Global Development, Population and Economic Change – Master’s programme

Economic development is a dynamic process of change over time leading to sustained improvements in general standards of living and increased opportunities for individuals to lead a life of his or her choosing. One of the most pressing global problems is that this process has been slow in many parts of the world. At the same time, the global economy is under transformation, providing potential opportunities for developing countries to catch up. In order to analyse and understand the possibilities for and hindrances to progress in human life conditions across the developing world today, there is a need for a thorough empirical and theoretical understanding of these processes of economic change.

Within this track, many of the most hotly-debated topics in the current discussion on economic development are thoroughly dealt with. These include the relation between economic growth, poverty reduction and income inequality, the role of institutions for long-term development, the relevance and dynamics of structural change, development lessons from Asia-Pacific, the role of the state, and the potential of development assistance. All topics are discussed in an historical and comparative perspective, applying both quantitative and qualitative techniques depending on the problem at hand.

• Semester 1: Four mandatory courses (7.5 ECTS each).
• Semester 2: One mandatory course (7.5 ECTS), one elective course (7.5 ECTS), degree project (15 ECTS).
• Semester 3: Two elective courses (7.5 ECTS each), two tutorials (7.5 ECTS each).
• Semester 4: One elective course (7.5 ECTS), one tutorial (7.5 ECTS), degree project (15 ECTS).

Development of Emerging Economies (7.5 ECTS)

Syllabus EKHM61

This course examines growth dynamics of the developing world during the last decades, explored in a comparative and historical perspective. The question of why some developing economies have been able to set in motion catching-up processes, while others remain stagnant, will be discussed aided by historical-theoretical perspectives with the main focus on countries in Pacific Asia, Africa South of the Sahara and Latin America. It will be theoretically and empirically assessed to what extent the growth of the so-called global South might be sustained.

The course is divided into two parts. The first puts heavy emphasis on readings and lectures on analytical perspectives of development and catching up from the viewpoint of classical, although current, questions such as: the role of agricultural transformation, growth-inequality, market integration, possibilities for and experiences of industrial policy, technology transfer, social capabilities, market-state relationship, governance and domestic resource mobilization, poverty/human development.

The second part of the course is more student-driven and is devoted to seminar assignments where highly topical themes are discussed on the basis of available empirical data. Examples of questions to be addressed might be: south-to-south investments flows, the impact of China, the extent to which growth is commodity-driven, issues of improving competitiveness and productivity, forces behind poverty reduction.

Research design (7.5 ECTS)

Syllabus EKHM73

The course presents the student with research methods used within the social sciences in general, and within economic history specifically. The course will carefully deal with the importance of source criticism to any well-planned research. It will then, through a detailed examination of various quantitative and qualitative methods, discuss the validity of these methods to various research questions and data. The overarching goal of the course is to provide students with the tools necessary to prepare a well-structured research assignment.

China and the Asia Pacific economy (7.5 ECTS)

Syllabus EKHM70

This course explores and explains the processes of rapid industrialisation and socio-economic modernisation in China and the Asia Pacific drawing on a historically -comparative institutional approach. Fundamental factors and forces behind the economic transformation are analysed against the background of leading theories of economic development and social change. The course is divided into two parts. The first part uses institutional theory to analyse the emergence of the so called East Asian model and its relevance for China. The institutional underpinnings of China's transformation to market economy are analysed in comparison with previous and contemporary development experiences in the Asia Pacific, from Japan to the ASEAN countries. Themes dealt with include agricultural modernisation and industrial policy and concepts such as developmental state, export-led growth, and growth with equity are applied and critically analysed. The second part deals with current trends and forces of globalisation in the Asia Pacific region and China's role as a leading regional economy. Trade policies, the impact of foreign investments and patterns of regional integration are explored and analysed.

Institutions, Economic Growth and Equity (7.5 ECTS)

Syllabus EKHM84

This course studies the relations between institutions, modern economic growth, and equality. Problems in the world of today are taken as a point of departure for an historical analysis that covers countries and regions in different parts of the world. Four themes are focussed. One is about the emergence of institutions such as property rights and markets, and their role for economic growth. The second is about the importance of the distribution of resources for institutional development. The third is about the importance of the growth of knowledge and education for the creation of equality of opportunity. The fourth is about the emergence of the modern welfare state as well as current challenges to its future.

Choose either Econometrics I or Econometrics II:

Econometrics I (7.5 ECTS)

Syllabus EKHM65

This course provides the student with a fundamental understanding of the theoretical and methodological problems associated with quantitative approaches to economic history. The first part consists of basic theory and methods relating to multivariate linear regression, limited dependent variable regression and time series analysis. It also considers how to apply these methods through examples of how such methods are used in economic history. This part also introduces computer software (e.g. Stata) for quantitative analysis. In the second part of the course, students analyse a quantitative problem using actual data from economic history, and report results in individual papers.

