The Department of Political Economy was established in 1958 as a result of MGIMO’s merger with the Institute of Foreign Trade MFT of the USSR, and immediately became one of the main departments of the School of International Economic Relations. In 1991 the Department was renamed as the Department of Economics. It was not just a change in name, it was a fundamental transformation in the very content of the disciplines taught by the Department, implying deideologization of the economic science and transition to teaching disciplines on the basis of the achievements of modern economic thought.
The Department has always been headed by prominent professional scientists: Prof. A.Monakhimovich in 1954-1967, Prof. S.Sergeev in 1967-1972, Prof. M.Zakalinskiy in 1972-1974, Prof. V.Trepelkov in 1974-1990, Prof. M.Chepurin in 1990-2008, and Prof. S.Ivashkovskiy in 2008-2018, Prof. Olesya Ryazanova in 2018-2022.
At the present time the Department provides teaching of Economics (Micro- and Macroeconomics), Microeconomics-2 and Macroeconomics-2, Basics of International Economics, Economic History and History of Economic Thought, Economic History of Foreign Countries, Russian Economic History, Managerial Economics, Theory of Games and Economic Behavior, etc.
The authoring team of the Department created the textbook “The Course of Economics” edited by Prof. M.Chepurin and Prof. E.Kiseleva, which received the award in the contest “Humanitarian studies in higher education” in 1993. The textbook has seen 7 editions over the past 25 years and has been firmly ranked as a best-seller by the leading business book publishers and retailers.
In addition to the basic textbook, the authoring team of the Department published the textbook “Fundamentals of the Theory of Transition Economics” (editors – Prof. M.Chepurin and Prof. E.Kiseleva), “Macroeconomics” by Prof. E.Kiseleva, among other works. Currently the most popular textbooks are “International Macroeconomics: Theory and Practice”, “History of Economic Thought”, and “Basics of International Economics” by Prof. A.Kholopov; “Microeconomics” and “Macroeconomics” and “Economics for Managers: Micro- and Macro-Levels” by Prof. S.Ivashkovskiy; “Tasks, Exercises and Methodological Recommendations in Microeconomics” edited by S.Ivashkovskiy and M.Kozlova; and “Tasks, Exercises and Methodological Recommendations in Macroeconomics” edited by S.Ivashkovskiy and N.Shmeleva. “The Practice Book in Economics” by the authoring team of the Department has gone through 7 editions.
The teaching staff of the Department works continuously on educational and methodological material. The new editions “Economics for Lawyers” (editors Prof. O.Ryazanova, Prof. S.Ivashkovskiy), “Russian Economic History” (editor A.Uryupina) are about to be reissued.
Professors, lecturers and postgraduate students work actively within the framework of the scientific direction of the Department “World trends and actual problems in Economics” and present their scientific researches at international forums, theoretical and practical conferences and seminars. The scientific work of the teaching staff and postgraduate students of the Department is closely linked to the educational process and is focused on the understanding of theoretical and practical problems of the modern market economy, and the interaction between the market mechanisms and government regulation.
The Department maintains close scientific ties with scientific, educational and business organizations both in Russia and abroad.
Since its launch in 2009, the student club “Oeconomicus”, headed by Senior Lecturer A.Makarenko, has been very active. During its meetings the members of the club discuss current problems in Economics and Russian economic history, and current economic policies of both Russia and foreign governments. The club participates actively in scientific and practical events and maintains close business and cultural contacts with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and leading Russian companies.
Latest update — July 2022
Staff
Elena Brendeleva
