Program overview
Economic history might sound a bit "old-school," but it's actually a fascinating branch of economics. Simply put, it helps you understand today's economic phenomena by studying past economic events, institutional changes, and people's economic behaviors. For example, why did the Industrial Revolution happen in Britain? What insights can ancient China's "salt and iron monopoly" offer for modern public finance? These are all part of economic history. Core courses include: Chinese Economic History, World Economic History, Institutional Economics, Cliometrics, and History of Economic Thought. You'll also learn how to analyze historical data—like using statistical methods to reconstruct ancient price levels. Chinese universities have a unique advantage in this field: China boasts thousands of years of economic archives and rich historical data, such as commercial ledgers from the Ming and Qing dynasties and industrial surveys from the Republican era—materials rarely seen internationally. This field suits students who are interested in history, economics, and sociology, enjoy "storytelling," but don't shy away from data analysis.