Econometrics II (7.5 ECTS)

Syllabus EKHM66

This course provides the student with more advanced theory and methods relating to causal approaches surpassing the multivariate linear regression, limited dependent variable regression and time series analysis covered by Econometrics I. It also considers how to apply these methods through examples of how such methods are used in economic history. It discusses issues like selection bias, the bad control problem, and unobserved heterogeneity and the pitfalls associated with them as well as the possibilities to deal with these issues. This part advances the knowledge of empirical analysis making use of computer software (e.g. Stata). In the second part of the course, students independently analyse a more advanced quantitative problem using actual data from economic history, and report results in individual papers, showing awareness of the pros and cons of various causal approaches in econometrics.

The course is mandatory year 1 for students who have previously studied econometrics at a level corresponding to Econometrics I.

Tutorials: Advanced Topics in Economic Development

During the second year, the department offer a selection of courses on a tutorial basisor in seminar form. They all discuss research related problems within their respectivefields and involve students in the seminar discussions, based on readings from international research. It is mandatory to take two of these courses during the second year. The specific courses offered may vary from year to year, examples are given below: 

• Poverty and inequality analysis: Data management and statistical techniques (7.5 credits)
• Agricultural transformation in the development process (7.5 credits)
• Explaining growth and inequality (7.5 credits)
• The rise of the rest (7.5 credits)
• Development aid in historical perspectives (7.5 credits)
• The periphery and waves of globalization (7.5 credits)
• The state in the development process (7.5 credits)
• Theory and practice of money and finance (7.5 credits)

The Global Economy and Long-term Economic Growth (7.5 ECTS)

This course studies historical processes of growth, convergence and divergence in the global economy over the past millennium. Two different approaches are applied. One considers theories of economic growth, about how production is generated by capital and labour and the level of technology. The other takes the perspective of the international economy and studies international trade, migration, and movements of capital.

Econometrics II (7.5 ECTS)

This course provides the student with more advanced theory and methods relating to causal approaches surpassing the multivariate linear regression, limited dependent variable regression and time series analysis covered by Econometrics I. It also considers how to apply these methods through examples of how such methods are used in economic history. It discusses issues like selection bias, the bad control problem, and unobserved heterogeneity and the pitfalls associated with them as well as the possibilities to deal with these issues. This part advances the knowledge of empirical analysis making use of computer software (e.g. Stata). In the second part of the course, students independently analyse a more advanced quantitative problem using actual data from economic history, and report results in individual papers, showing awareness of the pros and cons of various causal approaches in econometrics.

Advanced Analysis of Economic Change (7.5 ECTS)

This course analyses the major debates in development economics from a long-term perspective. Questions central to the course are: ‘can we determine historical roots of why some countries are rich and others poor, and if so, how do we approach this?’; ‘what is the role of the different factors of production in long run economic development?’; and ‘what role do critical historical junctures play in long run development?’. During the course, students will learn about the different methods used in modern research through an in depth study of the literature and hands on econometric exercises. Explorative methodologies versus hypothesis testing are discussed. Exercises are performed with the help of econometric software whereby students are trained in the use of statistical tools but also in understanding and interpreting quantitative results in an historical context.

Growth Over Time and Space (7.5 ECTS)

Innovation and technical change is central to long-term economic growth but it is treated very differently in economic theories. In a comparative manner this course presents technical change within major theoretical approaches: neoclassical growth models, endogenous growth models and evolutionary structural models. Particular attention is given to an economic historical model combined with a spatial theoretical framework of regional trajectories of growth. The model is based upon complementarities around innovations forming development blocks that are driving processes of structural change. Thus, the interplay between innovations, economic transformation and economic growth is studied with an emphasis on major carrier branches both historically and in contemporary times. Innovations are analysed in relation to variations over time in, e.g., relative prices, entrepreneurial activity, investments, labour demand and employment. It is shown how this, at an aggregate level, shows up in phases of spatial convergence and divergence, respectively.

Population and Living Standards (7.5 ECTS)

This course deals with the interplay between population and living standards in a long-term perspective. It focuses on three broader themes. In the first, different models of the pre-industrial economic demographic system are studied, and the legacy of these models (e.g. Malthusianism) and their relevance today is assessed. Different demographic indicators of living standards, such as life expectancy, infant mortality and demographic responses to economic fluctuations, are discussed and compared with other well-being indicators in an assessment of the long-term global development of standard of living. The second theme deals with the importance of population dynamics, especially fluctuations in fertility, and thus cohort size, on living standards in industrial society. The third theme focuses on the role of families and households in providing welfare and security of its members. Both the development over time and global comparisons are central in this theme.

