Category: Seminar Speakers

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Johns Hopkins Seminar Speakers

Johns Hopkins. Economic Seminary. Speakers and Topics, 1904-1905

 

 

The  notes of date, place, speaker, topic, seminary participants and occasional visitors of the Johns Hopkins’ economic seminary in 1904-05 were recorded as seminary minutes by James M. Motley. From these handwritten notes we learn that  on a roughly alternating basis the seminary would meet at the home of Professor Hollander (2011 Eutaw Place, Baltimore) and Room 21 McCoy Hall on campus. These minutes have been compared to printed report of the seminar published in the University Circular.

A visitor noted in the October 26, 1904 minutes of the Seminary was Professor Weber from Heidelberg. As can be seen from the letter appended to this post, this was indeed Max Weber who was travelling through the United States at the time.

Source:  The Johns Hopkins University, Eisenhower Library, The Ferdinand Hamburger, Jr. Archives. Department of Political Economy, Series 1, Minutes of the Economic Seminary, 1892-1951. Box 1, 2ndvolume of minutes, Folder “Minutes of the Economic Seminar, 1897-1908”, pp. 148-156.

The printed reports  of seminary participants and the schedule of speakers and their topics have been transcribed for this post.

The economic seminary schedule for the following years have also been posted:

1903-1904
1904-1905

1922-1923
1923-1924
1924-1925
1925-1926
1926-1927

_________________

POLITICAL ECONOMY
Classes meet in McCoy Hall

Economic Seminary: Professor Hollander and Dr. Barnett. Alternately, Wednesday, 8 p. m., Tuesday, 11 a.m. (12)

Bagge, G. A. Glocker, T. W. Kirk, W. Sakolski, A. M.
Blum, S. Hilbert, F. W. Motley, J. M. Taliaferro, T. H.
Buckler, W. H. Kennedy, J. B. Rosebro, F. B. Willis, L. M. R.

Source:  The Johns Hopkins University Circular. New Series, 1905, No. 3 (March, 1905), p. 20.

 

_________________

THE ECONOMIC SEMINARY, 1904-1905,
EDITED BY
PROFESSOR J. H. HOLLANDER and DR. G. E. BARNETT.

The Economic Seminary has continued its investigation into the history, activities and influence of labor organizations in the United States during the current academic year. Its membership has been narrowly limited to advanced students preparing for a scientific career in economic study, and its primary design has been the development of sound method in economic research. The regular fortnightly evening sessions have been supplemented by briefer morning sessions in alternate weeks. The material resources necessary for the inquiry have been supplied by the continued generosity of the citizen of Baltimore, whose original gift made its inception possible.

Appreciable progress has also been made by individual members of the Seminary in the study of specific aspects of the several questions assigned for investigation. During the summer, field work was carried on in various carefully selected localities, and the data thus collected have since been supplemented and corrected by documentary study and personal interview. Certain preliminary studies were completed and published in dignified form, and two senior members of the Seminary submitted monographic studies of the particular subjects on which they have been engaged, in part fulfillment of the requirements for the doctor of philosophy degree. These will appear in the twenty-third series of the Johns Hopkins Studies in Historical and Political Science. Early in the next academic year a cooperative volume of ”Essays in American Trade Unionism” will also be issued by the Seminary, embodying the preliminary results of the various investigations now in progress and ultimately designed for monographic publication.

The record of the proceedings of the Seminary, and abstracts of certain papers there presented, are appended:

October 5. Report of the summer’s field work, by Professor Hollander, Dr. Barnett, Messrs. Kirk, Motley, Hilbert, Glocker, Kennedy, and Blum.
October 11. “Trade Union Agreements in the Iron Holders’ Union,” by F. W. Hilbert.
October 17. Report on the summer’s field work, by W. H. Buckler.
October 26. “Functions of the Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor,” by Wm. Kirk.
November 2. “Finances of the Iron Molders’ Union,” by A. M. Sakolski.
November 8. “Collective Bargaining in the International Typographical Union,” by Dr. George E. Barnett.
November 16. “The Apprentice in the Building Trades,” by J. M. Motley.
November 22. “Shop Rules in the Building Trades,” by S. Blum.
November 29. “School Taxation in the Indian Territory,” by Professor Hollander.
December 7. “Shop Rules in the Building Trades,” by S. Blum.
December 13. “Recent Court Decisions Affecting Labor Unions,” by L. M. R. Willis.
December 21. “The Open Shop,” by Dr. George E. Barnett.
January 11. “The Structure of the Iron Holders’ Union,” by T. W. Glocker.
January 17. “The Maryland Workmen’s Compensation Act,” by Dr. George E. Barnett.
January 25. “The Meeting of the Economic Association at Chicago,” by Professor Hollander.
“The Beneficiary Features of the Railway Unions,” by J. B. Kennedy.
January 31. “Reform Movements in Baltimore,” by S. Blum.
February 8. “The Functions of the Allied Trades Council,” by Wm. Kirk.
February 14. “A Sketch of David Ricardo,” by Professor Hollander.

[Dr. Barnett also gave a notice of Adams and Sumner’s “Labor Problems”]
February 24. “The Development of Apprentice Laws in American Labor Unions,” by J. M. Motley.
February 28. “The Origin of the Constitution of the International Typographical Union,” by Dr. George E. Barnett.
March 8. “The Standard Wage in the Machinists’ Union,” by W. H. Buckler.
March 22. “Beneficiary Expenditures of American Trade Unions,” by A. M. Sakolskl
March 29. “Statistical Methods,” by Hon. Charles P. Neill, U. S. Commissioner of Labor.
April 4. “The Government of General Federations of Labor,” by Wm. Kirk.
April 11. “The Union Stamp of the Boot and Shoe Workers’ Union,” by G. A. Bagge.
“Cunnynghame’s Geometrical Political Economy,” by Dr. T. H. Taliaferro.
April 18. “The Administration of Trade Union Finances,” by A. M. Sakolski.
May 2 “The Rise of the National Union,” by T. W. Glocker.
“The Baltimore Municipal Loans,” by S. Blum.
“The Recent Nine Hour Decision of the Supreme Court,” by F. W. Hilbert.
May 9. “The Trade Union Agreements in the Building Trades,” by F. W. Hilbert.
May 16. “Trade Union Rules for Maintaining the Standard Rate,” by S. Blum.
May 23. “Beneficiary Features of the Iron Holders’ Union,” by J. B. Kennedy.

Source: The Johns Hopkins University Circular. New Series, 1905, No. 6 (June, 1905), pp. 1-3.

_________________

Excerpt from letter to Jacob Hollander from Max Weber
November 3, 1904

Dear Professor Hollander—

Allow me to express, again, how much I enjoyed my visit in your seminary, the acquaintance I made of your students and of your assistant fellow-teacher. I was deeply impressed by the intensity of the work done in your department and, before all, learned with pleasure, that—at least in your university—the ambition to get the largest numberof students, so dangerous even now to almost all our German universities—is not allowed to lower the high standard of scientific investigation. In Germany we suffer much more than you are able to imagine from that illness resulting out of our system of paying the teacher by taxes paid by the students for each lecture.—When I come again after some years—as I hope to do—[I] think my English will be improved so that I will be more able to express myself. —
…
Do you think I should be able to get some recent reports of the Johns Hopkins University and, if possible, the rules for taking the Ph.D. degree, by simply applying to the Secretary of the President? or are the[y] sold by the bookseller? I should be much obliged for any information about that and am sorry having forgotten to ask you in Baltimore.

