Regional and Urban Economics

ECTS : 6

Description du contenu de l'enseignement :

Course description and objectives
The aim of this course is to introduce students to the main theories of urban and regional economics. The course mainly focuses on the firms’ and households’ location theories, on the functioning of real estate and housing markets, but also on the new global challenges for cities and metropolitan areas. The course provides a theoretical framework in regional and urban economics but also addresses a series of empirical facts.

Course structure

1. Regions and cities in the history of economic thought.
2. Cities in traditional economic theory, mercantilist and classical economic theory.
3. The Marshallian paradigm
4. History of cities
5. From ancient settlements to global cities:
6. How did cities evolve through the centuries?
7. Location theories – the monocentric city
8. The theory of Von Thunen. A microeconomic approach of location.
9. Location theories – Location and firm competition
10. The analysis of Weber and Hotelling.
11. How firm competition deals with spatial analysis?
12. Location theories – the central business district
13. The analysis of Christaller and Losch
14. The new urban theory paradigm.
15. Suburbanization – measuring urban sprawl
16. Definition, measure and analysis of urban sprawl
17. Real-Estate markets: the land and housing competition
18. Real estate markets – the new global patrimonial strategy
19. Empirical facts: from location preferences to RB&B
20. The global metropolis: the cities dominating the modern world
21. The production of services
22. Agglomeration economies and decision centers
23. Regional migration and residential mobility
24. The determinants of residential mobility
25. Creative and cultural economies
26. Local governments and regional policies
27. The Tiebout paradigm.
28.  How policies affect city-size and city growth
29. An urban future: the role of regional and urban planning
30. Third world cities – the new frontiers
31. Final Exam

Compétence à acquérir :

Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students can understand how cities and regions change, how prices evolve in real-estate markets and how residential mobility and regional migration affects modern economies. They’re also able to evaluate local and regional public policies.

Mode de contrôle des connaissances :

Assignments and grading
Active class participation is a main feature of the course’s organization. Students are also invited to make short presentations on different topics concerning regional and urban economics. A final exam evaluates the students. The final exam counts for 50% of the note. Short presentations count for another 50% of the note.

Grading
The numerical grade distribution will dictate the final grade.
Class participation: Active class participation – this is what makes classes lively and instructive. Come on time and prepared. Class participation is based on quality of comments, not quantity.
Exam policy: In the exam, students will not be allowed to bring any document (except if allowed by the lecturer). Unexcused absences from exams or failure to submit cases will result in zero grades in the calculation of numerical averages. Exams are collected at the end of examination periods.
 

Bibliographie, lectures recommandées :

Bibliography

• O’Sullivan (2014). Urban Economics, McGraw Hill, 9th Edition, 544 pages
• E. Glaeser (2011). Triumph of the city, Penguin Books, 2nd edition, 325 pages.
• S. Sassen (2001). The global city, New York, London, Tokyo, Princeton University Press, 2nd edition, 480 pages.
• R. Florida (2014), Atlas of cities, Princeton University Press, 256 pages.
• P. McCann (2013), Modern urban and regional economics, Oxford University Press, 432 pages.