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Exam Questions Harvard Methodology

Harvard. Final Exam for Scope and Method of Economics. Taussig, 1896.

Harvard Portfolio, vol. VI 1895

 

Frank Taussig returned from a sabbatical to teach a course on the scope and method(s) of economics at Harvard during the second term of 1895-96. The following years his colleague, the economic historian William Ashley, taught the course.

The enrollment figures and final examination questions for Taussig’s course are provided below.

____________________

COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT

[Economics] 132 hf. Scope and Method in Economic Theory and Investigation. Half-course. Wed., Fri., and (at the pleasure of the instructor) Mon., at 1.30 (second half-year). Professor Taussig.

Source: The Harvard University Catalogue, 1895-96,p. 100.

 

COURSE ENROLLMENT

[Economics] 132. Professor Taussig.—Scope and Method in Economic Theory and Investigation. hf. 2 hours, 2d half-year.

Total 14: 11 Graduates, 3 Seniors.

 

Source: Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College, 1895-1896, p. 63.

 

1895-96
ECONOMICS 13.
[Final examination]

  1. Compare Wagner’s enumeration of the problems within the scope of economic science with Keynes’s; and consider what doubts or objections there may be in regard to any of the problems mentioned by either writer.
  2. Explain and examine critically one of the following passages in Wagner:

Section 63 (pp. 158-163).
Section 70 (pp. 180-182).

  1. Illustrate the mode in which use is advantageously made of the deductive and the inductive method in regard to two of the following topics:

the causes which determine the general range of prices;
the prospects of socialism;
the prospects of cooperation.

  1. What peculiarities and difficulties appear for economic science in the choice of terminology and in definition? Illustrate.
  2. Is there ground for saying that the economic history of very recent times is of greater value for economic theory than the economic history of remote periods?
  3. What do you conceive to be the position in regard to method in economics of Ricardo? J.S. Mill? Roscher? Schmoller?

 

Source: Harvard University Archives. Prof. F. W. Taussig Examination Papers in Economics, 1882-1935, (HUC 7882), p. 55.

Image Source: Harvard Portfolio, vol. VI, 1895 .