GY300     
Theories of Regional Development and Change

This information is for the 2015/16 session.

Teacher responsible

Prof Michael Storper

Availability

This course is available on the BA in Geography, BSc in Economics, BSc in Environment and Development, BSc in Environmental Policy with Economics and BSc in Geography with Economics. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course is available with permission to General Course students.

Course content

Analysis of theories and methods needed to understand territorial patterns of economic development in Europe, the US and other developed economies. Students will be given the basic toolkit needed to think about such issues as: why industries locate where they do; why there are tendencies toward geographical concentration and dispersion of economic activity; the reasons why economic activity concentrates in cities and metropolitan areas; why it leaves those areas; how existing trends toward globalization are affecting these processes. In addition, the course typically covers a range of policy-relevant topics relating to the economic performance of regions and countries around the world, including: human capital and education, innovation, international trade and quality of institutions.

Teaching

20 hours of lectures and 9 hours of classes in the MT. 10 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the LT. 1 hour of lectures in the ST.

Formative coursework

Students will be expected to produce class essays during the year and will also be expected to give class presentations.

Indicative reading

H Armstrong ; P Taylor, Regional Economics and Policy, 2000; P

Dicken, Reshaping the Global Economic Map in the 21st Century, 2003; G

Clark, M Gertler, M P Feldman, eds The Oxford Handbook of Economic Geography,

2000.

Assessment

Exam (75%, duration: 3 hours) in the main exam period.
Essay (25%, 2500 words) in the ST.

Student performance results

(2012/13 - 2014/15 combined)

Classification % of students
First 22.7
2:1 66.7
2:2 10.6
Third 0
Fail 0

Key facts

Department: Geography & Environment

Total students 2014/15: 19

Average class size 2014/15: 17

Capped 2014/15: No

Value: One Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information