E366 Topics in Economic History and Development Economics: Climbing ahead, falling behind: social mobility across time and space
Content
Students extend their knowledge about the determinants and effects of economic history by choosing appropriate courses. Topics might include social market economy and history of economic thought.
Key facts about the course
ECTS-Credits
6
Level
B.Sc.
Degree
Workload
60/120
class/self
Cycle
SS
generally
Course language
ENG
Duration of the module
1
term
Exam written
oral presentation
Maximum Student number
30
Objectives
Students are able to actively participate in an informed way in discussions about the effects of economic history in different areas. They distinguish relevant technical terms and concepts. They expand their knowledge in topics such as history of economic thought and development economics and transfer their basic knowledge of the first semesters to further fields of application. In doing so, they link the competences they have acquired so far.
Registration
Necessary!
Registration period: 11.03. - 12.04.2024
Type of registration: online form
(here available during the registration period)
Please note: Confirmation e-mails are not sent before the end of the registration period!
Course work
wirtten assingment
Course type
Lecture incl. practice course (2 SWS)
Literature
Björklund, Anders, and Markus Jäntti. “Intergenerational Income Mobility and the Role of Family Background.” In Brian Nolan, Wiemer Salverda, and Timothy M. Smeeding, eds. The Oxford Handbook of Economic Inequality, pp. 491-521 (Oxford: 2011).
Ferrie, Joseph P., and Jason Long. “The Path to Convergence: Intergenerational Occupational Mobility In Britain and the U.S. in Three Eras.” The Economic Journal 117 (2007): C61-C71.
Heath, Anthony, and Yaojun Li, Social Mobility, (Cambridge: 2023).
Exam
oral presentation
About the course
This course aims to consider the underlying causes and consequences of different social mobility regimes throughout world history from an interdisciplinary perspective. We first introduce three recurring themes: inequality and social mobility, education as an engine of social mobility, and justice. The first two themes are critical to understanding how differences in social mobility arise across societies, while 'justice' introduces a framework for thinking about how social mobility is experienced. Is high inequality accompanied by high social mobility? Are societies with greater social mobility more meritocratic? Are they more efficient?
In the next week, we consider these questions from a Becker-Tomes perspective in which social mobility is driven by investments in human capital. We discuss the main predictions of the model, including the implications of credit constraints. This is paired with a methodological exercise on the measurement of intergenerational income elasticity.
Next, we discuss the sociological theory of social mobility, introducing Max Weber's concept of 'life chances'. We draw contrasts and comparisons with the utility-maximizing approach of the previous week and discuss the concept of socio-economic class. This is paired with a methodological exercise on the transition-matrix methodology. The final theoretical lecture introduces the evidence on surname persistence from the economic history literature. We discuss how previously introduced theories would account for this evidence, and a methodological exercise considers the calculation of surname persistence and possible biases in the measure.
Remaining weeks consist of case studies of social mobility drawn from world history.
Course can be taken as part of the following programs/modules:
International Economics
- Focus Module Economic History and Development Economics
- Focus Module Elective Studies
International Business Administration
- Focus Module Elective Studies
Economics and Business Administration - Type Economics
- Focus Module Economic History and Development Economics
- Focus Module Elective Studies
Economics and Business Administration - Type Business Administration
- Focus Module Elective Studies
Economics and Business Administration - Type Economics and Business Administration
- Focus Module Economic History and Development Economics
- Focus Module Elective Studies
Economics (Minor)
- Elective studies