This study seeks to bridge the theory of history prevalent in the humanities with the arguably most influential sphere of ideas in contemporary society, namely economics. For quite some time research in the economic field has sought to distinguish pure and quantifiable economic factors from historical, social and cultural contexts, a tendency which is now subject to increasing criticism. The aim of this study is to examine the context - in terms of a theory of history - of economic thinking. The basic approach this project utilizes is that history in the form of applicable examples plays a significant role for several economic genres. This is a view of history regarded as pre-modern in the humanities and the principal questions of this study are connected to an attempt to explain the status of the historical example in economic disciplines. One line of inquiry examines to what extent the quest to establish facts fit for generalization entails the example-based view of history. Another line of inquiry examines the role of prognosis in constructing views of agency and responsibility in history. Tre genres to be examined are the literature on economic crises, written after the 2008-cricis, management literature and literature on transformational leadership.