376 REPORT— 1894. 



course, on the position of the teacher as an adhei-ent of one or other of 

 the opposing schools of economic thought ; but, speaking generally, even 

 the least empirical among them would be deemed empiiical by those 

 accustomed to English methods. But, in addition to these three annual 

 courses, lectures are delivei'ed on special subjects. At Freiburg (in 

 Baden), in the summer semester of 1891, these were : — 



History of National Economy and Socialism. 



Agrarian and Industrial Policy, including the Labour Question. 



History of Statistics. 



The list of special lectures at Berlin, to take the most completely equipped 

 of the universities, shows more clearly the wide range of subjects dealt 

 with under the term Economics. In the summer term, 1892, besides the 

 ordinary annual courses, tiiere were courses of lectures on the following 

 subjects : — 



Theory of Statistics. 



History of Statistics. 



Statistics of the (Jerman Empire. 



The Economic and Social History of Germany from the end of the' 



Middle Ages to the Peace of Westphalia. 

 Histoi'y and Modes of Industrial Undertakings. 

 Money and Banking. 



Early Commercial and Colonial Policy (till 1800). 

 Industrial and Commercial Policy. 

 The Social Question. 

 Forms of Public Credit. 



In addition to lectures, necessarily more or less foi-nial, opportunities are 

 afforded for systematic instruction in classes and in the seminar. The 

 latter institution varies considerably, according to the character of the 

 students frequenting particular universities, for its efficiency, and accord- 

 ing to the position of the professor undertaking it, for the direction of its 

 studies. Each teacher collects around himself a group of students who 

 follow his method, adopt his attitude, and frequently devote themselves to 

 those branches of economic i-esearch which have occupied his attention. 

 Thus, at Strassburg, Professor Knapp's seminar deals chiefly with agrarian 

 questions ; at Berlin, Professor Wagner's influence is seen in the pre- 

 dominance of finance and financial topics among the subjects discussed. 

 At Munich, to pnss to the question of organisation and method, the two 

 professors join in holding a seminar in which 'there are about twenty-four 

 young men taking part. Kach of them has to undertake some work : the 

 younger ones get a book to read, and have to report on it ; the more 

 advanced have to treat a subject after reading sevei-al books on the 

 subject; the mo.st advanced have to make a work themselves, the pro- 

 fessors aiding them in furnishing material and giving assistance.' At 

 some universities there are two seminars, at others one. It is a matter 

 for regret that, with all these opportunities, a comparatively small number 

 of students are ranked as advanced. The explanations offered are many, 

 but probably a very adverse effect on the study is produced by the paucity 

 of the positions to which a thorough economic study can serve as an intro- 

 duction. Teaching posts are few, and the requirements in the State 

 examinations for the legal and administrative services are, if not as in 

 many cases nominal, strictly limited to an elementary knowledge. 



