EH402      Half Unit
Quantitative Analysis in Economic History I

This information is for the 2023/24 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Mohamed Saleh

Availability

This course is available on the MPhil/PhD in Economic History, MSc in Economic History, MSc in Economic History (Research), MSc in Financial History, MSc in Global Economic History (Erasmus Mundus) and MSc in Political Economy of Late Development. This course is not available as an outside option.

Course content

This course is concerned with how economic historians have used quantitative methods and with how researchers design and structure a research project. In terms of quantitative methods the emphasis is on the applied and practical rather than the theoretical and will range from the use of simple summary descriptive statistics to multiple regression. The course is concerned with the problems of analysing and interpreting quantitative historical evidence. It will consider topics such as sampling and statistical distributions, correlation, simple and multiple regression, specification problems, hypothesis testing, panel data analysis and instrumental variables, although the content may vary slightly from year to year. The course will also provide students with training in using an econometrics software package. An important component of the course is the deconstruction of historical articles that have used quantitative techniques.

Teaching

9 hours of seminars and 20 hours of computer workshops in the AT.

This course is delivered through a combination of classes and lectures totalling a minimum of 20 hours across Michaelmas Term. 

This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Michaelmas Term

Formative coursework

Students will be expected to produce 1 essay in the AT.

Indicative reading

  • C H Feinstein and M Thomas, Making History Count (2002);
  • P Hudson, History by Numbers (2002);
  • C H Lee, The Quantitative Approach to Economic History (1977);
  • G Hawthorn, Plausible Words (1991).

Assessment

Essay (80%, 3000 words) and in-class assessment (20%).

Key facts

Department: Economic History

Total students 2022/23: 84

Average class size 2022/23: 20

Controlled access 2022/23: Yes

Lecture capture used 2022/23: Yes (MT)

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Course selection videos

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.

Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills
  • Communication
  • Application of numeracy skills
  • Specialist skills