THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
Department of Economics
ECON 2199: Special Topics in Economics, History of Economic Thought
Spring 2019, Tuesday/Thursday 9:35 – 10:50 pm, Bell 105
SYLLABUS
Instructor: K. Reutter, Ph.D. TA: none
Office: GOV 308 Office Email: Kreutter@gwu.edu
Office Hours: T/TR, 11:00 – 12:00 pm, by appointment Office Phone: 202.994.8081
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The study of economic thought can be divided into two large periods of time: the period since the
publication of Adam Smith’s An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (i.e. The
Wealth of Nations) in 1776; and everything prior. That said, there are a lot of sub-periods in each of
these larger time periods, during which economic ideas were introduced, discarded, re-introduced, re-
discarded, etc., etc., etc. In this class we will study the economic thought, musings and writings of
philosophers, clergymen, jurists, “political scientists” and finally economists (the first formal department
of economics was established at Cambridge in 1903, by then Professor of Political Economy, Alfred
Marshall).
The primary goal of the course is to give the student an understanding of the history of economic
thought, and an understanding that the new-new idea, may very well be an old-old idea. Further,
students will have a greater appreciation for how ideas in economics were developed and promulgated.
(It has been my experience that students, by studying the history of economic thought, have a better
grasp of economic theory, can frame economic arguments more completely and have historical context
for what worked, and what failed to work – as expected.) At the end of this course, the student should
be able to:
1. Identify major periods of time and persons related to the history of economic thought;
2. Demonstrate an understanding of major advances in economic understanding, and who
promulgated those ideas;
3. Identify linkages between major contributors of economic thought.
A more detailed list of topics is covered in the Course Outline at the end of this syllabus.
COURSE PREREQUISITE
Econ 1011, 1012 or equivalent
COURSE MATERIALS
Textbook: Robert B. Ekelund and Robert F. Hébert, A History of Economic Thought and Method: Sixth
Edition (Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press, 2014).
COURSE POLICIES
This is a lecture-based course, so attending class on a regular basis is encouraged.
Office Hours
See above.
Econ 2199 GWU-Economics Spring 2019
Blackboard
I will use Blackboard, sparingly, to post announcements and course material only.
To access Blackboard, go to the GW Home page http://www.gwu.edu and at the very top right-hand side
of the page, click on “Blackboard”. Login to Blackboard using your GW mail username (NetID).
Use of Email
I will check email a few times a week. However, if you have a question regarding class, the best thing
to do is stop by before or after class, during office hours or by making an appointment.
Absences from Class
I will not be taking attendance. It is your responsibility to get any missed notes/assignments from other
students if a class is missed. I strongly encourage each of you to attend each class.
Class Technology Policy
The use of technology, in the form of laptops, iPads, etc., will be tolerated during the class. However, if
the use of such technology becomes a distraction to me or others in the class, you will be asked to
refrain from using it, or moved to a different seat.
ASSIGNMENTS & GRADES
Grading
Course grades will be determined by 3 term papers and occasional in-class pop quizzes.
Each paper should be 5 – 7 pages in length (at least five typed pages, and a separate cover
page with title, name, etc.); properly documented and cited, including
footnotes/references (no Wikipedia citations!!). Properly documented papers will contain
a minimum of 5 sources (the above referenced text may be one source). Standard
margins are to be used: one inch margins at the top, bottom and sides (both left and right
sides, though papers need not be right justified) – this is the standard Word format. A
standard 12 point font should be used (I like Times New Roman, used herein).
Papers must be printed and handed in during class on the dates specified below, double
sided printing is encouraged. Emailed papers will not be accepted. Late papers will
be docked one letter grade per day, with the new day starting at the end of class.
Term paper 1 (February 21) 28.3%
Term paper 2 (March 28) 28.3%
Term paper 3 (Final Exam Date - TBA) 28.3%
Pop Quizzes 15.0 %
Total 100% (rounded)
Suggested paper topics will be discussed the first day of class, during office hours and
throughout the semester during office hours.
