The course has two learning goals both linked to intellectual leadership, the ability to lead in interpreting situations, seeing opportunities where others don’t even look, and thinking through possible pathways towards jointly beneficial futures. These two goals are:
- study historical evolution in terms of human and organisational actors responding to opportunities in their environment in ways that pioneered entirely new industries and forms of business.
- Writing an essay that demonstrates that the student has ideas and is able to communicate these in a persuasive way.

We study a path-breaking historical development in one or more leading industrial capitalist nations during the second industrial revolution. We zoom in on business activities and their outcomes, and we zoom out to the historical and national context in which these events have taken place. Looking back at history can be concretely informative since much what exists now has its roots in the past. But studying history is also a way of developing creative notions about how humans interact with their business environment in a situation of pervasive uncertainty. This can broaden our mental scope in dealing with our own uncertain world. This may well be the most important learning to develop in our course.

2-3 academic papers per tutorial - see syllabus for full list

This course is in transition for the bachelor Fiscal Economics.
See the Bachelor Education and Examination Regulations for more information.

The following rule applies to bachelor Fiscal Economics students.
TRANSITIONAL REGULATION (EBC2069):
The bachelor Fiscal Economics has been discontinued.

There will be repeat education for year 1 and year 2 courses up to and including academic year 2025-2026 and exam-only up to and including academic year 2026-2027. For year 3 courses there will be repeat education up to and including 2026-2027 and exam-only up to and including academic year 2027-2028.

Whether a course is in transition, cancelled, or replaced may depend on the cohort you are in. Sometimes there are additional criteria. It is therefore very important to carefully read the EER and any addendum so you can apply the rules to your individual situation.


PREREQUISITES:
* This is a reading course for literate students with an excellent command of the English language in reading, writing, and conversation. I have to say that the reading load is quite considerable.
* Attendance in the first two meetings of the course is mandatory. You get introduced to tutor, fellow students, and the educational approach. Failure to attend both meetings implies course failure.