The Great Divergence: Historical patterns of modern economic growth
About
This course deals with the recent attempts made to explain the
diverging global patterns of economic growth since the mid-eighteenth
century – the time of the industrial revolution. By then, GDP per capita
levels were rather equally distributed across Europe and East Asia. In
the third quarter of the twentieth century, about 1970, the GDP per
capita gaps between Western Europe and Asia were abysmal. A growing
literature in economic history calls this process “The Great
Divergence”.
Since the 1980s, East Asia and South East Asia have begun to close in
on West Europe in real GDP per capita terms. The aim of this course is
to examine the diverging patterns of economic and demographic
developments in historical perspective, with particular focus on Western
Europe and East and South East Asia.
Prerequisites and selection
Requirements
A Bachelor's degree (180 hec) from an internationally recognized university, including a thesis of minimum 15 hec. Applicants must prove their knowledge of English: English 6/English B from Swedish Upper Secondary School or the equivalent level of an internationally recognized test, for example TOEFL, IELTS.
Selection
Selection is based upon the number of credits from previous university studies, maximum 225 credits.
For admission to the summer 2021 and onward the following selection applies: selection is based upon the number of credits from previous university studies, maximum 165 credits.
After graduation
Studies in Economic History give you the possibility to work in a variety of professions, both in the public and private sectors. For example analysts, information officers, and economists.
Facilities
The School of Business, Economics and Law (usually nicknamed "Handels") is located at Vasagatan 1 and at Viktoriagatan 13. The building at Vasagatan houses the Economics Library, which is several floors high and offers many study places.