GY400 Half Unit
The Economics of Urbanisation in Developing Countries
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Prof Vernon Henderson
Availability
This course is available on the MPhil/PhD in Economic Geography, MSc in Environment and Development, MSc in Environmental Economics and Climate Change, MSc in Environmental Policy, Technology and Health (Environment and Development) (LSE and Peking University), MSc in Environmental Policy, Technology and Health (Environmental Economics and Climate Change) (LSE and Peking University), MSc in Geographic Data Science, MSc in Local Economic Development, MSc in Regional And Urban Planning Studies, MSc in Urban Policy (LSE and Sciences Po) and MSc in Urbanisation and Development. This course is freely available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. It does not require permission. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.
How to apply: Priority: MSc Local Economic Development then other students. Priority is typically for students enrolled in Geography and Environment programmes, or joint degree programmes, however course specific availability is indicated via the 'Availability section' on the LSE course guide webpages. Guidance on how to apply to individual controlled access courses can also be found on LSE for You in the Graduate Course Selection system.
Please note: The number of students that can be accommodated is limited. If a course is over-subscribed, places will be allocated at the Department's discretion and a waiting list may be created. It is advised to have an alternative course in mind as a back-up in case you are unable to secure your first-choice course selection.
Deadline for application: Further guidance and information on course selection for Geography and Environment courses (GY4xx) will be available on the Geography and Environment Course Selection Moodle page which will go live from Monday 8 September and will be updated with course availability information daily throughout the course selection period. This page includes information on the timeline for course selection decisions in the Geography and Environment Department as well as the individual course application processes and requirements
A list of all taught master's courses in this Department are listed on LSE's course guide webpages.
For queries contact: geog.led@lse.ac.uk
Requisites
Additional requisites:
No specific LSE course requirements. At a minimum, students should have an analytical course in micro-economics (or equivalent) and a basic statistics or econometrics course.
Course content
This MSc course will offer students the opportunity to learn some of the conceptual foundations and empirical regularities involved in studying why countries urbanise, the nature of structural and spatial transformation involved in the urbanisation process and the development of systems of cities. Complementing this will be a study of the internal spatial transformation of cities, the evolution of the location of production activities, the formation and role of slums, and the evolution of land market regulations and property right assignments. Critical to understanding these processes will be learning about the role of regulation and political processes, as well as policy initiatives, in shaping outcomes. The course will also examine the current process of urbanisation in Asia and Africa in the various special contexts of different regions and countries, drawing from lessons of the past as experienced in Latin America and parts of the developed world.
Teaching
20 hours of seminars and 20 hours of lectures in the Winter Term.
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Winter Term.
The first three weeks of seminars will involve a review of basic statistical methods to help prepare students for class and lecture material.
Formative assessment
Students will be expected to produce 1 piece of coursework in the WT.
Indicative reading
Duranton G. (2008), 'Viewpoint: From cities to productivity and growth in developing countries', Canadian Journal of Economics, Vol. 41, No. 3, 689-736
Henderson, J.V., T. Regan, and A. J. Venables (2021) “Building the city: urban transition and institutional frictions,” Review of Economic Studies
Donaldson D (2018) ‘Railways of the Raj’, American Economic Review 108, 899-934
Couture, V., B. Faber, Y. Gu, L. Liu, (2020)
Connecting the countryside via e-commerce: Evidence from China. American Economic Review: Insights
Baum-Snow, N., L. Brandt, V. Henderson, M. Turner, Q Zhang (2017) “Roads, Railroads and Decentralization of Chinese Cities” Review of Economics and Statistics
Muralidharan, K., & Prakash, N. (2017). Cycling to school: Increasing secondary school enrollment for girls in India. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 9(3), 321-350.
Assessment
Exam (70%), duration: 120 Minutes in the Spring exam period
Presentation (30%)
Key facts
Department: Geography and Environment
Course Study Period: Winter Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 26
Average class size 2024/25: 13
Controlled access 2024/25: YesCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Personal development skills
- Team working
- Problem solving
- Application of information skills
- Communication
- Application of numeracy skills