Queen's University Centre for Economic History
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"Healthy Respect for the Past"

The late Paul Samuelson, the father of modern economics, was asked in 2009 what he would say to someone starting their graduate studies in economics today. He replied: "Have a very healthy respect for the study of economic history, because that's the raw material out of which any of your conjectures or testings will come. And I think the recent period has illustrated that. The governor of the Bank of England seems to have forgotten or not known that there was no bank insurance in England, so when Northern Rock got a run, he was surprised. Well, he shouldn't have been." He continued: "But history doesn't tell its own story. You've got to bring to it all the statistical testings that are possible. And we have a lot more information now than we used to." (The Atlantic, 18 June 2009).

Queen's University Centre for Economic History (QUCEH), an interdisciplinary research centre directed by John Turner and based at Queen's University Belfast, was founded in 2012 to address the growing concern that there is a lack of respect for the past in economics teaching and research today. At Queen's, we think that it is only by regaining this healthy respect that economists can fully understand the present. 

Hosted by Queen's Management School, the centre brings together faculty and graduate students working on the economic study of the past from across the university and elsewhere. QUCEH members include business, economic, financial and social science historians who are specialists on the history of Ireland, Britain, Europe and North America. QUCEH's mission is to support its members by coordinating research projects, providing a forum for interdisciplinary discussion, hosting regular research seminars and workshops with invited speakers, and providing graduate training to the next generation of economic historians and historical economists.

Our Objectives
  1. Build a scholarly environment to facilitate research in accounting, business, economic, financial and social science history
  2. Establish and maintain closer ties between economic history researchers, both within Queen's Management School, across the different schools of Queen's University Belfast, and with scholars based at other institutions
  3. Encourage new scholars and graduate students in their research activities
  4. Promote graduate study in economic history and historical economics at Queen's University Belfast
  5. Promote a scholarly environment by having distinguished guest speakers and by establishing external links
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Annual Reports

  • QUCEH Annual Report 2019-20
  • QUCEH Annual Report 2018-19
  • QUCEH Annual Report 2017-18
  • QUCEH Annual Report 2016-17
  • ​QUCEH Annual Report 2015-16
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History of Economic History at Queen's

The discipline of economic history has a very long tradition at Queen's University Belfast, dating back to 1853.

International Advisory Board

Our International Advisory Board exists to help QUCEH develop strong links with leading academic economic historians and practitioners beyond Queen's University Belfast.

​Recent Scholarship from QUCEH Members

Collected together in one page, click here to see all our economic history research output from the last couple of years.

​Recent Awards won by QUCEH Members

Collected together in one page, click here to see all the awards won by QUCEH members in the last couple of years.

Contact Us at QUCEH

Click here for details on how to get in touch with the centre.
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