or expounding it mainly in terms of the ideas and views of others.

The ideal subject would be chosen by yourself—either an adverse reaction to, or further development of: something said in lectures, in the assigned or related reading, or in tutorial discussions. A rounded treatment or essay on the subject is not desired—rather something in the nature of a “Note” (say for the Quarterly Journal), which would either present an idea of its own or criticize one which has been presented by someone else. (A good illustration of this latter is Essay 13 in Towards a More General Theory of Value.) Brevity is therefore desirable. Papers should normally be from six to twelve pages (typed, double spaced), with fifteen as an absolute limit. Extensive reading is not indicated; (in an extreme case there might even be none at all), but a great deal of time should be given to thinking through carefully what you want to say.

The accompanying list of topics is suggestive only; as stated above, one chosen by yourself might be better. In any case your subject should be approved; and the question of reading should be taken up with your tutor.

SUGGESTED TOPICS

Some further analysis of the classroom market problem, or of a variation on it. (Material between page 236 to the end in the article as printed would illustrate further developments from the original problem.)

Marginal cost pricing as against Marshall’s short run normal analysis.

The Representative Firm Revisited.

Comment on Modigliani’s article: “New Developments on the Oligopoly Front,” JPE 66:215 (1958).

Mr. Kaldor’s concept of advertising cost. (“The Economic Aspects of Advertising,” Review of Economic Studies, Vol. XVIII (1) No. 45.)

Some aspect of spatial equilibrium.

A review of Machlup, “Marginal Analysis and Empirical Research,” AER, Sept. 1946.

Review of Gottlieb, “Price and Value in Industrial Markets,”Economic Journal, March 1959.

Is equilibrium with external economies possible under perfect competition? Under monopolistic competition?

Temporal Differentiation.

Some aspect of empirical cost curves.

“Bilateral Oligopoly”—Big Business and Big Labor.

Measures which might be taken to reduce “excess capacity.”

A critique of Stigler’s “Monopolistic Competition in Retrospect,” in his Five Lectures on Economic Problems.

“‘Entry’ is often not the literal appearance of a new firm, but the decision of an old one to add the new product to its line.” What effect would this have on the conventional analysis?

“Conjectural Variation” as a solution to oligopoly.

How would more attention to sales maximization and less to profit maximization affect the analysis?

Deliberate product obsolescence: Implications for public policy.

The Lester-Machlup controversy over the wage elasticity of the demand for labor.

Comment on “Some Basic Problems in the Theory of the Firm” by Papandreou in A Survey of Contemporary Economics, Vol. II.

If the concept of a “group” were to be abandoned, following Triffin, what would happen to the analysis in Chapter 5?

Review of Alchian, “Uncertainty, Evolution and Economic Theory,” JPE 1950; also in AEA Readings in Industrial Organization and Public Policy.

The Economic Analysis of Industry-Wide Advertising.

My Own Grumbles on Wages. (Suggested by the title of Roberson’s article assigned later in the course.)

The case for assuming imperfect, instead of perfect, knowledge in economic theory.

Stigler on the Kinked Demand Curve. (“The Kinky Oligopoly Demand Curve and Rigid Prices,” AEA Readings in Price Theory, and criticism by Efroymson in QJE 69:119 (1955).

Source: Harvard University Archives. Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in economics, 1895-2003.Box 7, Folder “Economics, 1960-1961 (1 of 2)”.

Image Source:  John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation website. Arthur Smithies (1955 Fellow), Edward H. Chamberlin (1958 Fellow).