EH469      Half Unit
The Development and Integration of the World Economy in the 19th and 20th Centuries

This information is for the 2025/26 session.

Course Convenor

Prof Albrecht Ritschl

Prof Max-Stephan Schulze

Availability

This course is available on the MA in Modern History, MSc in Accounting, Organisations and Institutions, MSc in Economic History, MSc in Economic History (Research), MSc in Empires, Colonialism and Globalisation, MSc in Financial History, MSc in Global Economic History, MSc in Political Economy of Late Development and MSc in Political Science (Global Politics). This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.

How to apply: All Economic History courses are controlled access and capped.  Priority will be given to students for whom the course is within their programme regulations.

All course choices submitted before the deadline will be considered. It is advisable that students submit a statement in support of their course choices as these will be used to allocate places where a course is oversubscribed.

Deadline for application: First round offers will be sent on Monday 29 September 2025. Students who submit their course choices after the deadline and students wishing to take an Economic History course as an outside option will be waitlisted initially and informed by Wednesday 1 October 2025 whether they have been successful.

Once an offer has been sent, you have 48 hours to accept it before it times out.  Once an offer has timed out, it will be re-allocated to someone on the waitlist.   In all cases, it is strongly advised that you have an alternative course choice as a back-up in case you are unable to secure your first choice.  

For queries contact: If you have any questions, please contact the MSc Programmes Officer (o.harrison1@lse.ac.uk)  A list of all taught master's courses in this Department are listed on LSE's course guide webpages.

Guidance on how to apply to individual controlled access courses can also be found on LSE for You.

This course is available on the MA in Modern History, MSc in Accounting, Organisations and Institutions, MSc in Economic History, MSc in Economic History (Research), MSc in Empires, Colonialism and Globalisation, MSc Financial History, MSc in Global Economic History, MSc in Political Economy of Late Development and MSc in Political Science (Global Politics). This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Course content

This course aims to provide an overview of growth and crises in the Western economies from the British industrial revolution to the end of the 20th century, including also a brief look at the economic consequences of unwinding Europe’s colonial system. The course raises fundamental questions about the sources of the unprecedented rates of economic growth in the last two centuries and the economic challenges posed by the unravelling of the European model in the two World Wars and during decolonization. Topics discussed include fundamental transformations in economic experience such as income, inequality, and population growth; sources of progress, such as technology and science; the impact of fiscal instability; and explanations for divergent outcomes, including geography, human capital, institutions and economic policy.

Teaching

10 hours of lectures and 10 hours of seminars in the Winter Term.

This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Winter Term.

Formative assessment

Students will be expected to complete an essay and an equivalent assignment during term.

 

 

Indicative reading

Allen, R.C. (2009) The British Industrial Revolution in Global Perspective;

Broadberry, S. and Fukao, K. (eds.) (2021), The Cambridge Economic History of the Modern World ;

Broadberry, S. and O’Rourke, K.H. (eds.) (2010), The Cambridge Economic History of Modern Europe;

Acemoglu, D. and J.A. Robinson, J.A. (2006), Economic origins of dictatorship and democracy;

Livi-Bacci, M. (2001), A Concise History of World Population;

Hatton, T. and J. Williamson (1998), The Age of Mass Migration;

Eichengreen, B. (1996), Globalizing Capital;

O’Rourke, K. and Williamson, J. (1999), Globalization and History.

Assessment

Exam (100%), duration: 120 Minutes in the Spring exam period


Key facts

Department: Economic History

Course Study Period: Winter Term

Unit value: Half unit

FHEQ Level: Level 7

Total students 2024/25: Unavailable

Average class size 2024/25: Unavailable

Controlled access 2024/25: No
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