Yours very respectfully Max Weber (Young’s Hotel, Boston or: Holland House, New York) …

Source: Max Weber to Jacob Hollander 3 November 1904 Young’s Hotel, Boston handwritten Hollander Papers, series I, box 11; Eisenhower Library, the Johns Hopkins University transcribed in Lawrence A. Scaff, Max Weber in America (Princeton, 2011). pp. 260-261.

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Johns Hopkins Seminar Speakers

Johns Hopkins. Economic Seminary, presenters and topics. 1924-25

 

The graduate economic seminary at Johns Hopkins University kept good records of the weekly sessions so that we know the names of all the presenters and their topics. I have added the academic backgrounds from the published Johns Hopkins Circular for almost all the graduate students either attending or presenting.

The economic seminary schedule for the following years have also been posted:

1903-1904
1904-1905

1922-1923
1923-1924
1924-1925
1925-1926
1926-1927

_____________

POLITICAL ECONOMY
GRADUATE COURSES

The graduate instruction in Political Economy is designed primarily to meet the needs of advanced students preparing for a professional career in economic science. The courses afford systematic instruction in general economic principles, intimate acquaintance with special fields of economic activity, and, most important of all, knowledge of and ability to employ sound methods of economic research. The work centres in the Economic Seminary, the membership of which is limited to the most advanced students, and the primary design of which is to develop scientific research in economic study and investigation…

…The Economic Seminary

Two hours weekly through the year.Professors Hollander and Barnett.
Wed., 2 p.m. Gilman Hall 315.

The work of the year will be the study of representative forms of industrial development in the United States, and the analysis of significant activities of American labor organizations.

 

Source: The Johns Hopkins University Circular, Vol. 45 (March 1926), pp. 67-68.

_____________

MEMBERS OF THE ECONOMIC SEMINARY
1924-1925

[G = Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the small “s” following a capital letter indicates a special student.]

Bloch, Kurt (Dr. ) (G) I. Ph.D. Frankfurt University 1922. Political Science.

Dempster, Margaret (SE) (G) II. A.B. Goucher College 1923. Political Economy.

Evans, George Heberton, Jr. (G). A.B. Johns Hopkins University 1920. Political Economy.

Hart, William Sebastian (Gs) I. A.B. Johns Hopkins University 1924. Political Economy.

Howard, Charles Harold (G) I. S.B. Gettysburg College 1923. Political Economy.

Jones, Sallie Elizabeth (SE) (G) II. A.B. Goucher College 1923. Political Economy.

Kemp, Maude Pustan (SE) (Gs) II. A.B. Wittenberg College 1923. Political Economy.

Marshall, Rebecca Snowden (G) I. A.B. Bryn Mawr College 1923. Political Economy.

Mitchell, George Sinclair (G) II. A.B. University of Richmond 1923. Political Economy.

Morrissy, Elizabeth (Gs) IV. A.B. Beloit College 1908; A.M. Johns Hopkins University 1922. Political Economy.

Moyer, Margaret Elizabeth (G) II. S.B. Florida State College for Women 1923. Political Economy.

Newman, Andrew Jackson (Gs) I. A.B. Washington University 1910; A.M. University of Missouri 1911. Political Economy.

Nussman, Lillian Mabel (SE) (G) II. A.B. Holllins College 1923. Political Economy

Powlison, Keith Eon (Ts) (BE) (G) I. A.B. Columbia College 1922. Political Economy

Shocket, Louis (G) II. A.B. University of Richmond 1923. Political Economy

Shaw, K. W.

Swanson, Mary Laura (SE) (G) II. A.B. Provincial University 1923. Political Economy

 

October 15, 1924

The opening meeting of the economic seminary of the session was held in room 315 on Wednesday at 2 o’clock. Professor [Jacob H.] Hollander read a paper on “The American School of Political Economy”.

October 22, 1924

Professor [George E.] Barnett read a paper on “The Introduction of Glass Bottle Blowing Machinery”.

October 29, 1924.

Associate Professor [William O.] Weyforth read a paper on “National Bank Notes.”

November 5, 1924

Dr. [Broadus] Mitchell read a paper on the “Child Labor and the Southern Cotton Manufacturing Industry”.

November 12, 1924

Miss Jacobs read a paper on “The Health Officer and the Social Worker”.

November 19, 1924

Mr. [George Heberton] Evans [Jr.] read a paper on “Apartment Rents in Baltimore”.
[(G) V; A.B. Johns Hopkins University 1920. Political Economy]

November 26, 1924

Thanksgiving recess.

December 3, 1924

Mr. [George Sinclair] Mitchell read a paper on the “Unionism in the Textile Industry”.

December 10, 1924

Mr. [Louis] Shocket read a paper on the “Influence of the Jews on the Unions of the Needle Trades”.

December 17, 1924

Dr. [Kurt] Bloch read a paper on “Knapp’s State Theory of Money”.

December 24 and 31, 1924

Christmas Recess.

January 7, 1925

Miss [Elizabeth] Morrissy read a paper on “Unemployment Insurance in the Clothing Industry”.

January 14, 1925

Professor [Jacob H.] Hollander read a paper on “Liberalism and Taxation”.

January 21, 1925

Professor [George E.] Barnett read a paper on “The Introduction of Automatic Glass Bottle Machinery”.

January 28, 1925

Mrs. [Louise Cleret] Seibert read a paper on the “French Labor During the War”.

February 4, 1925

Dr. [Kurt] Bloch read a paper on “The Dawes Plan”.

February 11, 1925

Dr. [William O.] Weyforth read a paper on the “National Bank Notes”.

February 18, 1925

Mr. [George Sinclair] Mitchell read a paper on “Some Minor American Economists”.

February 25, 1925

Mr. [Louis] Shocket read a paper on “The Experience of the Jewish Clothing Workers in Russia”.

March 4, 1925

Mr. [George Heberton] Evans [Jr.]: “Unreliability of a Sample of Apartment Rentals in Baltimore”.

March 11, 1925

Mr. [George Sinclair] Mitchell: “History of the Textile Unions”.

March 18, 1925

Dr. [Kurt] Bloch: “Reparation Payments under the Dawes Plan”.

March 25, 1925

Mr. [Keith] Powlison: “Hours of Labor”.

April 1, 1925

Mrs. [Louise Cleret] Seibert: “French Labor During the War”.

April 8, 1925

Easter Recess.

April 15, 1925

Mr. [Leonard Owens] Rea: “Municipal Indebtedness”.
[(G) I; A.B. Johns Hopkins University 1924. Political Science]

April 22, 1925

Mr. [Andrew J.] Newman: “Legal Avoidance of the Federal Income Tax”.

