Great Economists: Classical Economics and its Forerunners (MRUniversity)

Great Economists: Classical Economics and its Forerunners (MRUniversity)

This course covers the history of economic thought up until the "Marginal Revolution" in the 1870s and features a video for each chapter of Adam Smith's "The Wealth of Nations".

This course covers the history of economic thought up until the "Marginal Revolution" in the 1870s and features a video for each chapter of Adam Smith's "The Wealth of Nations". The videos will answer important questions such as: Who were the first economic thinkers? What are the very origins of economic thought? What did earlier economists understand but has been lost to the modern world? Why is Adam Smith the greatest economist of all time? How did the economic issues of the 18th and 19th centuries shape the thoughts of the classical economists?

This course is non-technical and is accessible to a beginner. If you pass the final exam, you will earn our "Great Economists" certificate on your profile.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Chinese Politics Part 1 - China and Political Science (Coursera) Coursera
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - HKUST

Chinese Politics Part 1 - China and Political Science (Coursera)

This course offers a conceptual framework for understanding China that highlights the intersection of politics and economics. It shows that rather than develop into a full blown market economy, state and party officials at all levels of the political system maintain significant influence in economic development. Such a “political” economy has had both positive and negative outcomes, which we will assess in detail.

Sep 14th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Microeconomics: The Power of Markets (Coursera) Coursera
University of Pennsylvania

Microeconomics: The Power of Markets (Coursera)

We make economics decisions every day: what to buy, whether to work or play, what to study. We respond to markets all the time: prices influence our decisions, markets signal where to put effort, they direct firms to produce certain goods over others. Economics is all around us. This course is an introduction to the microeconomic theory of markets: why we have them, how they work, what they accomplish.

Sep 28th 2026
5-12 Weeks
International Finance (MRUniversity) MRUniversity
Marginal Revolution University

International Finance (MRUniversity)

International finance covers some of the most complex but also important topics in economics. How are exchange rates determined? When if ever are ongoing trade deficits harmful? Are fixed or floating exchange rates better? What are the roots of the euro crisis and what resolution can we expect? Does China manipulate its exchange rate and if so how does that matter? We cover all of these topics and more, with an eye toward what a person really might want to know. There is no use of mathematics in this course beyond the very basic.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Arctic Economy (Coursera) Coursera
University of Alberta,UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Arctic Economy (Coursera)

Arctic communities have diverse histories and roles in local, regional and global economies. However, the scope and scale of globalization has increased so quickly that vulnerable Arctic communities are facing new kinds of challenges to their survival. In this 3-week MOOC, a unique collaboration between the University of Alberta and UiT The Arctic University of Norway, you will investigate the challenges faced by Indigenous, North American, Russian and Nordic Arctic communities in a modern world. So join us as we venture above the 60th parallel North, and explore how these fascinating communities adjust to change while maintaining their ways of life, socio-economic histories, and cultural traditions.

Sep 14th 2026
4 Weeks
Social and Economic Networks: Models and Analysis (Coursera) Coursera
Stanford University

Social and Economic Networks: Models and Analysis (Coursera)

Learn how to model social and economic networks and their impact on human behavior. How do networks form, why do they exhibit certain patterns, and how does their structure impact diffusion, learning, and other behaviors? We will bring together models and techniques from economics, sociology, math, physics, statistics and computer science to answer these questions.

Sep 28th 2026
5-12 Weeks
After the Arab Spring – Democratic Aspirations and State Failure (Coursera) Coursera
University of Copenhagen

After the Arab Spring – Democratic Aspirations and State Failure (Coursera)

Learn why the hope and excitement of the Arab Spring is gone, why so many Arab states are falling apart, why the youth are so frustrated, why there are so many refugees, and what can be done about it. The so-called Arab Spring appeared to end decades of exceptionalism and bring the Arab world back into the mainstream of global developments. The rebellions promised the return of politics and the reassertion of popular sovereignty against their corrupt and geriatric leaders. Much hope and flowery language greeted the young men and women who deposed their leaders and tried to build new, better societies.

Sep 28th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Principles of Economics: Microeconomics - Down to Business (Coursera) Coursera
Rice University

Principles of Economics: Microeconomics - Down to Business (Coursera)

In this second portion of the three-course specialization covering economics, we're going to be focusing on Microeconomics or the business side of things. This course is also based heavily on my ECON 100 course that I teach here at Rice University. Through lectures, short quizzes, problem sets, and discussions we're going to take a look at subjects such as, costs of production, perfect competition, monopolies, monopolistic competition, oligopolies, and household choices. And you'll still get all the unsolicited food and cooking advice sprinkled in there too :)

Sep 14th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Earth Economics (Coursera) Coursera
Erasmus University Rotterdam

Earth Economics (Coursera)

After this course you will be an Earth Economist that can provide evidence-based advise on the best global policy. As an Earth Economist you will better understand the behavior and advice of economists, have become a better economist yourself and know where to find Earth's data and how to analyze these world observations. Our planet is too important: we need you to get engaged!

Sep 14th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Economie du sol et de l'immobilier II (Coursera) Coursera
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Economie du sol et de l'immobilier II (Coursera)

Quels sont les liens entre les prix fonciers, les prix immobiliers et les prix pour l'usage des immeubles? Est-ce que les prix immobiliers permettent de comprendre les prix fonciers? Ou l'inverse? Quels sont les calculs faits par les opérateurs sur ces marchés? On a le sentiment que ces marchés sont liés les uns aux autres. Avec ce cours, vous comprendrez mieux comment. En passant, vous aurez acquis une meilleure compréhension des mécanismes économiques qui peut être utile dans d'autres domaines.

Sep 21st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Principles of Economics: Macroeconomics (MRUniversity) MRUniversity
Marginal Revolution University

Principles of Economics: Macroeconomics (MRUniversity)

In this course, following MRU's Principles of Microeconomics course, you’ll continue to explore the economic way of thinking and the role of incentives in all of our lives. We’ll cover fundamental questions such as: Why do some countries grow rich while others remain poor? How important is a country’s banking system — and what happened during the recent financial crisis? How did Zimbabwe end up with an inflation rate that rose into the quadrillions?

Self-paced
Self-Paced