Introduction to Economic History: Capital, Inequality, Growth

Introduction à l'histoire économique: capital, inégalité, croissance

(Master APE & PPD, EHESS & Paris School of Economics)

Thomas Piketty - Academic year 2026-2027

Syllabus & Reading List 2026-2027

Email : name at psemail.eu

Office: Jourdan R5-04

Course web page : http://piketty.pse.ens.fr/teaching/10/17

"Introduction to Economic History" is a compulsory first-year master course and can also be attended as an optional second-year master course. The objective is to present a general introduction to economic history, with special emphasis on the interaction between capital accumulation, inequality regimes and growth.

Students wishing to specialize in economic history and related subjects are also strongly encouraged to attend the optional second-year master course "Advanced Economic History".

Students with special interest in the history and theory of optimal taxation and redistribution or wishing to specialize in public economics are also encouraged to attend the optional second-year master course "Public Economics".

"Introduction to Economic History" is organized in 8 lectures of 3 hours each. To validate the course, students are required (1) to attend and actively participate to all lectures; (2) to tale the exam (exemples of past exams are here).

Lecture 1: Growth, Degrowth & Well-Being: Material and Monetary Accounts, from Social Tables to Ghost Hectares
(Tuesday September 15 2026, 15h-18h15)

Lecture 2: Growth, Degrowth & Well-Being: Labour Hours, Domestic vs Economic Work, Population & the Gender Gap
(Tuesday September 22 2026, 15h-18h15)

(Tuesday October 6 2026, 15h-18h15)

Lecture 5: Global Wealth Accumulation, Ownership Patterns & Public vs Private Capital in History

(Tuesday October 13 2026, 15h-18h15)

(Tuesday October 20 2026, 15h-18h15)

(Tuesday October 27 2026, 15h-18h15)

(Tuesday November 3 2026, 15h-18h15)

Syllabus, reading lists and slides used in previous years