April 29, 1925

Mr. [Charles Harold] Howard: “Seniority in the Railway Brotherhoods”.
[S.B. Gettysburg College 1923. Political Economy]

May 6, 1925

Mr. [William Sebastian] Hart: “Labor Turnover in Department Stores”.
[(Gs) I; A.B. Johns Hopkins University 1924. Political Economy]

May 13, 1925

Miss [Margaret] Dempster: “The Adequacy of Workmen’s Compensation in Maryland”; Miss [Maude] Kemp: “Financial Campaigns of Social Agencies”.

May 19, 1925

Mr. [Jacob Elry] Metzger: “Agricultural Practice in Maryland, 1865-1924”.
[(Gs) III; S.B. Pennsylvania State College 1911. Plant Physiology]

May 20, 1925

Miss [Margaret E.] Moyer: “Individualization in Social Case Work”; Miss [Mabel] Nussman: “Follow-up Work in a Venereal Clinic”.

May 21, 1925

Miss [Sallie E.] Jones: “Ex-Wards of the Henry Watson Children’s Aid Society”; Miss [Laura] Swanson, “Organizations Among Poles in Baltimore”.

Seminary ended for the year.

 

Source:   Johns Hopkins University. Eisenhower Library, Ferdinand Hamburger, Jr. Archives. Department of Political Economy, Series 1. Minutes of the Economic Seminary, 1892-1951. Folder “1922-1940”.

 

The Johns Hopkins University Circular, University Register, 1924-25, (November 1924, Vol. 43, No. 355).

The Johns Hopkins University Circular, Annual Report of the President of the Johns Hopkins University 1924-1925, (October 1925, Vol. 44, No. 364), p. 74. Also lists names and topics for seminar speakers.

Image Source: Webpage “Gilman Hall circa 1920” in the Hopkins Perspective, 1876-Today collection.

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Johns Hopkins Seminar Speakers

Johns Hopkins. Political Economy Seminar. Presenters and Topics, 1923-24

 

The graduate economic seminary at Johns Hopkins University kept good records of the weekly sessions so that we know the names of all the presenters and their topics. I have added the academic backgrounds for graduate students and faculty alike from the published Johns Hopkins Circular.

The economic seminary schedule for the following years have also been posted:

1903-1904
1904-1905

1922-1923
1923-1924
1924-1925
1925-1926
1926-1927

___________________

POLITICAL ECONOMY
GRADUATE COURSES

The graduate instruction in Political Economy is designed primarily to meet the needs of advanced students preparing for a professional career in economic science. The courses afford systematic instruction in general economic principles, intimate acquaintance with special fields of economic activity, and, most important of all, knowledge of and ability to employ sound methods of economic research. The work centres in the Economic Seminary, the membership of which is limited to the most advanced students, and the primary design of which is to develop scientific research in economic study and investigation…

…The Economic Seminary

Two hours weekly through the year.Professors Hollander and Barnett.
The work of the year will be the study of representative forms of industrial development in the United States, and the analysis of significant activities of American labor organizations.

 

Source: The Johns Hopkins University Circular, Vol. 44 (March 1925), p. 67.

_________________________

MEMBERS OF THE ECONOMIC SEMINARY
1923-1924

Graduate Students

Baugus, Miss Okie

A.B Berea College 1922. 2ndyear Political Economy.

Chen, Chao Ming

Fuhkien Provincial College. A.B., Johns Hopkins University 1922. A.M. 1924. 2ndyear Political Science.

Fedder, Abraham

A.B., Johns Hopkins University, 1921. 3rdyear Political Economy.

Fossum, Paul Robert

A.B. Park Region Luther College 1915; A.M. Johns Hopkins University 1923. 4thyear Political Economy.

Gillies, Robert Carlyle

A.B., Princeton University, 1920. 3rdyear Political Economy

Golden, Miss Helen

A.B., Goucher College 1921. 2ndyear Political Economy.

Hefner, Helen

A.B. Goucher College 1923. 1styear Political Economy.

Levin, Benjamin Szold

A.B. Johns Hopkins University 1922. 2ndyear Political Economy.

Mitchell, George Sinclair

A.B. University of Richmond 1923. 1styear Political Economy.

Morrissy, Miss Elizabeth

A.B. Beloit College 1908; A.M. Johns Hopkins University 1922. 3rdyear Political Economy (part-time).

Seibert, Mrs. Louise Cleret

A.B. Goucher College, 1920. 2ndyear Political Economy (part-time).

Shaw, Albert, Jr.

A.B. Princeton University, 1919. 1styear Political Economy.

Shocket, Louis

A.B. University of Richmond 1923. 1styear Political Economy.

Siegel, Miss Jeanette R.

A.B. Goucher College 1922. 2ndyear Political Economy.

 

Faculty

George Ernest Barnett, Professor of Statistics [at present rank, 1911-; first appointment, 1901]

A.B., Randolph-Macon College, 1891; Fellow, Johns Hopkins University, 1899-1900, and Ph.D., 1901.

George Heberton Evans, Jr., Instructor in Political Economy [first appointment, 1924]

A.B., Johns Hopkins University, 1920.

Jacob H. Hollander, Professor of Political Economy [at present rank, 1904-; first appointment, 1894]

A.B., Johns Hopkins University, 1891, Fellow, 1893-94, and Ph.D., 1894; Treasurer of the Island of Porto Rico, 1900-01; Special Commissioner Plenipotentiary to Santo Domingo, 1905-06; Financial Adviser of the Dominican Republic, 1908-10; Member of the Academic Council.

Broadus Mitchell, Associate in Political Economy [at present rank, 1922-; first appointment, 1919]

A.B., University of South Carolina, 1913; Fellow, Johns Hopkins University, 1916-17, and Ph.D., 1918.

William Oswald Weyforth, AssociateProfessor in Political Economy [at present rank, 1922-; first appointment, 1919]

A.B., Johns Hopkins University, 1912, and Ph.D., 1915; Instructor, Western Reserve University, 1915-17.

 

Seminar Presentations
1923-24

October 10, 1923

The opening meeting of the economic seminary of the session was held in room 315 on Wednesday at 2 o’clock. Professor [George E.] Barnett read a paper on “Collective Bargaining in the Anthracite Industry”.

October 17, 1923

Professor [Jacob H.] Hollander read a paper on “Combination and Profits in the Anthracite Coal Industry”.

October 24, 1923.

Associate Professor [William O.] Weyforth read a paper on “Earnings in the Anthracite Coal Industry as Disclosed by the Annual Corporate Reports.”

October 31, 1923

Professor [George E.] Barnett read a paper on the “Earnings of Anthracite Railways”.

November 7, 1923

Mr. [Abraham] Fedder read a paper on “Occupational Changes in the United States”.

November 14, 1923

Dr. [Broadus] Mitchell read a paper on “Cotton Mills in Southern Civilization”.

November 21, 1923

Mr. [Paul Robert] Fossum read a paper on the “Cooperative Elevator Movement in North Dakota”.

November 28, 1923

Professor [George E.] Barnett read a paper on the “Probable Yield of the Income Tax in Maryland”.

December 5, 1923

Mr. [Albert] Shaw [Jr.] read a paper on the “Cooperative Marketing of Milk”.

December 12, 1923

Mr. [Chao Ming] Chen read a paper on “The Land Tax in China”.

