Programme overview

When applying to this programme, you select one of three tracks: the Economic History track, the Economic Demography track or the Economic Development track.

Economic History (120 ECTS)

Knowledge of the past is essential for understanding today’s world and shaping the future. In this track you will develop advanced insights into the long-term development of societies. By combining analytical tools from economics and the social sciences with a contextual understanding of conditions in the past, you will become able to use the accumulated human experience to solve current-day problems.

Lund University is renowned for its research in economic history. As a student you take full advantage of this thriving environment, getting access to state-of-the-art research in your education. Core courses cover thematic fields such as the global economy, population and living standards, institutional change as well as research design and the application of scientific methods. In addition, you can tailor your degree from our broad range of topics covered in elective courses and tutorials.

Upon completion of this track, you will graduate with an MSc in Economic History.

Economic Demography (120 ECTS)

Changes in population have an impact on everything from taxes, school systems, labour markets and health care to marketing and sales of products and services. Economic demography explores the relationship between population and economy and how they influence one another. It includes the study of the size, structure and distribution of populations, and how populations change over time due to births, deaths, migration, and ageing.

This track will provide you with theory, methods and skills necessary to explain a number of social and economic phenomena. Key topics include mortality and the demographic transition, the labour market, migration patterns and health issues. It enables you to better understand and tackle global issues tied to employment, welfare and public health.

We offer quality teaching by some of the world’s leading researchers in the field of demography. The courses are designed to help you apply the concepts in real life with individual investigations, projects, team work and live presentations.

Upon completion of this track, you will graduate with an MSc in Economic Demography.

Economic Development (120 ECTS)

Economic development is a dynamic process of change over time leading to sustained improvements in general standards of living and increased opportunities for individuals to lead a life of his or her choosing. One of the most pressing global problems is that this process has been slow in many parts of the world. At the same time, the global economy is under transformation providing potential opportunities for developing countries to catch up. In order to analyse and understand the possibilities for and hindrances to progress in human life conditions across the developing world today, there is a need for a thorough empirical and theoretical understanding of these processes of economic change.

Within this track, many of the most intensely debated topics in the current discussion on economic development are thoroughly dealt with. These include the relation between economic growth, poverty reduction and income inequality, the role of institutions for long-term development, the relevance and dynamics of structural change, development lessons from Asia-Pacific, the role of the state and the potential of development assistance. All topics are discussed in an historical and comparative perspective, applying both quantitative and qualitative techniques depending on the problem at hand.

Upon completion of this track, you will graduate with an MSc in Economic Development.

Programme modules/courses

The programme is organised into three different tracks. When applying for the programme, you also select which track you are specialising in. The different tracks share courses to some extent. The courses outlined below are track-specific and mandatory. You are also required to choose electives offered by the Department of Economic History, regardless of your chosen track. In addition, there may be courses offered by other departments that are possible to include in the chosen track. Each track ends with a degree project (15 credits).

Core courses – Economic History track (7.5 credits each): The Global Economy and Long-Term Economic Growth; Research Design; Population and Living Standards; Comparative Analysis of Economic Change; Econometrics; Institutions, Economic Growth and Equity; Tutorials: Advanced Topics in Economic History.

Core courses – Economic Demography track (7.5 credits each): Causes of Demographic Change; Econometrics; Research Design; Consequences of Demographic Change; Tutorials: Advanced Topics in Economic Demography.

Core courses – Economic Development track (7.5 credits each): Development of Emerging Economies; Research Design; China and the Asia Pacific; Institutions, Economic Growth and Equity; Econometrics; Tutorials: Advanced Topics in Economic Development.

Career prospects

Given the wide scope of the programme and its interdisciplinary nature, graduates can expect employment opportunities within a multitude of areas, depending on the selected track.

Many graduates from the Economic History track choose to work at national or international organisations in positions requiring analytical skills. Recent graduates work at the European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE), the German parliament, the UN, HSBC, Hong Kong Banking Services, and Nordea.

The Economic Demography track meets the demand for demographic studies at all levels of government, as well as in the private sector. Marketing, insurance and municipal planning are three areas where demographic skills are in increasing demand.

The Economic Development track enables you to pursue careers within institutions working on economic development of both emerging economies and the least developed countries, such as the World Bank, EU, OECD, WTO, NGOs, banks, multinational companies and consulting firms.

For more information about this programme, please visit www.lunduniversity.lu.se/economic-growth-population-development

Why Lund University?

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is one of northern Europe’s oldest, broadest and finest universities. The University ranks among the world's top 100 universities in the QS World University Rankings 2019 and is the #1 choice for international students coming to Sweden – one of the world's most innovative, sustainable and democratic countries.

If you would like to start building your international network in a global classroom setting, Lund University is a great option. Experience a different way of learning in a country ranked as one of the best in the world at providing higher education. Group work and informal teacher-student relationships facilitate in-depth learning.

The University is located in Lund, a charming and compact university city in southern Sweden, only 35 minutes away from Copenhagen Airport in Denmark. The city is famous for its vibrant student life and is also home to many world-leading research facilities and international companies.

Learn more about Lund University at www.lunduniversity.lu.se