Human Capital in a Historical Perspective (7.5 ECTS)

Human capital is often considered as an important determinant to economic growth and a strategic factor with respect to productivity. It is also assumed to affect peoples' lives in many other ways, from personal well-being to promotion of social equality. In this course, the theoretical foundations as well as empirical evidence are reviewed and critically examined. Human capital is, moreover, discussed in relation to related concepts in economic growth theory such as research and development, social capital and social capability. A vital issue is that of causality: Does human capital cause economic growth or is it an effect of it? This and many other problems are analysed from a historical point of view, considering human capital formation as well as the role of human capital in modernisation, in particular in the first, second, and third industrial revolution.

Economics of Innovation (7.5 ECTS)

This course covers several areas of innovation economics, such as their characteristics, their driving forces of innovation and how innovation affects economic growth. It covers several sub-themes, such as:

Market structures and innovation – describes how competitive structures and imperfect competition may induce innovation in different industries.

Institutions and innovation – drawing on the systems of innovation literature, this theme addresses how the institutional framework affects innovation.

Global migration and societal change (7.5 credits)

The course deals with the effects and consequences of migration on the social and  economic structure of society. Firstly, theories and trends of global migration  historically are studied, which means that students will gain an understanding of various historical contexts and processes that have influenced migration patterns over time. The course also examines contemporary migration from the Global South to the Global North. Here, the focus is on understanding the social and economic consequences of this migration, as well as the subsequent processes of integration and assimilation. Additionally, migration between and within countries in the Global South is explored. Various patterns and reasons for migration within these regions are studied, as well as the socioeconomic effects of migration on origin and destination countries. Finally, the course equips students with skills in various methods and tools to enhance understanding of contemporary and historical migration processes.

Internship (15 ECTS)

Through an internship in an organization the course aims at giving the students a working experience relevant for his/her master’s studies. The course is independent from the university’s teaching and the student is expected to independently find and apply for the internship. The length of the internship should correspond to at least two months full-time work. The provider of the internship could be of different kind but could normally be in the categories government agency, intergovernmental or supranational organization, non-governmental organization, or a private firm. The organization and the work assignments for the internship must be approved by the Department of Economic History.

Degree project (15 ECTS), semester 2 (spring), year 1, period 4

Syllabus EKHS01

The student has to define a research issue, carry out research and write the thesis independently, although with support from a supervisor. At an early stage a supervisor will be allotted to the student on the basis of her/his area of interest. Well before the actual period of the thesis work a series of preparatory seminars will be held, where the students present ideas and plans for the research. It is the task of the supervisor to support the development from idea to plan, and thereafter to stimulate and criticize the student’s work. In general, a thesis (15ECTS) consists of 11,000-16,000 words, plus a list of references and relevant appendices. The general structure of the content should be: (1) Introduction of the issue with a discussion of the literature in the field, (2) methods and data, (3) narrative, (4) results, and (5) conclusion. Of course the general structure has to be adapted and refined according to each thesis. Besides the completion of her/his own thesis, the student is also expected to act as a discussant on another student’s thesis at the final seminar.

Degree project (15 ECTS), semester 2 (spring), year 2, period 4

Syllabus EKHS02

The second year Master’s thesis presupposes and builds upon the first year Independent Research and its completion of a first year Master’s thesis. The student has to define a research issue, carry out research and write the thesis independently, although with support from a supervisor. At an early stage a supervisor will be allotted to the student on the basis of her/his area of interest. It is the task of the supervisor to support the development from idea to plan, and thereafter to stimulate and criticize the student’s work. In general, a second year thesis (15 ECTS) consists of 12,000-17,000 words, plus a list of references and relevant appendices. The general structure of the content should be: (1) Introduction of the issue with a discussion of the literature in the field, (2) methods and data, (3) narrative, (4) results, and (5) conclusion. Of course the general structure has to be adapted and refined according to each thesis. Besides the completion of her/his own thesis, the student is also expected to act as a discussant on another student’s thesis at the final seminar.

Changes in population have an impact on everything from taxes, school systems, labour markets and health care to marketing and sales of products and services. Population studies explores the relationship between population and economy and how they influence one another. It includes the study of the size, structure and distribution of populations, and how populations change over time due to births, deaths, migration, and ageing.

This track will provide you with theory, methods and skills necessary to explain a number of social and economic phenomena. Key topics include mortality and the demographic transition, the labour market, migration patterns and health issues. It enables you to better understand and tackle global issues tied to employment, welfare and public health.

