2024 Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Department of Social and Human Sciences Graduate major in Social and Human Sciences
Graduate Lecture in Politics, Law and Administration S1B
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Social and Human Sciences
- Instructor(s)
- Kei Ehara
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Wed
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- SHS.P442
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 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, German historical school, and institutional 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 are delivered by using lecture slides. Questions and opinions are accepted by email at any time and will be shared in classes.
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.S109 ： Economics A
- 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