OAFP 2155 - History of Economic Policy

This course will provide an introduction to the history of government intervention in the economy. It aims to provide some historical background to the themes students are learning in other courses. Topics to be covered include the origins of states, mercantilism, trade policy, monetary and exchange rate policy, the provision of public amenities, regulation, the welfare state, and the deregulation of the 1980s and 1990s. Students will develop a grounding in the history of public policy, and see how basic economics can be help in understanding the real world.

Students should be comfortable with basic economic and statistical concepts as well as empirical evidence presented in tables and graphs.

Lectures, with readings and slides provided on Moodle

There will be an in-class midterm exam accounting for 40% of the grade, and an in-class final exam accounting for 60%.

Students are expected to have read the required reading for every class.