December 19, 1923

Mr. [Benjamin Szold] Levin read a paper on the “Farm Loan Banks”.

January 2, 1924

Mr. [George Heberton] Evans read a paper on “Apartment House Rents in Baltimore”.

January 9, 1924

Mr. [Abraham] Fedder read a paper on “Direct Services in the National Income”.

January 16, 1924

Mr. [Paul Robert] Fossum read a paper on “The Agrarian Movement in North Dakota”.

January 23, 1924

Mrs. [Louise Cleret] Seibert read a paper on the “Eight Hour Law for Letter Carriers”.

January 30, 1924

Mr. [Louis] Shockett read a paper on “Immigrants in the Needle Trades”.

February 6, 1924

Mr. [George Sinclair] Mitchell read a paper on the “Population in the Southern Appalachian Mountains”.

February 13, 1924

Mr. [Robert Carlyle] Gillies read a paper on “Readjustment of Relative Freight Rates”.

February 20, 1924

Mr. [Abraham] Fedder read a paper on “Occupational Changes in the United States”.

February 27, 1924

Mr. [Robert Carlyle] Gillies continued his report on “Readjustment of Relative Freight Rates”.

March 5, 1924

Dr. [Broadus] Mitchell read a paper on “Frederick Law Olmsted, A Critic of the Old South”.

March 12, 1924

Mr. [Chao Ming] Chen read a paper on “The Chinese Land Tax”.

March 19, 1924

Mr. [Abraham] Fedder read a paper on “Trade and Transportation in the National Income”.

March 26, 1924

Mrs. [Louise Cleret] Seibert read a paper on “Trade Unionism in France”.

April 2, 1924

Mr. [George Heberton] Evans read a paper on “The Course of Apartment Rentals in Baltimore”.

April 9, 1924

Mr. [Paul Robert] Fossum read a paper on “The Early Agrarian Movement”.

April 16, 1924

Mr. [Albert] Shaw [Jr.] read a paper on “Organizations Among Milk Producers”.

April 23, 1924

Easter Recess—did not hold seminar.

April 30, 1924

Miss [Helen] Golden read a paper on the “Education of Crippled Children in Baltimore”.

May 7, 1924

Miss [Jeanette R.] Siegel read a paper on the “The Social Implications Involved in Violations in the Marriage Laws Among Immigrants”.

May 14, 1924

Dr. [William O.] Weyforth reviewed Mellon’s book–“Taxation—The People’s Business”.

Seminary ended for the year.

 

Sources:   Johns Hopkins University. Eisenhower Library, Ferdinand Hamburger, Jr. Archives. Department of Political Economy, Series 1. Minutes of the Economic Seminary, 1892-1951. Folder “1922-1940”.

The Johns Hopkins University Circular, Vol. 43 (January 1924).

The Johns Hopkins University Circular, Vol. 43 (November 1924).

Image Source: Webpage “Gilman Hall circa 1920” in the Hopkins Perspective, 1876-Today collection.

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Johns Hopkins Seminar Speakers

Johns Hopkins. Economic Seminary, 1922-23

 

An earlier post on the economic seminary of Johns Hopkins University (1903-04) was taken from an official publication of the university. In the meantime I have found the original minutes of the “economic conference”, followed by the “economic seminary” for the period 1892-1951! Up through the 1921-22 academic year, the minutes are handwritten, reasonably legible, but still harder to read than the typed minutes beginning in 1922-23. I’ll start with the easier reading first.

The economic seminary schedule for the following years have also been posted:

1903-1904
1904-1905

1922-1923
1923-1924
1924-1925
1925-1926
1926-1927

__________________

POLITICAL ECONOMY
GRADUATE COURSES

The graduate instruction in Political Economy is designed primarily to meet the needs of advanced students preparing for a professional career in economic science. The courses afford systematic instruction in general economic principles, intimate acquaintance with special fields of economic activity, and, most important of all, knowledge of and ability to employ sound methods of economic research. The work centres in the Economic Seminary, the membership of which is limited to the most advanced students, and the primary design of which is to develop scientific research in economic study and investigation…

…The Economic Seminary

Two hours weekly through the year. Professors Hollander and Barnett, Associate Professor Weyforth, Miss Jacobs, and Dr. Mitchell.
The work of the year will be the study of representative forms of industrial development in the United States, and the analysis of significant activities of American labor organizations.

 

Source: The Johns Hopkins University Circular, Vol. XLI, 1922, p. 342.

__________________

MEMBERS OF THE ECONOMIC SEMINARY
1922-1923

Students

Black, Stanley Roberts

A.B., Colby College, 1921. 1st year, Political Economy, History, and Political Science.

Chen, Chao Ming

Fuhkien Privincial College. 2nd year undergraduate residence, candidate for A.B., Johns Hopkins University. Professor Latane, adviser.

Culver, Lydia Margaretta (Miss)

A.B. Goucher College, 1921. 1st year, Political Economy

Evans, George Heberton, Jr.

A.B., Johns Hopkins University, 1920. 2nd year, Political Economy, Political Science, and Psychology

Fedder, Abraham

A.B., Johns Hopkins University, 1921. 1st year, Political Economy, Political Science, and History

Fossum, Paul Robert

A.B. Park Region Luther College, 1915. 2nd year, Political Economy

Gillies, Robert Carlyle

A.B., Princeton University, 1920. 1st year (part-time), Political Economy

Hankin, Anne E.

Attendant on courses in social economics [1923]

Hartin, William McCants

B.Litt., Furman University, 1897, and A.M., 1899; Th.M., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1904. Part-time, Political Economy

Howard, Mary Cushing (Miss)

Bryn Mawr School. Attendant on Courses in Economics and Business Economics.

Kahn, Hortense Miller

A.B., Goucher College, 1916. 1st year (part-time), Political Economy.

Levin, Benjamin Szold

Park School. Senior undergraduate, Dr. Weyforth, Adviser

Meeth, Ruth Elizabeth (Miss)

A.B., Goucher College, 1918. 1st year, Political Economy

Nelson, Louise Dallam

Attendant on courses in social economics.

Pasternak, Lillian

A.B., Goucher College, 1920. 1st year, Political Economy

Saiontz, Leon Robert

A.B., Johns Hopkins University, 1921. 2nd year, Political Economy

Suzuki, Hitoshi

Master of Commerce, Meiji University (Japan), 1920. 1st year, Political Economy

Tingley, Ruth (Miss)

A.B., Goucher College, 1914. 1st year, Political Economy

Whistler, Margaret Kathryn (Miss)

A.B., Goucher College, 1921. 1st year, Political Economy.

Wyckoff, Vertrees Judson

A.B., Princeton University, 1920. 1st year (part-time), Political Economy

Griffiss, Bartow [Added to list of members]

A.B., Johns Hopkins University, 1920. 2nd year, Political Economy, Political Science, and Psychology

Seibert , Louise Cleret (Mrs.) [Presented, but not on list of members]

A.B. Goucher College, 1920. (probably) 1st year (part-time) Political Economy

Taketomi, Yasuo [Presented, but not on list of members]

A.B., Waseda University. 2nd year, Political Economy

 

Faculty

Jacob H. Hollander, Professor of Political Economy [at present rank, 1904-; first appointment, 1894]

A.B., Johns Hopkins University, 1891, Fellow, 1893-94, and Ph.D., 1894; Treasurer of the Island of Porto Rico, 1900-01; Special Commissioner Plenipotentiary to Santo Domingo, 1905-06; Financial Adviser of the Dominican Republic, 1908-10.

