ECN 415E - Urban Economics

Course Objectives

Urban Economics utilizes economic theory to examine the major contemporary policy issues confronting urban areas, exploring possible economic policy solutions to the problems of housing, transportation, education, employment, poverty, and crime. A core concept is the application of economic theory to questions of space and location: why do things happen where they do and not somewhere else? How are location decisions made? Also considered will be theories of why cities exist, city location, city size, the causes of cities’ development and decline, and the spatial distribution of alternative activities within cities.

Course Description

Urban Economics utilizes economic theory to examine the major contemporary policy issues confronting urban areas, exploring possible economic policy solutions to the problems of housing, transportation, education, employment, poverty, and crime. A core concept is the application of economic theory to questions of space and location: why do things happen where they do and not somewhere else? How are location decisions made? Also considered will be theories of why cities exist, city location, city size, the causes of cities’ development and decline, and the spatial distribution of alternative activities within cities.