Urban & Spatial Economics

Urban & Spatial Economics
22. July 2020 Cara Turett

Batul Abbas

This course explores the economic factors which influence location decisions of households and firms, and it explores theories of how these decisions induce the formation of cities. The course will cover the neoclassical models of land use, concepts from the new economic geography, zoning, and transportation and traffic congestion.

The objective of the course is to provide graduate students with an understanding of the economic factors which give rise to urban spatial structure and the models which have been employed to study these processes. The course aims to help students develop an appreciation for the use of economic models in both positive and normative frameworks. We will assess both the history of thought regarding the role of markets in creating urban development, and we will read about modern theories of externalities and economic factors which induce agglomeration. The final section of the course will focus on transportation problems in urban areas and the use of economic models to assess public policy measures to deal with congestion and associated externalities.

  • Course 103-0517-00L
  • 2 Lessons per Week
  • 3 Credits
  • Language: English
  • Offered in: MSc Landscape Architecture; MSc Spatial Development and Infrastructure Systems; MSc Science, Technology, and Policy