Professor Peter J. Boettke
M-W-F 10:30-11:20/Spring 2006
Robinson B222

The Development of Economic Thought *

 

[download syllabus pdf]

Required Books:
Mark Blaug, Economic Theory in Retrospect.
Robert Nelson, Economics as a Religion.


Recommended Books:
Alfred Marshall, Principles of Economics.
Ludwig von Mises, Socialism.
John Maynard Keynes, General Theory of Employment Interest and Money.
Joseph Schumpeter, Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy.
Milton Friedman, Capitalism and Freedom.

 

Students enrolled in Econ 821 are required to read all the original works along with Blaug and Nelson. Students enrolled in Econ 481 are required to pick one of the five original works and write a review essay.

Students are expected to attend all lectures and participate. Graduate student grades will be determined on the basis of participation in class, final exam and term paper. Undergraduate student grades will be determined on the basis of participation in class, mid-term, final exam, and book review essay (6 to 8 double spaced typed pages).

1-23-06: Course Introduction

 

1-25/27-06: The Neoclassical Revolution

 

Blaug, chapter 8.

 

 

2-1/3-06: The Marshallian System

 

Blaug, chapter 9.

 

Marshall, Principles of Economics.

 

2-6/8/10-06: The Marshallian System (continued)

 

Blaug, chapter 10 and chapter 15.

 

2-13/15/17-06: The Challenge of Socialism

 

Blaug, chapter 7.

 

Mises, Socialism.

 

2-20/22/24-06: The Economic Critique of Socialism

 

Blaug, chapter 11, 12, 13.

 

2-27/3-1/3-06: The Great Depression and the Keynesian Answer

 

Blaug, chapter 15.

 

Keynes, General Theory.

 

3-6/8/10-06: The Keynesian System

 

Blaug, chapter 16.

 

3-20/22/24-06: The End of Laissez Faire

 

Nelson, chapter 1, 2, 3, 4.

 

3-27/29/31-06: Can Capitalism Survive?

 

Schumpeter, Capitalism, Socialism & Democracy.

 

4-5/7-06: The Return of Political Economy

 

Blaug, chapter 13, especially 570-594.

 

4-10/12/14-06: The Classical Counter-Revolution in Political Economy

 

Blaug, chapter 2.

 

4-17/19/21-06: Microeconomics and Public Policy

 

Nelson, chapters 5, 6, 7.

 

Friedman, Capitalism and Freedom.

 

4-24/26/28-06: After Communism

 

Nelson, chapters 8,9.

 

5-1/3/5-06: What Have We Learned Since 1900?

 

Nelson, chapters 10, 11.



* History of Economic Thought II (Econ 821)