Program overview
History of Economic Thought is a graduate program under theoretical economics. Simply put, it studies how economics has evolved into what it is today. You'll learn about the origins, debates, and evolution of various schools of thought—from ancient Greece, mercantilism, classical economics (Adam Smith, David Ricardo), Marxist economics, to neoclassical, Keynesian, monetarism, and institutional economics. Core courses include History of Economic Thought, History of Economic Doctrines, Marxist History of Economic Thought, and Contemporary Western Economic Schools. This program is perfect for students curious about why economists hold different views, or those who enjoy reading classic texts and thinking about the logic behind theories. Chinese universities have unique advantages in this field: on one hand, Marxist political economy is a key part of China's economics education, giving you access to original theories; on the other hand, Chinese scholars have distinctive research on ancient economic thought (e.g., Guanzi, Discourses on Salt and Iron). If you're interested in cross-cultural comparisons, you can also explore the differences between Chinese and Western economic thought.