ECON 227T American Regional Economic History (Not offered 1997-98)

A survey course in American economic history, with special emphasis on the history of regions of the U.S. (and closely related regions of Canada and northern Mexico). It will cover the period from pre-European settlement up to the 1990s, and will pay attention to the historical roots of contemporary issues and problems. It will introduce economic theories of regional specialization, growth, and stagnation, and also of international and interregional trade, immigration, internal migration, productivity effects of transportation infrastructure, and the development of the major city-regions in the country. Special topics may include: the contribution of railroads and canals to regional growth; slavery and the Civil War; the "Sunbelt" and the "Rustbelt" and the rise of the Wet as a major regional; Silicon Valley and other "high-tech" regions. It will introduce cartography as a tool to describe and analyze historical change.
Students will be expected to participate actively in seminar discussion and to develop several small empirical projects based on Census and other primary data. Prerequisite: Economics 101.

R. BOLTON