George Ernest Barnett, Professor of Statistics [at present rank, 1911-; first appointment, 1901]

A.B., Randolph Macon College, 1891; Fellow, Johns Hopkins University, 1899-1900, and Ph.D., 1901.

William Oswald Weyforth, Associate (Associate Professor Elect) in Political Economy [at present rank, 1919-]

A.B., Johns Hopkins University, 1912, and Ph.D., 1915; Instructor, Western Reserve University, 1915-17.

Broadus Mitchell, Instructor (Associate Elect) in Political Economy [at present rank, 1919-]

A.B., University of South Carolina, 1913; Fellow, Johns Hopkins University, 1916-17, and Ph.D., 1918.

Miss Theo Jacobs, Associate in Social Economics [1919-]

A.B., Goucher College, 1901; Federated Charities of Baltimore (District Assistant, 1905-07, District Secretary, 1907-10, Assistant General Secretary, 1910-17, Acting General Secretary, 1917-1919.

__________________

 Minutes of the Seminary
1923-24

October 11, 1922

The opening meeting of the economic seminary of the session was held in room 315 on Wednesday at 2 o’clock. Mr. [Bartow] Griffiss read a paper on “The Relation Between Fluctuations in the Call Money Rate and in Stocks”.

October 18, 1922

The economic seminary met at 2 o’clock. Professor [George E.] Barnett read a paper on “Index Numbers of the Total Cost of Living as a Measure of Satisfaction”.

October 25, 1922.

Mr. [Robert Carlyle] Gillies read two papers , (1) “Minimum Health and Decency Budgets as Employed in Labor Union Arguments,” and (2) “Relative Cost of Government and Private Borrowing”.

November 1, 1922

Mr. [Vertrees Judson] Wyckoff read a paper on “Illustrations of the Tactics of Two Trade Unions During Period of Commercial Depression”.

November 8, 1922

Mr. Paul Robert Fossum read a paper on “The Agrarian Movement in North Dakota”.

November 15, 1922

Professor [Jacob H.] Hollander read a paper on “The Allied Debt”.

November 22, 1922

Mr. [Stanley Roberts] Black read a paper on “Recent Investment Policies of Mutual Savings Banks”.

November 29, 1922

Mr. [Leon Robert] Saiontz read a paper on “Tax Exempt Securities in the United States”.

December 6, 1922

Mr. [Abraham] Fedder read a paper on “History of the Index Numbers of the Cost of Living in Great Britain”.

December 13, 1922

Mr. [William McCants] Hartin read a paper on “Control of the Boll Weevil in the United States”.

December 20, 1922

Miss [Lillian] Pasternak read a paper on “Interrelated Dependent Families”.

January 3, 1923

Mr. [Bartow] Griffiss read a paper on “Control of the Call Money Rate”.

January 10, 1923

Mr. [Benjamin Szold] Levin read a paper on “The Farm Loan Act”.

January 17, 1923

Mr. [Robert Carlyle] Gillies read a paper on “Performance of the U.S. Railroad Administration”.

January 24, 1923

Mrs. [Louise Cleret] Seibert read a paper on “Unions of Government Employees”.

January 31, 1923

Miss [Mary Cushing] Howard read a paper on “The American Federation of Labor”.

February 7, 1923

Dr. [William O.] Weyforth read a paper on “Exchange Rates and Purchasing Power Parities”.

February 14, 1923

Professor [Jacob H.] Hollander gave a talk and read some Letters of Adam Smith.

February 21, 1923

Dr. [Broadus] Mitchell talked on “The Recent Accession to the Hutzler Collection”.

February 28, 1923

Mr. [Bartow] Griffiss talked on “The Operation of the New York Call Money Market”.

March 7, 1923

Mr. [Vertrees Judson] Wyckoff read a paper on the “Conclusions on the Readjustment of Trade Union Agreements in a Period of Depression”.

March 14, 1923

Mr. [Stanley Roberts] Black read a paper on “Legislative Policies in Respect to Investments of Mutual Savings Banks”.

March 21, 1923

Mr. [Paul Robert] Fossum read a paper on “The Functions of the Bank of North Dakota in the Industrial Program of the Non-Partisan League”.

March 28, 1923

Mr. [Hitoshi] Suzuki read a paper on “Post-War Finance in Japan”.

April 11, 1923

Mr. [Abraham] Fedder read a paper on “Occupational Changes Due to Invention and Improvements”.

April 18, 1923

Mr. [Leon Robert] Saiontz read a paper on “History of Tax Exempt Securities”.

April 25, 1923

Miss [Ruth Elizabeth] Meeth read a paper on “Placing Out Work of the Henry Watson Children’s Aid Society”.

May 2, 1923

Miss [Ruth] Tingley read a paper on “The Unmarried Mother and Her Child”.

May 9, 1923

Miss [Lydia Margaretta] Culver read a paper on the “History of Baltimore Association for the Improvement of the Conditions of the Poor”.

May 15, 1923

Mr. [Yasuo] Taketomi read a paper on “Thomas Hood’s Social Verse”.

May 23, 1923

Miss [Margaret Kathryn] Whistler read a paper on “Probation in Baltimore”.

Seminary ended for the year.

 

Sources:  

Dates, presenters and topics from: Johns Hopkins University. Eisenhower Library, Ferdinand Hamburger, Jr. Archives. Department of Political Economy, Series 1. Minutes of the Economic Seminary, 1892-1951. Folder “1922-1940”.

 Information about the members of the seminary from: The Johns Hopkins University Circular, Vol. XLI, 1922 and The Johns Hopkins University Circular, Vol. XLII, 1923.

Image Source:Webpage “Gilman Hall circa 1920” in the Hopkins Perspective, 1876-Today collection.

 

Categories
Economists Harvard Seminar Speakers

Harvard. Galbraith’s Special Tuesday Evening Seminar, 1973

 

One of the delights of working with the papers of John Kenneth Galbraith is that the man was simply incapable of writing a straight memo. Some flash of wit or felicitous use of the English language always breaks in. The following announcement gives us some insight into the sort of university service that Galbraith most gladly provided. Soft power was his instrument of choice for departmental politics.

___________________

SPECIAL TUESDAY EVENING SEMINAR

As in earlier years, Professor Galbraith will conduct a series of evening discussions for first year graduate students and others who are interested. Meetings will be in the Littauer Lounge at 7 o’clock, and participants are urged to arrive reasonably on time. They may leave when they wish. Following very brief introductory comments by Professor Galbraith and guests, the subject will be open for discussion. No competently presented argument, however inconvenient, will be denied a hearing. Discussion will continue as long as the audience or the supply of useful ideas endures. This year’s subject and dates are listed below. The guest list is still tentative.