We offer quality teaching by some of the world’s leading researchers in the field of demography. The courses are designed to help you apply the concepts in real life with individual investigations, projects, team work and live presentations.

• Semester 1: Three mandatory courses (7.5 ECTS each), one elective course (7.5 ECTS).
• Semester 2: One mandatory course (7.5 ECTS), one elective course (7.5 ECTS), degree project (15 ECTS).
• Semester 3: Two elective courses (7.5 ECTS each), two tutorials (7.5 ECTS each).
• Semester 4: One elective course (7.5 ECTS), one tutorial (7.5 ECTS), degree project (15 ECTS).

Demographic Transitions (7.5 ECTS)

Syllabus EKHM68

The course gives an introduction to demographic data, measurement and description of demographic processes. The course consists of two parts: Demographic methods. Basic demographic measures and concepts are discussed, such as rates, the lexis diagram, life tables, fertility, nuptiality, and mortality measures. Theories and evidence on global demographic change in an historical perspective. The long-term demographic development in the world is discussed and related to different  theoretical explanations.

Choose either Econometrics I or Econometrics II:

Econometrics I (7.5 ECTS)

Syllabus EKHM65

This course provides the student with a fundamental understanding of the theoretical and methodological problems associated with quantitative approaches to economic history. The first part consists of basic theory and methods relating to multivariate linear regression, limited dependent variable regression and time series analysis. It also considers how to apply these methods through examples of how such methods are used in economic history. This part also introduces computer software (e.g. Stata) for quantitative analysis. In the second part of the course, students analyse a quantitative problem using actual data from economic history, and report results in individual papers.

Econometrics II (7.5 ECTS)

Syllabus EKHM66

This course provides the student with more advanced theory and methods relating to causal approaches surpassing the multivariate linear regression, limited dependent variable regression and time series analysis covered by Econometrics I. It also considers how to apply these methods through examples of how such methods are used in economic history. It discusses issues like selection bias, the bad control problem, and unobserved heterogeneity and the pitfalls associated with them as well as the possibilities to deal with these issues. This part advances the knowledge of empirical analysis making use of computer software (e.g. Stata). In the second part of the course, students independently analyse a more advanced quantitative problem using actual data from economic history, and report results in individual papers, showing awareness of the pros and cons of various causal approaches in econometrics.

The course is mandatory year 1 for students who have previously studied econometrics at a level corresponding to Econometrics I.

Research Design (7.5 ECTS)

Syllabus EKHM73

The course presents the student with research methods used within the social sciences in general, and within economic history specifically. The course will carefully deal with the importance of source criticism to any well-planned research. It will then, through a detailed examination of various quantitative and qualitative methods, discuss the validity of these methods to various research questions and data. The overarching goal of the course is to provide students with the tools necessary to prepare a well-structured research assignment.

Global Migration and Societal Change (7.5 ECTS)

Syllabus EKHM88

The course deals with the effects and consequences of migration on the social and  economic structure of society. Firstly, theories and trends of global migration  historically are studied, which means that students will gain an understanding of various historical contexts and processes that have influenced migration patterns over time. The course also examines contemporary migration from the Global South to the Global North. Here, the focus is on understanding the social and economic consequences of this migration, as well as the subsequent processes of integration and assimilation. Additionally, migration between and within countries in the Global South is explored. Various patterns and reasons for migration within these regions are studied, as well as the socioeconomic effects of migration on origin and destination countries. Finally, the course equips students with skills in various methods and tools to enhance understanding of contemporary and historical migration processes.

Tutorials: Advanced Topics in Economic Demography

Several different courses are offered on a rotating basis. They are offered on a tutorial basis or in seminar form. They all discuss research related problems within their respective fields and involve students in seminar discussions, based on readings from international research. It is mandatory to take two of these courses during the second year: 

• Health and Mortality (7.5 ECTS)
• Population Aging (7.5 ECTS)
• Family demography (7.5 credits)
• Marriage and Fertility (7.5 ECTS)
• Migration and Integration (7.5 ECTS)
• Historical Demography (7.5 ECTS)
• Data Management (7.5 ECTS)
• Demography of the global south (7.5 credits)

Population and Living Standards (7.5 ECTS)

This course deals with the interplay between population and living standards in a long-term perspective. It focuses on three broader themes. In the first, different models of the preindustrial economic demographic system are studied, and the legacy of these models (e.g. Malthusianism) and their relevance today is assessed. Different demographic indicators of living standards, such as life expectancy, infant mortality and demographic responses to economic fluctuations, are discussed and compared with other well-being indicators in an assessment of the long-term global development of standard of living. The second theme deals with the importance of population dynamics, especially fluctuations in fertility, and thus cohort size, on living standards in industrial society. The third theme focuses on the role of families and households in providing welfare and security of its members. Both the development over time and global comparisons are central in this theme.

