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Harvard. Final exam for Economic Aspects of War, Harris et al., 1940

 

I just noticed that I have a copy of the final examination for the course “Economic Aspects of War” that I can now pair with the course outline and reading assignments that have been transcribed and posted earlier.   Seymour Harris organized the course that featured lectures of many other members of the Harvard economics faculty. 

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1939-1940
HARVARD UNIVERSITY

ECONOMICS 18b2

Answer Question 1 and four others.

  1. (One hour) Discuss war economics in its (1) real aspects on the one hand and (2) in its monetary and financial aspects on the other; and make clear the inter-relationships of (1) and (2). Illustrate briefly from World War I or II.
  2. On what principles does the State fix prices in war times? Be sure to state the objectives; and comment on experiences in World War I.
  3. Why have wars regularly produced price inflations? What monetary changes usually accompany such price movements? What monetary measures could be implemented to prevent price inflation under war conditions and what are their limitations?
  4. Exchange depreciation and exchange control with a view to maintaining exchanges above the “free” level are alternative policies in war times. Great Britain seems to have had recourse to the latter in World War I and to both depreciation and control in World War II. Explain the choice of policies. Criticise them.
  5. Taking account of the broad facts about the principal sources from which income is derived at various levels (consider not more than 3 or 4 levels) and the size distribution of income, indicate some of the probable effects of war upon the size distribution.
  6. Discuss what you consider a significant problem in the post-war economy, and attempt to show the relation of this problem to post-war economic conditions in general. It would be well to illustrate by reference to one of the following: Napoleonic War, World War I or (in anticipation) World War II.

Final. 1940.

Source: Harvard University Archives. Final Examinations, 1853-2001. (HUC7000.28), Box 5, Papers Printed for Final Examinations: History, History of Religions,…, Economics,…,Military Science, Naval Science. June, 1940.

Image Source: Seymour E. Harris from Harvard Class Album 1942.