Undergraduate Handbook 2026-2027
Module ECON1071: Global Economic History
Department: Economics
ECON1071: Global Economic History
| Type | Level | Credits | Availability | Module Cap | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tied | 1 | 20 | Available in 2026/2027 | Durham |
Tied To
- CFC0: Natural Sciences (Psychology pathway)
- CFG0: Natural Sciences
- FGC0: Natural Sciences
- L125: Economics and Mathematics
- L130: Economics
- L131: Economics with Placement Year
- L132: Economics with Study Abroad
- L133: Economics with Management
- L134: Economics with Management with Placement Year
- L135: Economics with Management with Study Abroad
- LA01: Liberal Arts
- LA02: Liberal Arts (with Year Abroad)
- LL01: Economics and Politics with Study Abroad
- LL02: Economics and Politics with Placement Year
- LL12: Economics and Politics
- LMV0: Combined Honours in Social Sciences
Pre-requisites
- None
Corequisites
- Principles of Economics (ECON1011).
Excluded Combinations
- None.
Aims
- Provide students with an understanding of historical roots of economic growth and diverging trajectories of development in different countries and regions of the global economy.
- Facilitate students' ability to interpret major stages and turning points in the history of the world economy.
- Offer the opportunity to develop key skills.
Content
- A range of material is covered at an introductory level with emphasis on topics such as:
- Long-term drivers of growth and historical origins of divergence in the world economy.
- Transition from Malthusian stagnation to modern economic growth.
- The Industrial Revolution.
- Global economic development after the Industrial Revolution, with examples from the following (but not limited to):
- The USA, Western Europe, and the UK
- The Socialist system
- Japan, China and East Asian miracle
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge
- Understanding of the key features of long-run economic development.
- Knowledge and understanding of relevant economic concepts.
- Understanding the causes of historical changes in economies.
Subject-specific Skills
- Ability to explain the underlying reasons for the historical evolution of economies.
- Ability to identify, interpret and use information for the study of individual countries and global economy as a whole.
Key Skills
- Examples are provided to demonstrate how students will have the opportunity to develop the following key skills:
- Written Communication by completing the formative and the final exam.
- Problem Solving by applying the necessary analytical techniques in preparing assignments.
- Initiative by searching relevant literature and other information in preparation for the formative assignment and the examination.
Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module
- Teaching is by lectures and tutorials. Learning takes place through attendance at lectures, preparation for and participation in tutorials, and private study. Formative assessment is by means of a written in-person mock examination. Summative assessment is by means of an in-person examination.
Teaching Methods and Learning Hours
| Activity | Number | Frequency | Duration | Total Hours | Attendance Monitored |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 20 | 1 per week | 1 hour | 20 | |
| Tutorials | 8 | 4 in Term 1, 4 in Term 2 | 1 hour | 8 | Yes |
| Revision Classes | 2 | 1 hour | 2 | ||
| Preparation and Reading | 170 | 170 | |||
| Total | 200 | ||||
Summative Assessment
| Component | Component Weighting | Element | Length/Duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Examination | 100% | On Campus Written Examination | 2 hours | 100% |
Formative Assessment
One written piece of work to prepare students for the summative exam.
Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods
and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative
assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress
procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be
required to leave the University.