Human Capital in a Historical Perspective (7.5 ECTS)

Human capital is, in short, the stock of skills that a country’s population or labor force possesses. It is an important determinant to economic growth and a strategic factor with respect to productivity. It also affects individuals’ lives in many ways through the promotion of personal well-being and economic equality. This course explores a range of topics relating to human capital formation by using historical, comparative, and current policy perspectives. Theory, methodological approaches, and empirical evidence on a range of topics are reviewed. Topics include the role of education in economic growth and distribution, the role of education and training for wage growth and career, and group differences in labor market outcomes, health and well-being. Lectures, seminars, and exams deal with human capital formation, the role of human capital during the first, second, and third industrial revolutions, and with the relation between human capital and income inequality across time and space.

Institutions, Economic Growth and Equity (7.5 ECTS)

This course studies the relations between institutions, modern economic growth, and equality. Problems in the world of today are taken as a point of departure for an historical analysis that covers countries and regions in different parts of the world. Four themes are focussed. One is about the emergence of institutions such as property rights and markets, and their role for economic growth. The second is about the importance of the distribution of resources for institutional development. The third is about the importance of the growth of knowledge and education for the creation of equality of opportunity. The fourth is about the emergence of the modern welfare state as well as current challenges to its future.

The Global Economy and Long-term Economic Growth (7.5 ECTS)

This course studies historical processes of growth, convergence and divergence in the global economy over the past two centuries. Two different approaches are applied. One takes the perspective of the international economic exchange and studies international trade, cross-border migration, and movements of capital and technology. The other considers theories of economic growth, about how production is generated by capital and labour and the level of technology.

Advanced Analysis of Economic Change (7.5 ECTS)

This course analyses the major debates in development economics from a long-term perspective. Questions central to the course are: ‘can we determine historical roots of why some countries are rich and others poor, and if so, how do we approach this?’; ‘what is the role of the different factors of production in long run economic development?’; and ‘what role do critical historical junctures play in long run development?’. During the course, students will learn about the different methods used in modern research through an in depth study of the literature and hands on econometric exercises. Explorative methodologies versus hypothesis testing are discussed. Exercises are performed with the help of econometric software whereby students are trained in the use of statistical tools but also in understanding and interpreting quantitative results in an historical context.

Internship (15 ECTS)

Through an internship in an organization the course aims at giving the students a working experience relevant for his/her master’s studies. The course is independent from the university’s teaching and the student is expected to independently find and apply for the internship. The length of the internship should correspond to at least two months full-time work. The provider of the internship could be of different kind but could normally be in the categories government agency, intergovernmental or supranational organization, non-governmental organization, or a private firm. The organization and the work assignments for the internship must be approved by the Department of Economic History.

Electives in economics or statistics

There is also a possibility to take courses in economics or statistics as electives but please note that this depends on the current courses given and the students' eligibility regarding advanced courses. One example is the course Applied Microeconometrics which could be relevant for students in Economic Demography.

Degree project (15 ECTS), semester 2 (spring), year 1, period 4

Syllabus EKHS21

The student has to define a research issue, carry out research and write the thesis independently, although with support from a supervisor. At an early stage a supervisor will be allotted to the student on the basis of her/his area of interest. Well before the actual period of the thesis work a series of preparatory seminars will be held, where the students present ideas and plans for the research. It is the task of the supervisor to support the development from idea to plan, and thereafter to stimulate and criticize the student’s work. In general, a thesis (15ECTS) consists of 11,000-16,000 words, plus a list of references and relevant appendices. The general structure of the content should be: (1) Introduction of the issue with a discussion of the literature in the field, (2) methods and data, (3) narrative, (4) results, and (5) conclusion. Of course the general structure has to be adapted and refined according to each thesis. Besides the completion of her/his own thesis, the student is also expected to act as a discussant on another student’s thesis at the final seminar

Degree project (15 ECTS), semester 2 (spring), year 2, period 4

Syllabus EKHS22

The second year Master’s thesis presupposes and builds upon the first year Independent Research and its completion of a first year Master’s thesis. The student has to define a research issue, carry out research and write the thesis independently, although with support from a supervisor. At an early stage a supervisor will be allotted to the student on the basis of her/his area of interest. It is the task of the supervisor to support the development from idea to plan, and thereafter to stimulate and criticize the student’s work. In general, a second year thesis (15 ECTS) consists of 12,000-17,000 words, plus a list of references and relevant appendices. Besides the completion of her/his own thesis, the student is also expected to act as a discussant on another student’s thesis at the final seminar.

