5/26/2018 Course Outline 337 2014(2)

1/3

Course OutlineEcon 337: Economic History of the United States

Winter 2014Vancouver School of Economics, UBC

Instructor: Marina AdshadeClass Times: Tuesday and Thursday 2:00 3:30

Class Location: Chemistry D200Email: marina.adshade@ubc.caOffice Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 9:15 10:45Office: Buchanan Tower #626

TA: Sarah ZehnerEmail: snzehner@gmail.comOffice Hours: Monday and Wednesday 3-4pmOffice: Brock Hall Annex #2363

Description: If you follow world events, you have probably wondered at some point intime: How did the United States of American arrive where it is today? Growing from anextremely poor and sparsely populated land into the wealthiest nation on earth,America is a colonial success story. But there is more to the story than economic growth;poverty, inequality, racial conflict, declining fertility, violence, and economic instabilityare outcomes of economic decisions that were made in the past. Over the course of thisterm we will talk about the characteristics of the US economy that can be credited for itsexceptional historic economic growth with an eye to understand its current economicconditions.

Approach to learning: Rather than walk you through half a millennium of Americanhistory, this class will break down the individual components of the US economy thathave contributed to its long run growth trajectory. Material will be based on publishedeconomic history literature that is available to you via the UBC library website. Alllectures will be taught under the assumption that you have completed the requiredreading in advance of class. This approach will give us the opportunity to move beyonda simple discussion of historical events and to examine the economic mechanisms thathave contributed to Americas historic economic success.

Evaluation: Your progress in this class will be measured three ways:

1. Pop quizzes (given without warning) that test your understanding the material inthe required reading for that lecture. These quizzes will be short (approximately five

minutes) and will be given eight times over the term.2. Two written projects, one in the first half and one in the second half of the term,

with instructions posted on Connect well in advance of the due date.3. A comprehensive final exam given at a time and date determined by the university.The weight of the individual components in the final grade is as follows:

Quizzes (6/8)..18%

5/26/2018 Course Outline 337 2014(2)

2/3

Written projects (2)....37%Final Exam..45%

Materials: There is no required textbook for this course. You will be given references tothe papers you must read in advance of class. I will give instructions on the first day ofclass on how to access these papers through the UBC library. Occasionally I will postlinks to online articles and videos within the lecture notes.

Policy on phone / laptop use in the classroom: Phones and laptops may not be used in theclassroom under any circumstances. Please leave them in your bag during the lecture to avoidtime-consuming interruptions to the lecture.

Schedule: This schedule is tentative and subject to change as we progress through the term.

January 7 Welcome / Introduction US Historic GrowthJanuary 9/14 Introduction to the Neoclassical Growth ModelJanuary 16/21 Economic Institutions

January 23/28 Technology Innovation and AdoptionJanuary 30 Education and Human CapitalFebruary 4/6 Population and FertilityFebruary 11 SlaveryFebruary 13 Property Rights and Land Allocation / First Term Project DueFebruary 17-21 Reading WeekFebruary 25/27 Trade and GlobalizationMarch 4 UnionizationFebruary 27 Infrastructure InvestmentMarch 4/6 IndustrializationMarch 11 Women in the Workforce

March 13/18 Money and BankingMarch 20 Culture and ReligionMarch 25/27 Natural Resources: Oil and GoldMarch 1 ConflictApril 3 GovernmentApril 8 Inequality / Second Term Project Due

Penalty for late/missed work: Your final quiz grade will consist of your top six (out of eight)marks to take into consideration that there are sometimes legitimate reasons why you mightbe late for, or absent, from class. No explanations for absences are required and no specialconsideration, with respect to the grading, will be given for missed quizzes. Assignmentgrades will have 33 percentage points deducted for every 24-hour period late. If you cannotcomplete an assignment due to illness or a recognized emergency please notify me in advanceof the assignment due date so that alternative arrangements can be made.

Statement on academic honesty: All students are personally responsible for familiarisingthemselves with the standards for academic honesty at the University of British Columbia.These policies can be found at:http://www.grad.ubc.ca/current-students/student-

http://www.grad.ubc.ca/current-students/student-responsibilities/academic-honesty-standardshttp://www.grad.ubc.ca/current-students/student-responsibilities/academic-honesty-standardshttp://www.grad.ubc.ca/current-students/student-responsibilities/academic-honesty-standards

5/26/2018 Course Outline 337 2014(2)

3/3

responsibilities/academic-honesty-standards.Please speak to me if you have any questionsregarding the standard for academic honesty at the university.

http://www.grad.ubc.ca/current-students/student-responsibilities/academic-honesty-standardshttp://www.grad.ubc.ca/current-students/student-responsibilities/academic-honesty-standardshttp://www.grad.ubc.ca/current-students/student-responsibilities/academic-honesty-standards