Dr. Max Schulze, C515

This is an optional course for BSc Economic History, BSc Economic History with Economics, BSc Economics and Economic History, BSc Economics with Economic History, BA History, BSc Economics and BSc Management.

Knowledge of basic economic analysis at the level of an introductory university course and the ability to read a European language other than English would be advantageous.

The course examines Europe’s economic development and the processes of economic integration and disintegration from the early nineteenth century to the present. One of its aims is to introduce students to a variety of theoretical approaches to the European growth and integration experience and to assess the validity of alternative explanations.

Issues covered include: I. Concepts of economic development and integration; the relationship between integration and growth. II. Integration and industrialisation in the 19th century: regional, national and international integration of goods and factor markets; the roles of transport, technological change, and technology transfer; multilateralism and the working of the gold standard; the post-1870 rise of neo-mercantilism; the industrialisation of the European periphery; the changing role of the state. III. The disintegration of the European economy, 1914-1945: economic consequences of the war; growth in the 1920s; the Great Depression and the collapse of the international economy; the emergence of trading blocs; the European economy in the Second World War. IV. Re-integration of the European economy after 1945: the economic legacy of the war; reconstruction and modernisation; the role of the Marshall Plan; liberalisation, foreign trade, and payments; the impact of supra-national institutions: the ECSC and EU; attempts at monetary integration. Comparative country case studies will be used to explore the development of national economies in their international context.

Weekly one-hour lectures with supporting classes. Students will be expected to contribute at least one presentation to class.

Students are expected to write four essays or equivalent pieces of written work.

A detailed reading list is provided at the beginning of the course. No single work covers the course adequately, but the following readings offer some indication of the material used: L A Craig & D Fisher, The Integration of the European Economy (1997); C H Feinstein, P Temin & G Toniolo, The European Economy between the Wars (1997); D H Aldcroft & S P Ville (Eds), The European Economy 1750-1914 (1994); N F R Crafts & G Toniolo (Eds), Economic Growth in Europe since 1945 (1966); B Eichengreen, Golden Fetters (1992); C P Kindleberger, The World in Depression (1973); C P Kindleberger, A Financial History of Western Europe (1993); A S Milward, War, Economy and Society (1987); S Pollard, Peaceful Conquest. The Industrialisation of Europe, 1760-1970 (1986); M S Schulze (Ed), Western Europe: Economic and Social Change since 1945 (1999); R Sylla & G Toniolo (Eds), Patterns of European Industrialisation. The 19th Century (1991); H van der Wee, Prosperity and Upheaval. The World Economy 1945-1980 (1986).

One three-hour written examination in the ST.