History of Economic Thought at the University of Western Australia: 1953 Compared to 2003‪.‬

Abstract: This paper contrasts the history of economic thought (HET) programmes offered at the University of Western Australia in 1953 with those offered in 2003: an interval of fifty years. The study identifies lessons for current HET units from Merab Harris' Class of '53, where HET was taught with general reference to economic history. The contrast is also used as a basis for identifying the advantages and disadvantages of teaching HET as a topic within a compulsory core economics unit, as it was in 1953, rather than independently, as an optional but specialist unit, as it was in 2003. The paper concludes with some personal views on the future of HET studies. 1 Introduction