Harvard Economics. Readings for Taussig’s Economics 11, Theory. 1923-24.

 

 

From assignments and suggested readings as found in the notes taken by Frank W. Fetter (obituary), son of the economist Frank Albert Fetter. Frank W. Fetter received an A.M. in economics from Harvard. Most of the items below are written at the start of his notes for the class-days Fetter attended. Approximately 110 pages of class/reading notes are in this folder. I have merely extracted the course readings and specific bibliographic references made by Taussig for this posting.

New addition: Mid-year and final examination questions for this course.

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Readings for Economic Theory (Taussig)

Economics 11
MWF 2pm
1923-24
from notes taken by Frank Whitson Fetter

Fall Term

Sept. 26

• George, Progress and Poverty. Book I, ch 1-2, 5
• F. A. Walker, Wages Question. Ch 8-9
• F. A. Walker, Political Economy, Part VI, ch. 5

Sept. 28

Oct. 1

Oct. 3

Oct. 5

Oct. 8

• Taussig, Wages and Capital. Ch. 1
• Walker, Discussions, vol I, 359-380, 383-413
  • Also in QJE vol.  I and vol. II. [“On the source of business profits”]
• F. A. Walker, Political Economy IV, ch. 9

Oct. 10

Oct. 15

Oct. 17

Oct. 19

• Ricardo Ch. I. Value

Oct. 22

Oct. 24

• Adam Smith, Bk I-ch V about 2/5, Cannan ed. I, pp. 34-38
• Mill, Bk III, Ch. 15
• Cliff-Leslie, essays p. 180 re the philosophical method in political economy

Oct. 26

Oct. 29

• Read Ricardo also on Rent and Rent of Mines

Oct. 31

• Read J. S. Mill, Book III, ch 3,4,5; Book IV, ch. 4, § 4; Book II, ch 16
• Orchard in QJE, Feb 1922.
• Ricardo, ch 4,5
• Ricardo, Chapter on Profits, ch 6,

Nov. 2

• Hollander QJE XIIXp. 466
• Davidson, Bargain Theory of Wages, pp. 17/8

Nov. 5

Nov. 7

• Ricardo, ch Profits

Nov. 9

Nov. 12

• Hollander QJE Aug 1904
• Mill, Bk I, ch 10-13; Bk II, ch 1, ¶ 1, ch 11.

Nov. 14 Discusses Ricardo’s biography

• H. Hollander “Ricardo” in JHU 1910

Nov. 16 (no class)

Nov. 19

• Mill Bk II, ch. 11, 13, 15*, 16
• Cf. Patten. The interpretation of Ricardo, p. 351.

Nov. 26

• Mill Bk IV, ch 2-6
  • Read paragraphs 5-7 in chapter on profits
• Taussig, Wages and Capital, Chapter 11, John Stuart Mill.

Nov. 28

Nov. 30 Lecture by Taussig on Mill

• Assignment for Dec 3. Mill Bk III, 2,3

Dec. 3. No class

Dec. 5. Class in charge of Prof. Crum.

• Marshall, 6^th, Book V, ch. 1,2
• Taussig QJE Vol 35, p. 394
• Taussig Principles, ch 10, paragraph 1-6

Dec. 7

• See Taussig QJE Vol. 35, p. 394
• Marshall, V, ch 3 (Bk V, ch 12, paragraph 3), Ch 4,(paragraphs 5 and 6 only), ch 5.

Dec. 10

• Marshall 4^th Bk V, ch 12 (paragraphs 1,2,3) or 5 ed and 6^th ed. Bk V, ch. 13 paragraphs 1,2.

Dec. 12

• Marshall 8^th p. 335, (abbreviation unclear, looks like: V:12; paragraph 3…need to check)

Dec. 14

• Taussig, Price Fixing QJE vol 33, p. 207,
• Simpson, QJE vol 35, p. 264 and QJE vol 37, p. 476
• Marshall, Book IV, ch 2,3; Book V, ch X (agricultural values) is chapter 8 in 4^th

Dec. 17

• Taussig, note, QJE Nov. 1923

Dec. 19

Dec. 21

• Usher (on Soil Exhaustion). QJE May 1923
• Esslen , Das Gesetz des abnehmenden Bodenertrages

Jan 4

• Marshall Book V, Ch. 8-11, in particular ch 8, paragraphs 5-6, 9, 10, 11.

