Duration
45h Th
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
All year long, with partial in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The course consists of two parts.
The first part provides an introduction to economic analysis. This course differs from traditional teaching of economics in that it does not juxtapose micro and macro-economic theory. It presents the main paradigms of economic analysis (classical, neoclassical, Marxian and Keynesian), positions them in the history of economic thought and clearly underlines their differences. Elements of these currents of economic thought will be mobilized in the second part of the course.
The second part of the course presents readings in economic and social history of the territories which make up contemporary Belgium from the end of the former economic regime. For each period identified [Industrial Revolution, industrialization (including the "second industrialization"), the Interwar period and World War II], the focus is systematically placed on the factors of economic development and the social structuring of the economic space being examined. The course covers the following main characteristics of Belgian capitalism, its growth and its crisis, the role of the State in economic life, the making of the classes; the origin and development of the Belgian industrial relations system and of Belgian welfare system.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
Students will be able to identify the underlying theoretical framework in works of economic history which they read and thus to evaluate more accurately the results presented; they will be capable of better understanding the economic and social challenges of more political realities seen in other classes, as well as in the world around them.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
None
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
A pupil monitor is at the disposal of the students during most of the year (especially at the time of the examinations). The timing will be choosen jointly with the students.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face. However, if health conditions dictate, the course will switch to video conferencing or podcasts of the course.
Recommended or required readings
After each class, students will receive a copy of the PowerPoint slides seen in class and will regularly be given indications for reading which will shed light on certain questions (these optional readings will not, however, be on subjects upon which they will be graded). These slides are available on-line until the end of the academic year.
Assessment methods and criteria
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( open-ended questions ) AND oral exam
Additional information:
Written test in January, on the first part of the course (Introduction to economic analysis) and oral exam in June.
The mark of the midterm exam in January will count for 1/3 of the June final mark if > or = 10/20. The mark will have no effect on the final grade if it doesn't reach 10/20 and the final exam will then be cumulative.
In Juny as in September, an oral exam will be organized; this exam will start with a written preparation of the answer to a first question (drawn question). This is followed by two other questions (linked to the first one; when you draw the first one, you actually draw the three questions) for which the preparation time will be shorter.
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
Contacts
Eric Geerkens, professor
quai Roosevelt, 1B (Bât. A4, office I9)
4000 Liège
Belgium
Tel. ULg : +32 4 3665359
E-mail : e.geerkens@uliege.be
Items online
Online Notes
Notes are available on MyULg.