The economics of socialism was a regular undergraduate course offering at Harvard from the turn of the twentieth century to well into the second half of the century. Besides the syllabus with assigned readings along with the final examination questions.
Transcriptions of related course materials at the following links:
Economics of Socialism (Ec 111) taught by Taylor in 1952-53
Economics of Socialism (Ec 11b) taught by Schumpeter in 1945-46
Economics of Socialism (Ec 11b) taught by Schumpeter in 1943-44
Economics of Socialism (Ec11b) taught by Sweezy in 1939-40
Economics of Socialism (Ec11b) taught by Mason and Sweezy in 1937-38
Programs of Social Reconstruction (Ec 7c) taught by Mason in 1933
Economics of Socialism, Anarchism and the Single Tax (Ec 7b) taught by Carver in 1920
Socialism and Communism (Ec 14) taught by Carver and Bushnee in 1901-02
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Course enrollment
[Economics] 111. Socialism. Dr. O. H. Taylor. Half course. (Spring)
Total, 9: 1 Graduate, 3 Seniors. 1 Junior, 1 Sophomore, 3 others.
Source: Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College, 1954-55. P. 89.
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Course Syllabus
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
Department of Economics
Spring Term, 1955
Economics 111
- Feb. 2-11. Pre-Marxian Socialism.
Reading due Feb. 11: H. Laidler, Social-Economic Movements, chs. [8-12]
Wed., Feb. 2. Introductory Lecture, about the course.
Fri., Feb. 4. Lecture: Antecedents of Socialist thought in European culture — ancient, mediaeval, and early-modern.
Mon., Feb. 7. Lecture: Antecedents of socialist thought, II—The “enlightenment,” liberalism, and socialism; A. Smith, Bentham, Ricardo, and others.
Wed., Feb. 9. Lecture: The “utopian” socialists—St. Simon, Fourier, and R. Owen.
Fri., Feb. 11. Discussion.
- Feb. 14-Mar. 4. Marxian Socialism—the Doctrinal System of Karl Marx.
Reading due Feb. 18: Marx and Engels, The Communist Manifesto
J. A. Schumpeter, Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy, Part I
Mon., Feb. 14. Lecture: “Utopian” socialism, Hegel, Ricardo, and Marx’s “scientific” socialism.
Wed., Feb. 16. Lecture: Hegel and Marx, philosophers of history; and Marx’s “science” of society and history.
Fri., Feb. 18. Discussion.
Reading due Feb. 25: P. M. Sweezy, Theory of Capitalist Development, parts I, II.
Mon., Feb. 21. Lecture: Marx’s economics. 1—Theories of value, wages, surplus value, accumulation of capital, and evolving capitalism.
Wed., Feb. 23. Lecture: Marx’s economics. 2—Theory of capitalism’s evolution and decline or life-cycle; crises (business cycle), change from competitive to monopoly capitalism, and transition to socialism.
Fri. Feb. 25. Discussion.
Reading due Mar. 4: P. M. Sweezy, Theory of Capitalist Development, Part IV.
J.A. Schumpeter, Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy, Part II.
O. H. Taylor article, “Schumpeter and Marx,” Quarterly Journal of Economics, November 1951.
Mon., Feb. 28. Lecture: Modern Marxist (Communist) additions to Marx’s doctrines about capitalism in decline, and the transition; theory of “imperialism,” etc.
Wed., Mar. 2. Lecture: Schumpeter and Marx—two views of capitalism and its history and destiny—a comparison and contrast, illuminating Marxism.
Fri., Mar. 4. Discussion.
- Mar. 7-18. Marxian Socialism in Germany and Europe—Party Histories—to World War I.
Reading due Mar. 11: Schumpeter, Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy, Part V.
P. M. Sweezy, Socialism, Chs.
Mon., Mar. 7. Lecture: Marx, Lasalle, and the German Social Democratic Party, to the Gotha Program.
Wed., Mar. 9. Lecture: The Revisionist Controversy of the German Socialists.
Fri., Mar. 11. Discussion.
Reading due Mar. 18: [blank]
Mon., Mar. 14. Lecture: Histories of French and Italian Socialism.
