2023 Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
Economics A
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- Kei Ehara
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Mon (W8E-101)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.S109
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2023
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 8, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course focuses on the history of economics. It is not possible nor desirable to cover the whole trajectory of economics, which has many variations in itself. Students will first learn the formation and development of classical political economy, in which all kinds of economics today originate. Then we shall deal with the formation and development of Marxian economics.
The aim of the course is to comprehend why economics has many variants as a social science, in contrast with natural sciences such as physics. It reflects the diversification of society itself.
Course description and aims
1) Learn the genealogy of political economy and economics
2) Cultivate critical thinking to systematically understand modern economy and society
Keywords
Capitalism, Mercantilism, Physiocracy, Classical Political Economy, Marx
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Lectures based on course materials. Students are required to give comments on each lecture. Quenstions and comments will be taken up in the course.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction | Overview of the course. Introduction of textbook |
| Class 2 | Mercantilism and Physiocracy | Chs. 1,2 of textbook |
| Class 3 | Classical Political Economy (1): A. Smith | Sects. 1,2 of Ch. 3 of textbook |
| Class 4 | Classical Political Economy (2): D. Ricardo | Sects. 3,4 of Ch. 3 of textbook |
| Class 5 | Theory of Capitalism of K. Marx | Sects. 1,2 of Ch. 6 of textbook |
| Class 6 | German Historical School and Institutional Economics | Ch. 4 of textbook |
| Class 7 | Conclusion, Exam | The future of economics, exam |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Makoto Itoh, Learning from Economics, Heibonsha, 2015 (Japanese)
Reference books, course materials, etc.
TBA
Evaluation methods and criteria
Comments (30%), Exam (70%)
Related courses
- LAH.S209 ： Economics B
- LAH.S310 ： Economics C
- LAH.S407 ： Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences7:Economics
Prerequisites
High-level Japanese literacy
Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).
ehara.k.ac [at] m.titech.ac.jp