Economics All Around Us: London Trip Exposes Students to British Economic History, from Colonization to Brexit

london trip economics

Each May, Dr. Fahima Aziz and Dr. Adway De of the Department of Economics accompany a group of students on a three week trip to London to examine the city’s changing role in international trade in a globalized, post-Brexit world. 

While abroad, students explore the financial services, trade policies, immigrant populations, and cultures in and around London through an interdisciplinary lens. Notably, the course places emphasis on the culturally rich immigrant communities and historical sites that make modern London a global hub of economic activity and trade. The trip also features guest lecturers from London School of Economics, Manchester University, Warwick University, New York University - London campus, and Oxford University.

london trip economics

“The trip was absolutely amazing,” said senior Francis Adom on the experience. “Fahima put in so much effort to make it informative and fun, cramming in as many unique experiences as she could into the trip. It paid off.”

During the course, students visit politically and economically significant locations such as Lloyd’s of London, the Houses of Parliament, and the Canary Wharf financial sector. They learn about the political and historical economics of Britain from the time of empire, through decolonization to Brexit, and examine the economic effects of the UK-Ireland peace deal and the post-Brexit realities of that relationship. 

“My favorite site visit was the Lloyds of London,” said Adom. “It was clear that we were getting a very exclusive experience in seeing the inside of a major insurance hub where billions of pounds of deals were being made all around us. I saw an old 18th-century room that had been taken apart and reassembled at the top of a modern skyscraper. I saw the log book where the insurance claim for the Titanic came in and saw the record of Houthi missile strikes written with a quill and ink. The site visit completely encompassed the juxtaposition between old and new that the entire trip highlighted.” 

Excursions include:

  • Day trip to Oxford & Cambridge
  • Visit to The Economist Magazine and lecture
  • House of Commons in the Parliament & Westminster Palace
  • Tower of London
  • National Maritime Museum
  • British Museum
  • Tour of the famous Brick Lane & Famous Square Mile
  • Canary Wharf Tour - financial sector
  • London Museum Docklands (Sugar and Slavery galleries)
  • Victoria and Albert Museum
  • Migration Museum London

When asked about major takeaways from the class, Adom said, “London's history as a major trading hub has shaped its physical infrastructure, resulting in visible financial hubs surrounded by different ethnic enclaves. The material wealth built on the back of its colonial holdings has propelled it into a comfortable position on the global stage, but the country has been diminishing due to trading complications caused by Brexit.”

The course runs from May 19 - June 9, 2025. Applications are due by March 1, 2025. Scholarships are available for students with demonstrated financial need. If you are interested in applying or would like more information, contact Dr. Fahima Aziz at [email protected] or Dr. Adway De at [email protected].

 

Written by Whitney Oachs

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