 

October 2, 1973—THE ECONOMICS OF THE PRESENT INFLATION

Guests:
Hendrik S. Houthakker
James S. Duesenberry
John Dunlop

October 16, 1973—THE CORPORATION: IS IT RESPONSIBLE: HAS IT BOUGHT THE COUNTRY

Guests:
Theodore Levitt
Marc Roberts
Abram Chayes
Richard Caves

October 30, 1973—WHAT AND HOW SHOULD ECONOMICS BE TAUGHT AND A Ph.D. EARNED OR ACQUIRED

Guests:
Dale Jorgenson
Robert Dorfman
Sam Bowles
Art McEwan

November 13, 1973—WHAT ARE THE ECONOMICS OF SEX DISCRIMINATION, ARE WOMEN ECONOMIC ARTIFACTS

Guests:
Carolyn Bell
Betsy Munzer
Hazel Denton
Arthur Smithies
Lester Thurow

December 4, 1973—ECONOMICS AND THE PUBLIC PURPOSE

An evening for or against the book. (On this evening, a reasonable quantity of champagne of indifferent quality will be supplied from the accrued royalties, if any)

Guests:
John Kenneth Galbraith
Steve Marglin
Zvi Griliches

 

Source: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library. John Kenneth Galbraith Papers. Box 78. Series 5. Harvard University File, 1949-1990. Folder: “Courses, Non-credit seminar1973”.

Image Source: John Kenneth Galbraith in academic regalia from the Harvard Class Album, 1968.

Categories
Harvard Radical Seminar Speakers Suggested Reading

Harvard. Critical Spirit in Economics, Grad student symposium, 1968

 

Fished out of miscellaneous items filed chronologically under the label “Harvard University Department of Economics” in John Kenneth Galbraith’s papers is the following early outline for a symposium organized by the Graduate Economics Club for the month of May, 1968. Faculty were invited to join in the discussions by the president of the Graduate Economics Club, David M. Gordon (New York Times obituary: March 19, 1996). I have yet to confirm whether any or all of the four Friday afternoon sessions actually took place. John Kenneth Galbraith sent his regrets less than a week before a session that was to consider the reception of the New Industrial State. Samuel Bowles and Herbert Gintis were on the program that also included Hilary Putnam, a philosopher of science.

_______________________

Dear faculty member,

The Graduate Economics Club is sponsoring a series of discussion during the month of May, emphasizing certain broad questions of critical perspective in economic theory.

It is our hope that these discussions will initiate and promote an open discussion and exchange of ideas among students and faculty.

Enclosed you will find an outline of the first few of these round-table discussion. Central to the success of these discussions is the participation of the faculty. We cordially invite your attendance.

All meetings will be held in Littauer, the room to be announced.

Sincerely,

Graduate Economics Club,
Dave Gordon, Pres.

_______________________

THE CRITICAL SPIRIT IN ECONOMICS

  1. The Myth of an Objective Economics: The Separation of Positive and Normative Thought.
    Friday, May 3, 2:00 – 4:00.

    1. The Ideological Element in Conceptualization and Model-Building: Professor Hilary Putnam.
      Professor Putnam, a philosopher of science and logician at Harvard, will speak on the contributions of T. S. Kuhn and Karl Popper, after which the discussion will be opened to the group.
      Readings are (starred items are most important):

      1. *T. S. Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, esp. chap. 2, 4, 10, 12, 13. (72 pages)
      2. *Karl Popper, The Logic of Scientific Discovery, I, II; esp. pp. 27-30, 32-34, 40-42.
      3. *Karl Marx, A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy, Author’s Preface (Xerox, pp. 9-15).
      4. *Milton Friedman, “The Methodology of Positive Economics,” in Essays in Positive Economics.
      5. Stephen Toulman, The Philosophy of Science, chap. 2, pp. 17-56.
      6. Michael Polanyi, Personal Knowledge, chap. 2, pp. 18-32.
      7. Pratt, Raiffa and Schlaiffer, Introduction to Statistical Decision Theory, Appendix A3, esp. A3.4.
    2. Examples from Economic Literature: These readings are meant to illustrate points made in the above readings:
      1. *Roy Harrod, “Scope and Method in Economics”, Economic Journal, Sept., 1938.
      2. *Oscar Lange, “Marxian Economics and Modern Economic Thought”, Review of Economic Studies, June, 1935.
      3. *Robert Solow, “Son of Affluence”, The Public Interest, Fall, 1967.
      4. *Robin Marris, review of Galbraith’s New Industrial State, Am. Econ Review, March, 1968, pp. 240-247.
  2. Paradigms in Development Economics
    Friday, May 10, 2:00 – 4:00

    1. Tensions, Preferences and Economic Development: Sherman Robinson.
      1. *Sherman Robinson, “Tensions, Preferences and Development”, Xerox in Littauer Library.
      2. *Gunnar Myrdal, Prologue to Vol. I of Asian Drama.
    2. Development paradigms
      1. *H. Chenery, “Comparative Advantage and Development Policy”, AER, March, 1961. Reprinted in Surveys of Economic Theory, AEA
      2. *Paul Baran, “On the Political Economy of Backwardness”, in Agarwala and Singh
      3. Gunnar Myrdal, Economic Theory and Underdeveloped Regions, chap. 2, “The Principle of Circular and Cumulative Causation,” and chap. 6, “National State Policies in Under-Developed Countries.”
    3. The Relevance of Economic Theory to Economic Development: Prof. Samuel Bowles.
      1. *Gunnar Myrdal, op. cit., chap. 4, “The Role of the State” and chap. 5 “International Inequalities”
      2. *Hla Myint, “Classical Theory of International Trade and the Underdeveloped Countries”, Economic Journal, June 1958, reprinted in Readings in Economic Development, T. Morgan, 1963.
      3. Hla Myint, “The Gains from International Trade and the Backward Countries”, REStud., 1954-55, pp. 29-42.
      4. Mason, Economic Planning in Underdeveloped Areas, chap. 2, sections 2, 5.
      5. Lenin, Imperialism.
      6. *Hobson, The Evolution of Modern Capitalism, chap. X, sections 9, 10.
      7. *Aron, Peace and War, Part II, chap. IX, “On Resources”, pp. 243-278.
  1. Welfare Economics and the Value of Efficiency Criteria: Herb Gintis.
    May 17, Friday, 2:00 – 4:00
    Professor A. Bergson has kindly agreed to participate.
    Readings to be Announced.
  1. The Role of the State in Economic Theory
    Friday, May 24, 2:00 – 4:00.
    Speakers and readings to be announced.

_______________________

Carbon Copy of Galbraith’s response

April 29, 1968

Mr. Dave Gordon
Graduate Economics Club
Littauer Center M-8

Dear Mr. Gordon:

Unhappily I will be in Italy on May 3rd, so I will not be able to attend the round-table discussion on that day. I am sorry.

Yours faithfully,

John Kenneth Galbraith

 

Source: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library. Papers of John Kenneth Galbraith, Series 5. Harvard University File, 1949-1990. Box 526, Folder “Harvard University Department of Economics: General Correspondence, 1967-1974 (3 of 3)”.

Image Source: David M. Gordon in Harvard Class Album, 1964.

