John Maurice Clark taught a history of economic theory sequence at Columbia University that had its origins in a similar course that had been taught earlier by Wesley Clair Mitchell. On the back of Clark’s examination questions for the first session of the 1950-51 academic year one finds a list of names and grades that we can strongly presume constitute the grade distribution for the course. 43 students were listed by John Maurice Clark in his handwritten grade sheet for the first semester of formative types of economic theory, of whom 26 received grades (3.12 average on a 4 point scale, median 3.17). Mark Blaug, whose magnum opus Economic Theory in Retrospect has served as a staple of the analytic narrative of the evolution of economics, received only a grade of B- (2.67) which put him tied with two other students at rank 21. A few years later Blaug was to find his mentor and dissertation adviser, George Stigler.
The later Congressional Research Service economist John P. Hardt (Columbia Ph.D., 1954) was on the list but not awarded a grade for the course.
Oops it happens every so often, I have repeated myself. The original posting along with another year’s examination can be found here.
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Course Announcement
Economics 115-116 — Formative types of economic theory.
3 points each session. Professor Clark.
M. W. 12. 313 Fayerweather.
Readings and critical discussion of outstanding examples of the parent stock of classical economics with some regard to historical setting, and of subsequent outstanding contributions.
Source: Columbia University. Announcement of the Faculty of Political Science for the Winter and Spring Sessions 1950-51, p. 46.
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Course Description
Economics 115-116—Formative types of economic theory. 3 points each session. Professor Clark.
M.W. 12. 313 Fayerweather.
Readings and critical discussion of outstanding examples of the parent stock of classical economics, with some regard to historical setting, and of subsequent outstanding contributions.
Source: Columbia University. Announcement of the Faculty of Political Science for the Winter and Spring Sessions 1950-51, p. 46.
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Take-Home Examination Questions
Economics 115
Final Examination
January, 1951
Answer any two questions, taking about the time for the actual writing that a regular examination would take. Those who do the work during Christmas holidays will please return papers January 8; others Friday, January 26, unless otherwise specified.
- Do the views of ancient writers (Hebrew, Greek or Roman) afford the same kind of evidence as the writings of modern economists as to economic conditions and practices of their time?
- Discuss extent of applicability of medieval doctrine on price; variations or relaxations; and how far the doctrine was effective in practice.
- Explain and appraise Quesnay’s “Tableau Économique”.
- State key doctrines of the Physiocrats and indicate how they could be regarded as adaptations to an historical situation.
- Compare views of Smith and Ricardo on the relation of labor to value.
- Compare treatment of rent in Smith, Malthus and Ricardo.
- On what grounds did Adam Smith sanction departures from laissez-faire?
- Topic: dominant conceptions of what economic activity is for. Compare the dominant conception (or at most a few dominant conceptions) of as many of the following as you feel you can reasonably cover: typical Mercantilists, Physiocrats, Ricardo, John Stuart Mill.
- What does Bentham’s theory contribute to the basic rationale of economics, aside from his ideas on economic matters themselves? (Book V of J. S. Mill’s “Principles of Political Economy” might contain hints.)
- State doctrines of Ricardo which had roots in historical conditions of the time, and indicate the connection.
- Compare Ricardo’s treatment of value with either Adam Smith’s or John Stuart Mill’s.
- What were the sources of J. S. Mill’s departure from strict Ricardianism?
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Probable Grade Distribution
|
Letter Grade |
Number of students |
| A |
2 |
|
A to A- |
1 |
| A- |
5 |
|
B+ |
5 |
| B |
6 |
|
B to B- |
1 |
| B- |
2 |
|
C+ |
1 |
| C |
3 |
Note: Mark Blaug received the B to B- grade.
Source: Columbia University Archives. John M. Clark Papers. Box 24 (Courses Misc.), Unlabeled Folder.
Image Source: Portrait of John Maurice Clark from the collection of portraits of economists presented in 1997 as a gift to the Department of Economics of Duke University by Professor Warren J. Samuels of Michigan State University. Free use of these portraits in Web documents, and for other educational purposes, is encouraged: users are requested to acknowledge that the images come from The Warren J. Samuels Portrait Collection at Duke University.