Programme

PGPX

Term

V

Academic Year

2021-22

Course title

Hitchhiker's Guide to Business and Economies Across Five Centuries

Area

Economics

Credits

0.75

Instructor(s)

Prof. Chinmay Tumbe

Course Description & Objectives

General Description and Intent of the Course: The past five centuries have been momentous in the world of business and commerce. In 1500, the centre of gravity of world business was firmly located between the Indian Ocean World and the Mediterranean Basin. Over the next five hundred years, the locus shifted to Western Europe and North America. Why and how did this happen? Who were the key actors behind these changes? What type of firms and business practices emerged across the world? This course addresses these questions and enables one to understand the evolution of firms, industries and economies over the long run. Understanding seismic shifts of the past broadens the horizon of the management professional and provides skills to better understand the future. Part 1 of the course comprises of five sessions that cover three global revolutions- scientific, imperial and industrial- that gave birth to the modern world and its interconnections with business and economic history. Part 2 of the course engages at the individual, firm and industry levels. It comprises of five sessions that deal with Merchants & Companies, Entrepreneurs and Modern Management, Big Business & Globalization, Modern Finance and Labour. Part 3 of the course engages at the country level. It comprises of 5 sessions that deal with the business and economic histories of: US, UK, Germany & Japan; China and India; Russia and Europe; Africa and the Middle East (specific countries of interest to students); Latin America, East Asia and Rest of the World (specific countries of interest to students). Learning Objectives of the Course: To understand the evolution of modern business and economies in global perspective. To comprehend the global revolutions, actors, business practices and regional business and economic histories across five centuries.

Pedagogy

To understand the evolution of modern business and economies in global perspective. To comprehend the global revolutions, actors, business practices and regional business and economic histories across five centuries.