COURSE SYLLABUS: Economic History of the United States (P, T: if Economics major, can
be taken by students in the policy or theory concentrations)
V31.0205 Identical to C31.0205. Prerequisites: V31.0001(Economic Principles I) and V31.0002
(Economic Principles II), or V31.0005(Introduction to Economic Analysis). Offered in the spring
and summer. 4 points.
Fall 2009, TR, 9:30AM – 10:45PM
Instructor: Tai Young-Taft
Instructor Office: 19 W. 4th St., 6FL, Office 603.
Instructor Office Hours: By appointment.
Instructor’s E-mail: jyt215@nyu.edu
Teaching Assistant and Contact Information: Frances Donald, fd466@nyu.edu
Course Descriptions: Analytic survey of the structure of the U.S. economy. National income and
its distribution; population and land; capital accumulation and development of financial
institutions; labor and labor unions; technological change; the market, both domestic and foreign;
and the economic effects of government policy.
Required Work: Constructive participation, defined at the discretion of the instructor, but to
include on time and consistent attendance, thoughtful completion of all assigned reading, and
active respectful and considerate speech during the class, a midterm (about 10 pages) and final
paper (about 15 pages).* Due dates and specific parameters to be announced.
Grading: Constructive participation 10%, midterm paper 35%, final paper 55%.
Required Texts:
Jeremy Atack and Peter Passell. 1994. A New Economic View of American History: From
Colonial Times to 1940 (Second Edition). W.W. Norton & Co.
Giovanni Arrighi. (year to be announced) The Long Twentieth Century: Money, Power and the
Origins of Our Times (edition to be announced). Verso.
Milton Friedman and Anna Schwartz. 1971. A Monetary History of the United States, 18671960. Princeton University Press.
Gavin Wright. 2006. Slavery And American Economic Development. Louisiana State
University Press.
From Linda Barrington, Editor. 1999. The Other Side of the Frontier: Economic Explorations
into Native American History. Westview Press. Preface. Introduction: p. 1-6, until ‘Colonial
Political and Trade Alliances.’ Ch. 1-2. Online.
Excerpts from Marshall Sahlins’, The Original Affluent Society, to be found at http://www.ecoaction.org/dt/affluent.html.
*
Note: this required work may be subject to change. For example, if the professor feels class attendance,
preparation, and participation is at a low level, he may instate exams at his discretion. Also note that much
of the material of the course will only be covered in class lecture, and not in the reading, and that the
student is required to know and understand it.
Chang, Ha-Joon. 2002. Kicking Away the Ladder: Development Strategy in Historical
Perspective. Anthem Press. P. 24-32. Online.
Course Assignments: (Subject to revision.)
Tues. Sep. 8th No assignment.
Thurs. Sep. 10nd Barrington and Shalins.
Tues. Sep. 15rd Atack and Passell Preface, Introduction, Ch. 1
Thurs. Sep. 17th Atack and Passell Ch. 2
Tues. Sep. 22nd Atack and Passell Ch. 3
Thurs. Sep. 24th Atack and Passell Ch. 4
Tues. Sep. 29th Atack and Passell Ch. 5
Thurs. Oct. 1st Atack and Passell Ch. 6, Chang
Tues. Oct 6th Atack and Passell Ch. 7
Thurs. Oct 8th Atack and Passell Ch. 8
Tues. Oct. 13th Atack and Passell Ch. 9
Thurs. Oct 15th Atack and Passell Ch. 10
Tues. Oct. 20th Atack and Passell Ch. 11
Thurs. Oct. 22nd Wright Preface and Introduction
Tues. Oct. 27th Wright Ch. 1
Thurs. Oct. 29th Wright Ch. 1
Tues. Nov. 3rd Wright Ch. 2
Thurs. Nov. 5th Wright Ch. 2
Tues. Nov. 10th Wright Ch. 3, MIDTERM PAPER DUE IN CLASS
Thurs. Nov. 12th Wright Ch. 3 and Epilogue
Tues. Nov. 17th Atack and Passell Ch. 12, Arrighi Preface and Introduction
Thurs. Nov. 19th Arrighi Ch. 1
Tues. Nov. 24th Arrighi Ch. 2
Thurs. Nov. 26th THANKSGIVING – NO CLASS
Tues. Dec. 1st Arrighi Ch. 3
Thurs. Dec. 3rd Arrighi Ch. 4 and Epilogue
Tues. Dec. 8th Atack and Passell Ch. 13-14, Friedman and Schwartz Preface and Introduction
…
Tues. Dec. 15th LAST DAY OF CLASS – FINAL PAPER DUE AT END OF CLASS