London School of Economics and Political science
The research programme of the Economic History Department of the London School of Economics and Political science is focused upon economic change in Europe, China, Japan and Africa from the early modern period to contemporary times, the process of development and integration of the world economy in the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as the change in the conception of society in various world regions and cultures. The participating academics are recognised experts of not just one world region, but also of comparative studies in the areas of "the organisation of knowledge and economics", "the process of state-building and the development of society", "gender, work and industrialisation", "the institutionalisation of economic processes" and "social risks and changes in society". As well as comparative analysis, the Department is also interested in the empirical research of global integration, from the maritime expansion from the 14th to the 18th century to the flow of capital and migration in contemporary times. The Department of Economic History is currently undertaking a worldwide comparative research project with colleagues from various European universities, Japan, India and North America. This project deals with the formation, development and functions of global markets, the geo-political and imperial context of economic activities, the role of religious morality, ideology, culture and familial systems for economic growth, systems of production, the use of knowledge for economic processes and the convergence and divergence of living standards. From 2003 to 2008 ten international conferences will take place and a PHD programme will be established, and both will spill over into the teaching of the "Global History" course of study in London, and the European Masters Programme in "Global Studies".