Jan 7

Jan 9

• Marshall Book V, ch 12 on “Increasing Returns”

Jan 11.

Jan 14 “increasing returns” (internal and external economies)

• Marshall Book III, ch 3,4, 6; Book V, ch 13
• See Marshall’s Appendix

Jan 16

Jan 18

Jan 21

• Marshall, Book V- ch. 13
• For Feb. 11
  • Bk II, ch. 14
  • Cairnes Leading Principles Pt I, ch 3, paragraphs 5 and 7
  • [Taussig?] Principles ch 47-48

Jan 23 Discussion of cases given by Marshall in diagrams on pp. 464-469.

 

 

 

Spring Term

Feb. 11

• Ultimate analysis of cost of production chapter.
• Marshall Book VI, ch 4,5, also p. 339
• Mill, p. 440
• Marshall, Fortnightly Review, vol 25, p. 598

Feb. 13

Feb. 15

Feb. 18

• Marshall, Book VI, ch. 7, 8.

Feb 20

• Ellis. British Men of Genius
• Odin, Genèse des grandes hommes.
• cf. Ward. Dynamic sociology. [Vol I, Vol II]

Feb 25

• Discussion of main idea of Book II, chapter 7 (probably Marshall)

Feb 27

• Marshall, Book 4, ch 12 paragraphs 11-12; Book 5, ch 5, paragraph 7; Book 6, ch 11, paragraph 3/end?
• Böhm-Bawerk, Positive Theorie Book 3

Feb 29

• Böhm-Bawerk. Book 3, ch 1-4, 8; Book 4, ch 1-4.
• Marshall, Appendix F.

March 3

March 5

• B.B. Book 4, ch 6,7

March 7

• BB Book 3, ch 10 instead of Book 4 ch 7

March 10

• BB Book I, ch 1,2,4,6. Book II, ch 1,2,4,5

March 12

March 14

• BB Book V, ch 1, pp. 237-241, 2,3,4,5 (273-278)

March 17 no class

• Assignment for march 19. BB Book 6, ch 1, pp.285-286 and ch 2,4.

March 19

• BB Book 6, Ch 5,6

March 21

March 24

• BB Bk 7, ch 1,2,5, (419-424)

March 26 pp. 325-327

March 28

• BB Book 6, ch 9-10. And chapter 8.

March 31

• J.B. Clark Distribution of Wealth, ch 7-8

April 2

April 4

April 7

• Alvin S. Johnson’s Introduction to Economics gives an excellent presentation of the Clarkian economics.

April 9

• Clark ch 7, 8, 9 (omit pp.138-9)

April 11 Absent.

• Clark ch 11, 12, 13
• BB in QJE Nov 1906 and Feb 1907

April 21

• Clark ch 20

April 23

April 25 absent

April 28

• Clark ch 21
• Marshall Book VI, ch 1, paragraphs 7,8,9.

April 30

May 2

May 5

• Carver. QJE VIII, 40;
• Mixter, QJE XIII, 245
• *Wolfe QJE XXXV, 1
• Mill’s chapter on stationary state [Book IV, Chapter VI]
• Marshall’s chapter on stationary state

May 7

May 9

• Taussig vol. 2 ch on general level of wages

May 12    Class in charge of Crum

• Discussion of Taussig’s wage theory ch 52[51?].

May 14

May 16

• Fisher Elem Principles ch 24, paragraph 1
• Fetter, Econ Principles ch 16, paragraph 1;ch 18, paragraph 1
• Clark, Distribution of Wealth, ch 22, pp. 350 seq.

May 19

No class May 21 or May 26.

May 23

May 28

• Veblen’s articles on the Preconceptions of Economic Science Part I, Part II, Part III

 

Source:  Duke University. Rubenstein Library.
Frank Whitson Fetter Papers, 1902-1992.  Box 49.
Folder: Student Papers, Graduate Course (Harvard University) Transportation Exams, readings, notes, 1923-1924.