Wed., Mar. 16. Lecture: History of Scandinavian Socialism.
Fri., Mar. 18. Discussion.
- Mar. 21-April 1. English Socialism—History.
Reading due Mar. 25: G.D.H. Cole, A Short History of the British Working Class Movement, Part I, chs. 5-9 incl. and Part II.
The Fabian Essays.
Mon., Mar. 21. Lecture: From Owen to the Fabians.
Wed., Mar. 233. Lecture: Fabian Socialism.
Fri., Mar. 25. Discussion.
Reading due April 1: New Fabian Essays.
Mon., Mar. 28. Lecture: Evolution (since 1900) of the English Labor Party and its Socialism.
Wed., Mar. 30. Lecture: English Socialism, 1945-50—Partial Realization, and Changing Outlook.
Fri., April 1. Discussion.
April 3-10. SPRING RECESS.
- April 11-22. Russian Communism and the Soviet System.
Reading due April 15: M. Dobb
A. Baykov, Dev. Soviet Econ. System
Mon., Apr. 11. Lecture: Lenin, the Russian Revolution, and Early Evolution of the Soviet System.
Wed., Apr. 13. Lecture: The Five-Year Plans; Russia’s Industrialization and Economic Policies
Fri., Apr. 15. Discussion
Reading due April 22: [blank]
Mon., Apr. 18. Lecture: The Russian Economy—Operation.
Wed., Apr. 20. Lecture: Russian Society, State, and Civilization—Extra-Economic Features of the System.
Fri., Apr. 22. Discussion.
- April 25-May 2. Economic Theory of Liberal Socialism—The Lange Model.
Reading due May 2: Lippincott (ed.), Economics of Socialism
Mon., Apr. 25. Lecture: History of Modern Theory of “Competitive” Socialism: Von Mises, Barone, Lange, etc.
Wed., Apr. 27. Lecture: The O. Lange Model and Argument
Fri., Apr. 29. Lecture: Problems of Full Socialism in Practice.
Mon., May 2. Discussion.
Reading Period
David M. Wright. Capitalism (entire book).
Source: Harvard University Archives. Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in Economics, 1895-2003. Box 6, Folder “Economics, 1954-1955 (1 of 2)”.
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1954-55
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
ECONOMICS 111
[Final Examination. June, 1955]
Write half-hour answers to six of the following questions including no. 8
- (a) Explain and discuss (as to its validity) all that you think Marx meant in describing pre-Marxian socialist thought as “utopian,” and in claiming that his own new kind was “scientific.”
(b) Briefly characterize the outlook and program either of Fourier or of Robert Owen, and discuss the questions whether, how far, and wherein it was “utopian” in Marx’s sense. - Summarize briefly, and discuss critically, Marx’s general theory of the process and pattern of all human history, or social evolution.
- Give a general account and criticism of the main ideas in Marx’s critical analysis of capitalism and its prospects—the main things that he claimed to see and/or foresee as the economic system’s destined-to-become-fatal flaws, and the way in which they would develop and bring on its doom and the advent of socialism.
- Discuss what have tended to be the chief problems or difficulties of Marxian socialist parties, endeavoring to adhere closely to the teachings of Marx and at the same time to cope with the practical exigencies arising in their careers as political parties. Illustrate your points from the history of the German Social Democratic Party.
- Give a general account of English Fabian socialism—its main distinctive characteristics, ideas, aims, and tactics—in comparison and contrast with Marxian socialism.
- Explain and discuss what you think are the main attractions and disattractions of present-day Communism for the world’s economically backward countries.
- State and explain your opinions about (a) the theoretically possible and (b) the likely actual success of a (realized) socialism that would do its best to carry out Oscar Lange’s proposals, in serving the economic welfare of the people better than it could be served by private capitalism.
- Write a critical review of or commentary on Pigou’s essay “Socialism vs. Capitalism.”
Source: Harvard University Archives. Papers Printed for Final Examinations [in] History, History of Religions, … , Economics, … , Naval Science, Air Science, June, 1955. Included in bound volume Final Exams, Social Sciences, June, 1955 (HUC 7000.28, Vol. 110).
Image Source: O.H. Taylor in Harvard College, Class Album 1952.