GY447      Half Unit
The Economics of Regional and Urban Planning

This information is for the 2017/18 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Felipe Carozzi S416

Availability

This course is compulsory on the MSc in Regional And Urban Planning Studies. This course is available on the CEMS Exchange, MBA Exchange, MSc in African Development, MSc in Development Management, MSc in Development Studies, MSc in Human Geography and Urban Studies (Research), MSc in Local Economic Development and MSc in Urban Policy (LSE and Sciences Po). This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

The number of students that can be accommodated is limited. If the course is over-subscribed, places will be allocated at the Department’s discretion and a waiting list may be created. For further details, please contact your relevant Programme Coordinator

Pre-requisites

Students should normally have completed an introductory course in economics. Students without this background may wish to attend the micro-economic section of EC100 Economics A together with the Pre-sessional GY447 and GY447.1 workshops.

Course content

To provide an economic framework in which to analyse the structure of economic activity within the urban and regional context; the impact of this structure on urban form; the role of government at the local level and local economic policy applications. The course aims to provide an economic framework in which to analyse the structure of economic activity within the urban and regional context; the impact of this structure on urban form; the role of government at the local level and local economic policy applications. Topics include: The determinants of industrial, commercial and residential location. The interaction between activities within a spatial context. The economics of land markets and of the development process. The determinants of rents and densities. Economic models of urban structure. Sources of market failure in the urban economy. The rationale of government intervention. Techniques of intervention in the urban and environmental context. The role of the public sector: pricing, allocation, production and investment decisions. Urban and regional economic policy issues.

Teaching

20 hours of lectures, 9 hours of seminars and 5 hours of workshops in the MT. 1 hour of workshops and 2 hours of workshops in the LT. 2 hours of lectures in the ST.

There will also be 5 hours of pre-sessional classes in Week 0 provided mainly for those without a previous economic background.  The MT workshop is also aimed at those without a previous economic background.

Formative coursework

Students will be expected to produce 1 piece of coursework in the LT.

Indicative reading

1) A O'Sullivan Urban Economics;

2) D DiPasquale & W C Wheaton, Urban Economics and Real Estate Markets;

3) J F McDonald, Fundamentals of Urban Economics;

4) R W Vickerman, Urban Economics;

5) H Armstrong & J Taylor, Regional Economic Policy and its Analysis;

6) M Fujita, Urban Economic Theory;

7) J Stiglitz, Economics of the Public Sector;

8) M Common, Environmental and Resource Economics;

9) H Dunkerley (Ed), Urban Land Policy: Issues and Opportunities;

10) Pindyck & RubinfeldMicroeconomics, Suslow & Hamilton Study Guide.

More detailed readings will be provided during the course.

Assessment

Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours) in the main exam period.

Student performance results

(2013/14 - 2015/16 combined)

Classification % of students
Distinction 4.4
Merit 44.2
Pass 45.1
Fail 6.2

Key facts

Department: Geography & Environment

Total students 2016/17: 35

Average class size 2016/17: 18

Controlled access 2016/17: Yes

Lecture capture used 2016/17: Yes (MT)

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Problem solving

Course survey results

(2013/14 - 2015/16 combined)

1 = "best" score, 5 = "worst" score

The scores below are average responses.

Response rate: 100%

Question

Average
response

Reading list (Q2.1)

2.3

Materials (Q2.3)

2.2

Course satisfied (Q2.4)

2.2

Lectures (Q2.5)

1.9

Integration (Q2.6)

2.1

Contact (Q2.7)

2.1

Feedback (Q2.8)

2.3

Recommend (Q2.9)

Yes

56%

Maybe

37%

No

7%