Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford
Economic History: The Great Divergence, Convergence, and Beyond
Oxford, United Kingdom
Summer Course
DURATION
3 weeks
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus, Distance Learning
* Applications are processed and offers are made on a rolling basis, and many courses fill up far in advance of the deadline so we recommend applying as early as possible.
Key Summary
About: This short Oxford programme at Lady Margaret Hall introduces economic history, focusing on causes of global wealth gaps, the Great Divergence and later Convergence. You’ll study 500 years of events—Transatlantic slave trade, colonialism, Industrial Revolution—and weigh why Japan and China caught up while others lagged. The course emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches and quantitative methods, and points to frontline research. Available Session 3: 5th August to 23rd August 2024. Keywords: economic history, global inequality, development, comparative history, economic growth, institutional change.
Career Outcomes: You'll gain skills for roles in economic history, policy analysis, research, data analysis, development economics, consultancy, academic study.
What are the causes of the vast differences in wealth between nations? Why have certain societies prospered whilst others still grapple with poverty? Will inequality between the developed and developing worlds be permanent? Addressing these questions and understanding today's global economy requires a historical perspective.
This course will begin with an introduction to Economic History as an interdisciplinary subject and to the methods and sources economic historians use. You will then explore some of the key events of the past 500 years, including the Transatlantic slave trade, colonialism, and the Industrial Revolution, examining their links to the phenomenon known as the 'Great Divergence', when levels of wealth in the Western world separated from everywhere else. We will then consider the more recent phenomenon of 'Convergence', and investigate why certain countries, including Japan and China, managed to catch up with their European counterparts, whilst others fell further behind.
In the final part of the course, you will reflect on the limits of 'Convergence', and assess whether inequality has become an immovable feature of global development. Throughout the course, you will be introduced to frontline research and a variety of interdisciplinary approaches, with a particular focus on quantitative methods.
Dates and Availability
Available as a Residential or Online course on the following dates:
Session 3: 5th August to 23rd August 2024
By the end of this course, you will:
- Develop knowledge and understanding of Economic History as an interdisciplinary subject and its methodologies.
- Be able to demonstrate knowledge of key historical events and their role in long-term economic development.
- Be able to think critically about the sources and limits of economic growth.
Lady Margaret Hall does not offer scholarships or grants for participation in the LMH Summer Programmes, but many students find they are able to seek financial assistance from their home university or academic department. The best first point of contact is likely the Study Abroad / International Education Office at your university.
This course would suit students in a Humanities or Social Sciences field, especially History or Economics, but including Political Science and Sociology. This course would be especially beneficial to students aspiring to undertake graduate study in History or Economics.