Categories
Harvard Seminar Speakers

Harvard. International Economic Relations Seminar. Haberler and Harris, 1940-45

 

The most famous economics seminar at Harvard University in the history of economics is undoubtedly the fiscal policy seminar run by John Williams and Alvin Hansen. A list of that seminar’s speakers and their topics was included in an earlier post. Below I provide the reported speaker’s and topics for the “younger” international economic relations seminar jointly organized by Gottfried Haberler and Seymour Harris during the War years.

___________________________________

EXPANSION OF THE SEMINAR PROGRAM

Several additions have been made in the seminar program of the School [of Public Administration] for the year 1940-1941. Professors Haberler and Harris are presenting a seminar on international economic relations. We planned our seminar program in 1937 on the assumption that it was wise to begin with domestic problems despite the fact that a number of the Faculty had special interests in the international field. In view of the events of the last few years, it seems highly important to develop these interests. The seminar given by Professors Haberler and Harris deals with the application of the principles of international trade to current problems…

Source: Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College and Reports of Departments for 1939-40, p. 306.

___________________________________

1940-41
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS SEMINAR
[partial list]

[Seven of the meetings of the Fiscal Policy Seminar were held jointly with other seminars – four with the International Economic Relations Seminar and three with the Agricultural, Forestry, and Land Policy Seminar.]

 

October 11. SVEND LAURSEN, Student, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University.

Subject: International Trade and the Multiplier. (Joint meeting with Fiscal Policy Seminar.)

February 21. HARRY D. WHITE, Director, Division of Monetary Research, United States Treasury Department.

Subject: Blocked Balances. (Joint meeting with Fiscal Policy Seminar.)

March 21. RICHARD V. GILBERT, National Defense Advisory Commission.

Subject: The American Defense Program. (Joint meeting with Fiscal Policy Seminar.)

May 2. GUSTAV STOLPER, Financial Adviser.

Subject: Financing the American Defense Program. (Joint meeting with Fiscal Policy Seminar.)

 

Source: Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College and Reports of Departments for 1940-41, p. 323 ff.

___________________________________

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS SEMINAR:
1941-1942. Professor Haberler and Associate Professor Harris

In 1941-42 the seminar devoted its attention to war and post-war problems in the field of International Economic Relations. A few meetings were spent on the discussion of fundamental theoretical problems. During the first semester all meetings were taken up by papers of outside consultants and their discussion. In the second semester student reports were presented and discussed, and a few extra meetings were arranged for outside speakers. The consultants and their topics were as follows:

 

October 1. EUGENE STALEY, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Economic Warfare.

October 8.[**] CHARLES P. KINDLEBERGER, Federal Reserve Board. Canadian-American Economic Relations in the War and Post-War Period.

October 15.[**] A. F. W. PLUMPTRE, University of Toronto. International Economic Position of Canada in the Present Emergency.

October 22. HEINRICH HEUSER, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Exchange Control.

October 29. FRITZ MACHLUP, University of Buffalo. The Foreign Trade Multiplier.

November 5. HENRY CHALMERS, United States Department of Commerce. Trade Restrictions in Wartime.

November 12. ARTHUR R. UPGREN, United States Department of Commerce. International Economic Interest of the United States and the Post-War Situation.

November 19. OSKAR MORGENSTERN, Princeton University. International Aspects of the Business Cycle.

November 28.[*] NOEL F. HALL, British Embassy. Economic Warfare.

December 5.[*] ROBERT BRYCE, Department of Finance, Canada. International Economic Relations with Special Reference to the Post-War Situation.

January 26.[*] PER JACOBSSEN, Bank for International Settlements. The Problem of Post-War Reconstruction.

February 13.[*] JACOB VINER, University of Chicago. Monopolistic Trading and International Relations.

February 18. H. D. FONG, Director, Nankai Institute of Economics, Chungking, China. Industrialization of China.

February 25. MICHAEL HEILPERIN, Hamilton College. International Aspects of the Present and Future Economic Situation.

March 11. JACOB MARSCHAK, New School for Social Research. The Theory of International Disequilibria.

March 14.[*] RICHARD M. BISSELL, JR., Yale University and the United States Department of Commerce. Post-War Domestic and International Investment.

March 18. ANTONIN BASCH, Brown University. International Economic Problems of Central and Southeastern Europe.

March 20.[*] ALBERT G. HART, University of Iowa. The Present Fiscal Situation.

April 10. ABBA P. LERNER, University of Kansas City. Post-War Problems.

May 8. HORST MENDERSHAUSEN, Bennington College. International Trade and Trade Policy in the Post-War Period.

 

Six of these were joint meetings with the Fiscal Policy Seminar [*] and two were joint meetings with the Government Control of Industry Seminar[**].

Student reports were presented on the following subjects:

Argentine International Trade.
Exchange Control in Argentina.
Some Aspects of Sino-Japanese Trade.
International Effects of Price Ceilings.
Location Theory and the Reconstruction of World Trade.
Some Post-War Politico-Economic Problems of the Western Hemisphere.
Economic Problems and Possibilities of a Pan Europe, Pan America and Similar Schemes.
The Balance of Payments of China.

 

Source: Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College and Reports of Departments for 1941-42, pp. 344-346.

___________________________________

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS SEMINAR
1942-43. Professor Haberler

A larger portion of the time of the seminar than usual was devoted to the discussion of fundamental principles of international trade and finance. This was due to the fact that the graduate course on international trade (Economics 143) was not offered, and the seminar had to take over to some extent the functions of the graduate course.

There were eleven meetings with outside consultants, of which eight were joint meetings with the Fiscal Policy seminar. The smaller number of students made it advisable to combine the two seminars more frequently than usual. The consultants and the topics discussed with them were as follows:

 

November 13. Professor FRITZ MACHLUP, University of Buffalo. (Joint meeting with Fiscal Policy seminar.)

Subject: National Income, Employment and International Relations; the Foreign Multiplier.

November 18. Dr. THEODORE KREPS, Economic Adviser, Board of Economic Warfare, Office of Imports.

Subject: Some Problems of Economic Warfare.

November 27. Hon. GRAHAM F. TOWERS, Governor, Bank of Canada. (Joint meeting with Fiscal Policy seminar.)

Subject: Canadian War Economic Measures.

December 4. LYNN R. EDMINSTER, Vice-Chairman, U. S. Tariff Commission. (Joint meeting with Fiscal Policy seminar.)

Subject: Post-War Reconstruction of International Trade.

December 11. Professor SEYMOUR E. HARRIS, Director, Office of Export-Import Price Control, Office of Price Administration. (Joint meeting with Fiscal Policy seminar.)

Subject: Trade Policy in Wartimes.

February 12. THOMAS MCKITTRICK, President, Bank for International Settlements. (Joint meeting with Fiscal Policy seminar.)

Subject: The Bank for International Settlements.

February 24. Dr. LEO PASVOLSKY, State Department. (Joint meeting with Fiscal Policy seminar.)

Subject: Post-War Problems in International Trade.

March 3. P. T. ELLSWORTH, War Trade Staff, Board of Economic Warfare.

Subject: The Administration of Export Control.

April 12. EMILE DESPRES, Office of Strategic Services, Washington, D. C. (Joint meeting with Fiscal Policy seminar.)