Knowledge of the past is essential for understanding today’s world and shaping the future. In this track, you will develop advanced insights into the long-term development of societies. By combining analytical tools from economics and the social sciences with a contextual understanding of conditions in the past, you will become able to use the accumulated human experience to solve current-day problems.

Lund University is renowned for its research in economic history. As a student, you can take full advantage of this thriving environment, getting access to state-of-the-art research in your education. Core courses cover thematic fields such as the global economy, population and living standards, institutional change as well as research design, and the application of scientific methods. In addition, you can tailor your degree from our broad range of topics covered in elective courses and tutorials.

• Semester 1: Four mandatory courses (7.5 ECTS each).
• Semester 2: One mandatory course (7.5 ECTS), one elective course (7.5 ECTS), degree project (15 ECTS).
• Semester 3: Two elective courses (7.5 ECTS each), two tutorials (7.5 ECTS each).
• Semester 4: One mandatory course (7.5 ECTS), one tutorial (7.5 ECTS), degree project (15 ECTS).

Demographic Transitions (7.5 ECTS)

Syllabus EKHM68

The course gives an introduction to demographic data, measurement and description of demographic processes. The course consists of two parts: Demographic methods. Basic demographic measures and concepts are discussed, such as rates, the lexis diagram, life tables, fertility, nuptiality, and mortality measures. Theories and evidence on global demographic change in an historical perspective. The long-term demographic development in the world is discussed and related to different  theoretical explanations.

Research Design (7.5 ECTS)

Syllabus EKHM73

The course presents the student with research methods used within the social sciences in general, and within economic history specifically. The course will carefully deal with the importance of source criticism to any well-planned research. It will then, through a detailed examination of various quantitative and qualitative methods, discuss the validity of these methods to various research questions and data. The overarching goal of the course is to provide students with the tools necessary to prepare a well-structured research assignment.

Population and Living Standards (7.5 ECTS)

Syllabus EKHM72

This course deals with the interplay between population and living standards in a long-term perspective. It focuses on three broader themes. In the first, different models of the pre-industrial economic demographic system are studied, and the legacy of these models (e.g. Malthusianism) and their relevance today is assessed. Different demographic indicators of living standards, such as life expectancy, infant mortality and demographic responses to economic fluctuations, are discussed and compared with other well-being indicators in an assessment of the long-term global development of standard of living. The second theme deals with the importance of population dynamics, especially fluctuations in fertility, and thus cohort size, on living standards in industrial society. The third theme focuses on the role of families and households in providing welfare and security of its members. Both the development over time and global comparisons are central in this theme.

Advanced Analysis of Economic Change (7.5 ECTS)

Syllabus EKHM87

This course analyses the major debates in development economics from a long-term perspective. Questions central to the course are: ‘can we determine historical roots of why some countries are rich and others poor, and if so, how do we approach this?’; ‘what is the role of the different factors of production in long run economic development?’; and ‘what role do critical historical junctures play in long run development?’. During the course, students will learn about the different methods used in modern research through an in-depth study of the literature and hands-on econometric exercises. Explorative methodologies versus hypothesis testing are discussed. Exercises are performed with the help of econometric software, whereby students are trained in the use of statistical tools but also in understanding and interpreting quantitative results in an historical context.

Choose either Econometrics 1 or Econometrics II:

Econometrics I (7.5 ECTS)

Syllabus EKHM65

This course provides the student with a fundamental understanding of the theoretical and methodological problems associated with quantitative approaches to economic history. The first part consists of basic theory and methods relating to multivariate linear regression, limited dependent variable regression and time series analysis. It also considers how to apply these methods through examples of how such methods are used in economic history. This part also introduces computer software (e.g. Stata) for quantitative analysis. In the second part of the course, students analyse a quantitative problem using actual data from economic history, and report results in individual papers.

Econometrics II (7.5 ECTS)

Syllabus EKHM66

This course provides the student with more advanced theory and methods relating to causal approaches surpassing the multivariate linear regression, limited dependent variable regression and time series analysis covered by Econometrics I. It also considers how to apply these methods through examples of how such methods are used in economic history. It discusses issues like selection bias, the bad control problem, and unobserved heterogeneity and the pitfalls associated with them as well as the possibilities to deal with these issues. This part advances the knowledge of empirical analysis making use of computer software (e.g. Stata). In the second part of the course, students independently analyse a more advanced quantitative problem using actual data from economic history, and report results in individual papers, showing awareness of the pros and cons of various causal approaches in econometrics.

