The University of Cambridge has long been one of the world’s leading centres for the study of economic and social history since William Cunningham and Ellen McArthur began lecturing on the subject at the end of the 19th century. The first Professor of Economic History, Sir J.H. Clapham, appointed in 1928, was an early pioneer of quantitative history. Phyliss Deane’s and W.A. Cole’s path-breaking work on British economic growth and the Cambridge Group’s work on population history are amongst the most important contributions to post-war economic history.

Today there are over sixty economic and social historians in the University, spread across departments, but with a particular concentration in History, Economics and Geography. This probably constitutes the largest concentration of economic and social historians in the U.K.

The research environment is exceptionally diverse but there are particular strengths in demographic history, gender history long-term economic development, the history of economic thought and the relationship between the state, culture and economic history. There is an highly stimulating seminar program with nine different research seminars running in economic and social history.