Subject: The Transfer Problem and the Over-Saving Problem in the Pre-War and Post-War Worlds.

April 16. Dr. ALBERT HAHN. (Joint meeting with Fiscal Policy seminar.)

Subject: Planned or Adjusted Post-War Economy.

April 20. Dr. ALEXANDER LOVEDAY, League of Nations.

Subject: European Post-War Reconstruction.

 

Student reports were presented on the following subjects among others: practice and theory of an international bank; post-war industrialization of China; coordination of fiscal policy in different countries; international position of the Brazilian economy; international commodity agreements; international implications for fiscal policy; British exchange equalization account; and Argentine exchange control.

Twelve students were enrolled in the seminar of which four were Littauer fellows, seven graduate students from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and one from the College.

 

Source: Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College and Reports of Departments for 1942-43, pp. 246-247.

 

___________________________________

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS SEMINAR
1943-44. Associate Professor Harris

A new approach was tried in the International Economic Relations Seminar this year. We paid particular attention to the international economic problems of Latin America and especially to the problems raised by the great demand for Latin American products for war, the expansion of exports and of money, and the resulting inflation. Attention was also given to the transitional problems in the postwar period, particularly to the adjustments that will be required in exports, imports, capital movements, exchange rates, and the allocation of economic factors. In the course of the year leading government authorities on Latin American economic problems were invited to address meetings of the seminar, which were frequently joint meetings with the Fiscal Policy Seminar or the students of the graduate course in international organization.

The schedule of meetings for 1943-44 was as follows:

 

November 12. Professor HARRIS.

Subject: Inflation in Latin America.

December 9. Dr. CORWIN EDWARDS, Chairman, Policy Board of the Anti-Trust Division of the Department of Justice and Chief of Staff of the Presidential Cooke Commission to Brazil.

Subject: Brazilian Economy.

December 17. Dr. HARRY WHITE, Director of Monetary Research, Treasury Department.

Subject: Problems of International Monetary Stabilization.

January 6. Professor HARRIS.

Subject: International Economic Problems of the War and Postwar Period.

January 10. Professor HABERLER.

Subject: Reparations.

January 14. Dr. N. NESS, Member, Mexican-U. S. Economic Commission.

Subject: Mexico.

January 17. Dr. BEARDSLEY RUML, Chairman, Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Subject: Economic Budget and Fiscal Budget.

January 21. Dr. P. T. ELLSWORTH, Economic Studies Division, Department of State.

Subject: Chile.

January 24. Dr. DON HUMPHREY, Special Advisor on Price Control to Haitian Government; Chief, Price Section, O.P.A.

Subject: Haiti.

January 31. Dr. ROBERT TRIFFIN, Member, U. S. Economic Commission to Paraguay.

Subject: Money, Banking, and Foreign Exchanges in Latin America.

February 4. Dr. MIRON BURGIN, Office of Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs.

Subject: Argentina.

February 9. Dr. FRANK WARING, Director, Research Division, Office of Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs.

Subject: Broad Aspects of Latin-American Economics.

February 10. Dr. BEN LEWIS, Head of Price Control Mission to Colombia, Special Assistant to the Price Administrator.

Subject: Colombia.

March 9. Dr. HENRY CHALMERS, Department of Commerce.

Subject: Inter-American Trade Practices.

March 31. Mr. HENRY WALLICH.

Subject: Fiscal Policy and International Equilibrium.

 

Source: Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College and Reports of Departments for 1943-44, pp. 271-2.

___________________________________

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS SEMINAR
Professor Haberler and Associate Professor Harris

The seminar meetings in the year 1944-1945 may be arranged under the following headings:

  1. Exchanges, Controls, and International Trade (8 meetings)
  2. Regional Problems (8 meetings).
  3. Regional and International Aspects of Domestic Problems (8 meetings).
  4. Lectures and Discussions on International Trade by Professors Haberler and Harris (8 meetings).

Four of the papers presented at these meetings were subsequently published in economic journals.

The schedule of meetings for 1944-1945 was as follows:

November 16. Dr. RANDALL HINSHAW, Federal Reserve Board.

Subject: American Prosperity and the British Balance-of-Payments Problem. (Published in the Review of Economic Statistics, February 1945.)

December 11. EDWARD M. BERNSTEIN, Assistant Director, Division of Monetary Research, Treasury Department.

Subject: The Scarcity of Dollars. (Published in The Journal of Political Economy, March 1945.)

December 15. Dr. FRANCIS MCINTYRE, Representative of the Foreign Economic Exchange on Requirements Board of the War Production Board.

Subject: International Distribution of Supplies in Wartime.

December 21. Dr. ALEXANDER GERSCHENKRON, Federal Reserve Board.

Subject: Some Problems of the Economic Collaboration with Russia.

January 11. Dr. WOLFGANG STOLPER, Swarthmore College.

Subject: British Balance-of-Payments Problem After World War I.

January 22. Dr. WALTER GARDNER, Federal Reserve Board.

Subject: Some Aspects of the Bretton Woods Program.

January 26. Dr. WILLIAM FELLNER, University of California.

Subject: Types of Expansionary Policies and the Rate of Interest.

January 29. Professor WALTER F. BOGNER, Dr. CHARLES R. CHERINGTON, Professors CARL J. FRIEDRICH, SEYMOUR E. HARRIS, TALCOTT PARSONS, ALFRED D. SIMPSON, and Mr. GEORGE B. WALKER.

Subject: The Boston Urban Development Plan.

March 5. Dr. ROBERT TRIFFIN, Federal Reserve Board.

Subject: International Economic Problems of South America.

March 19. Dr. LOUIS RASMINSKY, Foreign Exchange Control Board, Ottawa, Canada.

Subject: British-American Trade Problems from the Canadian Point of View. (Published in the British Economic Journal, September I945.)

March 22. Dr. ROBERT A. GORDON, War Production Board.

Subject: International Raw Materials Control: War and Postwar.

March 26. Dr. HERBERT FURTH, Federal Reserve Board.

Subject: Monetary and Financial Problems in the Liberated Countries.

April 2. Dr. LLOYD METZLER, Federal Reserve Board.

Subject: Postwar Economic Policies of the United Kingdom. (An article based on this paper and written in collaboration with Dr. RANDALL HINSHAW was published in The Review of Economic Statistics, November 1945.)

April 16. Professor EDWARD S. MASON, State Department, Washington.

Subject: Commodity Agreements.

April 23. Dr. ABBA P. LERNER, New School for Social Research, N. Y.

Subject: Postwar Policies.

April 27. Professor JOHN VAN SICKLE, Vanderbilt University.

Subject: Wages and Employment: A Regional Approach.

May 14. Dr. E. M. H. LLOYD, United Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, British Treasury.

Subject: Inflation in Europe.

May 28. Professor LEON DUPRIEZ, University of Louvain, Belgium.

Subject: Problem of Full Employment in View of Recent European Experience.

May 29. Professor SEYMOUR E. HARRIS, Professor WASSILY W. LEONTIEF, Professor GOTTFRIED HABERLER, Professor ALVIN H. HANSEN.

Subject: The Shorter Work Week and Full Employment.

 

Source:   Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College and Reports of Departments for 1944-45, pp. 285-6.