The course is mandatory for year 1 for students who have previously studied econometrics at a level corresponding to Econometrics I.

Institutions, Economic Growth and Equity (7.5 ECTS)

Syllabus EKHM84

This course studies the relations between institutions, modern economic growth and equality. Problems in the world of today are taken as a point of departure for an historical analysis that covers countries and regions in different parts of the world. Four themes are focussed. One is about the emergence of institutions such as property rights and markets, and their role for economic growth. The second is about the importance of the distribution of resources for institutional development. The third is about the importance of the growth of knowledge and education for the creation of equality of opportunity. The fourth is about the emergence of the modern welfare state as well as current challenges to its future.

Tutorials: Advanced topics in economic history

During the second year, the department offer a selection of courses on a tutorial basis or in seminar form. They all discuss research related problems within their respective fields and involve students in the seminar discussions, based on readings from international research. It is mandatory to take two of these courses during the second year. The specific courses offered may vary from year to year, examples are given  below:

• Financial and monetary systems in theory and practise (7.5 credits)
• History of economic thought (7.5 credits)
• The history of economic inequality (7.5 credits)
• Historical economic geography (7.5 credits)
• Labour markets and industrial relations (7.5 credits)
• Research in economic history: Archives, primary sources, dataset (7.5 credits)

Growth Over Time and Space (7.5 ECTS)

Innovation and technical change is central to long term economic growth but it is treated very differently in economic theories. In a comparative manner this course presents technical change within major theoretical approaches: neoclassical growth models, endogenous growth models and evolutionary structural models. Particular attention is given to an economic historical model combined with a spatial theoretical framework of regional trajectories of growth. The model is based upon complementarities around innovations forming development blocks that are driving processes of structural change. Thus, the interplay between innovations, economic transformation and economic growth is studied with an emphasis on major carrier branches both historically and in contemporary times. Innovations are analysed in relation to variations over time in, e.g., relative prices, entrepreneurial activity, investments, labour demand and employment. It is shown how this, at an aggregate level, shows up in phases of spatial convergence and divergence, respectively.

Demographic transitions (7.5 credits)

The course deals with the effects and consequences of migration on the social and  economic structure of society. Firstly, theories and trends of global migration  historically are studied, which means that students will gain an understanding of various historical contexts and processes that have influenced migration patterns over time. The course also examines contemporary migration from the Global South to the Global North. Here, the focus is on understanding the social and economic consequences of this migration, as well as the subsequent processes of integration and assimilation. Additionally, migration between and within countries in the Global South is explored. Various patterns and reasons for migration within these regions are studied, as well as the socioeconomic effects of migration on origin and destination countries. Finally, the course equips students with skills in various methods and tools to enhance understanding of contemporary and historical migration processes.

Development of Emerging Economies (7.5 ECTS)

This course examines growth dynamics of the developing world during the last decades, explored in a comparative and historical perspective. The question of why some developing economies have been able to set in motion catching-up processes, while others remain stagnant, will be discussed aided by historical-theoretical perspectives with the main focus on countries in Pacific Asia, Africa South of the Sahara and Latin America. It will be theoretically and empirically assessed to what extent the growth of the so-called global South might be sustained. The course is divided into two parts.

The first puts heavy emphasis on readings and lectures on analytical perspectives of development and catching up from the viewpoint of classical, although current, questions such as: the role of agricultural transformation, growth-inequality, market integration, possibilities for and experiences of industrial policy, technology transfer, social capabilities, market-state relationship, governance and domestic resource mobilization, poverty/human development.

The second part of the course is more student-driven and is devoted to seminar assignments where highly topical themes are discussed on the basis of available empirical data. Examples of questions to be addressed might be: south-to-south investments flows, the impact of China, the extent to which growth is commodity-driven, issues of improving competitiveness and productivity, forces behind poverty reduction.

China and the Asia Pacific economy (7.5 ECTS)

This course explores and explains the processes of rapid industrialisation and socio-economic modernisation in China and the Asia Pacific drawing on a historically-comparative institutional approach. Fundamental factors and forces behind the economic transformation are analysed against the background of leading theories of economic development and social change. The course is divided into two parts. The first part uses institutional theory to analyse the emergence of the so-called East Asian model and its relevance for China. The institutional underpinnings of China's transformation to a market economy are analysed in comparison with previous and contemporary development experiences in the Asia Pacific, from Japan to the ASEAN countries. Themes dealt with include agricultural modernisation and industrial policy, and concepts such as developmental state, export-led growth, and growth with equity, are applied and critically analysed. The second part deals with current trends and forces of globalisation in the Asia Pacific region and China's role as a leading regional economy. Trade policies, the impact of foreign investments and patterns of regional integration are explored and analysed.