Standard Grading Scale
A: 93 and above B: 84 – 86 C: 74 – 76 D: 64 – 66
A-: 90 – 92 B-: 80 – 83 C-: 70 – 73 D-: 60 – 63
B+: 87 – 89 C+: 77 - 79 D+: 67 – 69 F: 59 and below
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Econ 2199 GWU-Economics Spring 2019
UNIVERSITY POLICIES
Support for Students Outside the Classroom
Disability Support Services (DSS)
Any student who may need an accommodation based on the potential impact of a disability
should contact the Disability Support Services office at 202-994-8250 in the Rome Hall, Suite
102, to establish eligibility and to coordinate reasonable accommodations. For additional
information please refer to: gwired.gwu.edu/dss/
Mental Health Services 202-994-5300
The University's Mental Health Services offers 24/7 assistance and referral to address students'
personal, social, career, and study skills problems. Services for students include: crisis and
emergency mental health consultations confidential assessment, counseling services (individual
and small group), and referrals. counselingcenter.gwu.edu/
Academic Integrity Code
Academic dishonesty is defined as cheating of any kind, including misrepresenting one's own work,
taking credit for the work of others without crediting them and without appropriate authorization, and
the fabrication of information. For the remainder of the code, see: studentconduct.gwu.edu/code-
academic-integrity
Average minimum amount of independent, out-of-class, time expected per week:
In a 15 week semester, including exam week, students are expected to spend a minimum of 100 minutes
of out-of-class work for every 50 minutes of direct instruction, for a minimum total of 2.5 hours a week.
A 3-credit course should include 2.5 hours of direct instruction and a minimum of 5 hours of
independent learning or 7.5 hours per week. More information about GW’s credit hour policy can be
found in the university bulletin: http://bulletin.gwu.edu/university-regulations/.
University Policy on Religious Holidays:
1. Students should notify faculty during the first week of the semester of their intention to be
absent from class on their day(s) of religious observance;
2. Faculty should extend to these students the courtesy of absence without penalty on such
occasions, including permission to make up examinations;
3. Faculty who intend to observe a religious holiday should arrange at the beginning of the
semester to reschedule missed classes or to make other provisions for their course-related
activities
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Econ 2199 GWU-Economics Spring 2019
ECON 2199: History of Economic Thought – Prof. K. Reutter
COURSE OUTLINE – Spring 2019
(Subject to change as we move through the material – paper due dates will not change)
Book
Week Dates Chapter In-Class Topics Notes
Introductions; Pre-classical:
1 January 14 2&3 Ancient and Medieval Economic
Thought
Pre-classical: Ancient and
2 January 21 2&3 Medieval Economic Thought;
Mercantilism
3 January 28 3 Pre-classical: Mercantilism
Pre-classical: W. Petty, R.
4 February 4 4
Cantillon, Physiocrats.
Pre-classical: W. Petty, R.
5 February 11 4&5 Cantillon, Physiocrats; Classical:
A. Smith
1st Paper
6 February 18 5 Classical: A. Smith
due Feb 21
7 February 25 6 Classical: J. Bentham, T. Malthus
8 March 4 7 Classical: D. Ricardo
9 March 11 8 & 10 Spring Break – No Class
10 March 18 11 & 12 Classical: J.S. Mill
2nd Paper
Classical: Marx; German
11 March 25 13 & 14 due March
Historicism
28
Neo-classical: A. Cournot; J.
Dupuit, French engineers; C.
12 April 1 15 & 16
Menger, W.S. Jevons, F. Weiser,
E. Böhm-Bawerk
Neo-classical: W.S. Jevons, A.
13 April 8 16
Marshall
Neo-classical: Macroeconomics,
14 April 15 21, 22, 23
Keynesian, Monetarists, Austrian
Neo-classical: Macroeconomics,
15 April 22 21, 22, 23
Keynesian, Monetarists, Austrian
Last Day of Class – No class this
16 April 29
week
3rd Paper
17 May 6 – 14 Final Exam Time TBA
due
