Since first posting this course syllabus I have found a copy of the examination questions for the final exam given at the end of the second term in June 1939.
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[Economic Theory. Instructor: Edward Hastings Chamberlin]
Economics 101
1938-9
First Semester
I. Mill – Principles, Book II, chapter 4; Book III, chapters 1, 2.
Chamberlin – Monopolistic Competition, chapters 1, 2.
Mill – Principles, Book III, chapters 3, 5, 6.
Marshall – Principles, pp. 348-50; p. 806 note.
Mill – Principles, Book III, chapter 4.
Suggested Reading:
Introduction to the Ashley ed. of Mill, or
Ricardo – Political Economy (Gonner edition), chapter 1.
II. Boehm-Bawerk – Positive Theory of Capital, Books III, IV.
Marshall – Principles, Appendix I.
Davenport – Economics of Enterprise, chapter 6.
Suggested Reading:
Jevons – Theory of Political Economy, chapters 3, 4.
III. Marshall – Principles, Book V, chapters 1-5; Book IV, chapter 13; Book V, chapters 8, 9, 10, 12; Appendix H.
Taussig, F. W., “Price Fixing as Seen by a Price Fixer”, Q.J.E., Vol. 33, p. 205.
Knight, F. H. – “Cost of Production and Price over Long and Short Periods”, Journal of Political Economy, Vol. 29, p. 304 (1921). (Reprinted in Knight, The Ethics of Competition and Other Essays, Chapter 8).
Suggested Reading: Additional reading in Marshall.
Keynes – “Alfred Marshall” – Economic Journal, September 1924. (Also in Keynes, Essays in Biography.)
IV. Chamberlin – Monopolistic Competition, chapter 3.
Abramovitz – “Monopolistic Selling in a Changing Economy”, Q.J.E., Vol. 52, p. 191 (1938).
Suggested Reading:
Zeuthen – Problems of Monopoly, chapter 2.
Monopolistic Competition, Appendix A.
V. Robinson – Imperfect Competition, Introduction, and chapters 1,2,3.
Monopolistic Competition, chapters 4, 5; Appendices D, E.
Chamberlin – “Monopolistic or Imperfect Competition?”, Q.J.E., August, 1937.
Sweezy, P.M. – “On the Definition of Monopoly”, Q.J.E., Vol. 51, p. 362 (1937)
Cassels, J.M. – “Excess Capacity and Monopolistic Competition”, Q.J.E., Vol. 51, p. 426. (1937)
Suggested Reading:
Kaldor – “Professor Chamberlin on Monopolistic and Imperfect Competition”, Q.J.E., May, 1938: and Reply.
Robinson – Imperfect Competition, chapters 4,5,6, 7.
VI. Viner – “Cost Curves and Supply Curves”, Zeitschrift für Nationalökonomie, 1931.
Monopolistic Competition, Appendix B.
Suggested Reading:
Sraffa, P., “The Laws of Returns under Competitive Conditions”, Economic Journal, Vol. 36, p. 535 (1926).
VII. Monopolistic Competition, chapters 6,7.
Braithwaite, Dorothea – “The Economic Effects of Advertisement”, Economic Journal, Vol. 38, p. 16 (1928). (Reprinted as Chapter VII in Braithwaite and Dobbs, The Distribution of Consumable Goods).
Monopolistic Competition, Appendix C.
Alsberg, C.L. – “Economic Aspects of Adulteration and Imitation”, Q.J.E., Vol. 46, p. 1 (1931).
Suggested Reading:
Hotelling, H. “Stability in Competition”, Economic Journal, Vol. 39, p. 41 (1929)
Lerner, A. P. and Singer, H.W. – “Some Notes on Duopoly and Spatial Competition”, Journal of Political Economy, Vol. 45, p. 145 (1937)
Burns, A.R. – The Decline of Competition, chapter VIII, “Non-Price Competition”.
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Economics 101
1938-9
Second Semester
I. Discrimination:
Pigou – Economics of Welfare, Part II. Chapter on Discriminating Monopoly.
Robinson, J. – Imperfect Competition, Chapters 15, 16.
Suggested: Pigou – Chapter on the Special Problem of Railway Rates
Clark, J.M. – Overhead Costs, Chapter 20.
II. Distribution – General:
Marshall – Principles, Book VI, Chapters 1-5.
Knight – Risk, Uncertainty and Profits, Chapter 4.
Chamberlin – Monopolistic Competition, Chapter 8.
Suggested Reading: Garver & Hansen – Principles, Chapter 5.
Kahn – “Some Notes on Ideal Output” (last half) Economic Journal.
III. Wages:
Hicks – Theory of Wages, Chapters 1-7; 9; 10, section 1; 11, section 5.
Taussig – Principles, Chapter 47.
Suggested Reading: Robertson –Economic Fragments, Chapter on “Wage Grumbles.”
Machlup – “The Common Sense of Elasticity of Substitution,” Review of Economic Studies, Vol. II, Page 202.
Cairnes – Leading Principles, Chapter 3.
IV. Interest:
Böhm – Bawerk – Positive Theory, Book I, chapter 2; Book II; Book V; Book VI, chapters 5,6,7; Book VII, chapters 1,2,3.
Marshall – Principles, Book IV, chapter 7; Book VI, chapter 1, sections 8, 9, 10, chapter 2, section 4, chapter 6.
Wicksell – Lectures, Vol. I, pages 144-171,185-195, 207-218.
Clark, J. B. – Distribution of Wealth, chapters 9, 20.
Schumpeter – Theory of Economic Development, chapters 1 – 5.
V. Rent:
Ricardo – Chapter 2.
Marshall – Book V, chapters 8, 9,10,11.
Robinson – Imperfect Competition, chapters 8, 9.
VI. Profits:
Marshall – Book VI, chapter 5, section 7; chapters 7, 8.
Taussig – Principles, Vol. II, chapter 50, section 1.
Henderson –Supply & Demand, chapter 7.
Chamberlin – Monopolistic Competition, chapter 5, section 6; chapter 7, section 6; Appendices D, E.
Schumpeter – (see under Interest)
Berle & Means – The Modern Corporation, Book IV.
Gordon, R.A. – “Enterprise, Profits and the Modern Corporation,” in “Explorations in Economics,” p. 306.
Knight – The Ethics of Competition, Essay No. 11: “Economic Theory and Nationalism.”
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Source: Harvard University Archives
HUC 8522.2.1
Box 2 of 10
Syllabi, course outlines and
Reading lists in Economics,
1895-2003
Folder: Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in Economics, 1938-39