Economics of Innovation (7.5 ECTS)

This course covers several areas of innovation economics, such as their characteristics, their driving forces of innovation and how innovation affects economic growth. It covers several sub-themes, such as:

Market structures and innovation – describes how competitive structures and imperfect competition may induce innovation in different industries.

Institutions and innovation – drawing on the systems of innovation literature, this theme addresses how the institutional framework affects innovation.

Human Capital in a Historical Perspective (7.5 ECTS)

Human capital is often considered as an important determinant to economic growth and a strategic factor with respect to productivity. It is also assumed to affect peoples' lives in many other ways, from personal well-being to promotion of social equality. In this course, the theoretical foundations as well as empirical evidence are reviewed and critically examined. Human capital is, moreover, discussed in relation to related concepts in economic growth theory such as research and development, social capital and social capability. A vital issue is that of causality: does human capital cause economic growth or is it an effect of it? This and many other problems are analysed from a historical point of view, considering human capital formation as well as the role of human capital in modernisation, in particular in the first, second, and third industrial revolution.

Global migration and societal change (7.5 credits)

The course deals with the effects and consequences of migration on the social and  economic structure of society. Firstly, theories and trends of global migration  historically are studied, which means that students will gain an understanding of various historical contexts and processes that have influenced migration patterns over time. The course also examines contemporary migration from the Global South to the Global North. Here, the focus is on understanding the social and economic consequences of this migration, as well as the subsequent processes of integration and assimilation. Additionally, migration between and within countries in the Global South is explored. Various patterns and reasons for migration within these regions are studied, as well as the socioeconomic effects of migration on origin and destination countries. Finally, the course equips students with skills in various methods and tools to enhance understanding of contemporary and historical migration processes.

Econometrics II (7.5 ECTS)

This course provides the student with more advanced theory and methods relating to causal approaches surpassing the multivariate linear regression, limited dependent variable regression and time series analysis covered by Econometrics I. It also considers how to apply these methods through examples of how such methods are used in economic history. It discusses issues like selection bias, the bad control problem, and unobserved heterogeneity and the pitfalls associated with them as well as the possibilities to deal with these issues. This part advances the knowledge of empirical analysis making use of computer software (e.g. Stata). In the second part of the course, students independently analyse a more advanced quantitative problem using actual data from economic history, and report results in individual papers, showing awareness of the pros and cons of various causal approaches in econometrics.

Internship (15 ECTS)

Through an internship in an organization the course aims at giving the students a working experience relevant for his/her master’s studies. The course is independent from the university’s teaching and the student is expected to independently find and apply for the internship. The length of the internship should correspond to at least two months full-time work. The provider of the internship could be of different kind but could normally be in the categories government agency, intergovernmental or supranational organization, non-governmental organization, or a private firm. The organization and the work assignments for the internship must be approved by the Department of Economic History.

Degree project (15 ECTS), semester 2 (spring), year 1, period 4

Syllabus EKHS21

The student has to define a research issue, carry out research and write the thesis independently, although with support from a supervisor. At an early stage a supervisor will be allotted to the student on the basis of her/his area of interest. Well before the actual period of the thesis work a series of preparatory seminars will be held, where the students present ideas and plans for the research. It is the task of the supervisor to support the development from idea to plan, and thereafter to stimulate and criticize the student’s work. In general, a thesis (15ECTS) consists of 11,000-16,000 words, plus a list of references and relevant appendices. The general structure of the content should be: (1) Introduction of the issue with a discussion of the literature in the field, (2) methods and data, (3) narrative, (4) results, and (5) conclusion. Of course the general structure has to be adapted and refined according to each thesis. Besides the completion of her/his own thesis, the student is also expected to act as a discussant on another student’s thesis at the final seminar

Degree project (15 ECTS), semester 2 (spring), year 2, period 4

Syllabus EKHS22

The second year Master’s thesis presupposes and builds upon the first year Independent Research and its completion of a first year Master’s thesis. The student has to define a research issue, carry out research and write the thesis independently, although with support from a supervisor. At an early stage a supervisor will be allotted to the student on the basis of her/his area of interest. It is the task of the supervisor to support the development from idea to plan, and thereafter to stimulate and criticize the student’s work. In general, a second year thesis (15 ECTS) consists of 12,000-17,000 words, plus a list of references and relevant appendices. Besides the completion of her/his own thesis, the student is also expected to act as a discussant on another student’s thesis at the final seminar.