Urban Economics
Code: 102465Credits: 6
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | OP | 3 |
| Economics | OP | 4 |
| Contemporary History, Politics and Economics | OP | 3 |
| Contemporary History, Politics and Economics | OP | 4 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- José Luis Roig Sabaté
- Email :
- joseplluis.roig@uab.cat
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
Students taking this course are suggested to have previously taken courses of microeconomics I, microeconomics II and econometrics I
Objectives
The subject of Urban Economics has as an objective teaching the economic approach to analyze the urban phenomena. For this, we use the tools both from the theoretical as well as empirical point of view developed the last years in this field.
Therefore the aims of the subject can be summarized as follows:
1. The students should know and be able to use the main theoretical developments in the field
2. The students should know and be able to use the main tools for the empirical analysis in the field
3. The students should able to pose relevant questions and develop a critical analysis in relation to the most important problems that affect the cities
Learning outcomes
- Apply the most relevant theories on the location of economic and human activity in the territory.
- Assess urban growth and the formation of city systems.
- Analyse regional labour markets.
- Interpret sustainability in urban and territorial contexts.
- A capacity of oral and written communication in Catalan, Spanish and English, which allows them to summarise and present the work conducted both orally and in writing.
- Organise work, in terms of good time management and organisation and planning.
- Demonstrate initiative and work independently when required.
- Capacity to continue future learning independently, acquiring further knowledge and exploring new areas of knowledge.
- Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
- Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
- Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
- Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
- Students must develop the necessary learning skills in order to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
- Demonstrate capacity to adapt to changing environments.
- Organise work in relation to good time management and planning.
- Demonstrate the capacity for oral and written communication in Catalan, Spanish and English which allows the work to be summarised and presented orally and in writing.
- Demonstrate the capacity to continue working in the future autonomously gaining a deeper understanding of the knowledge acquired or embarking on new areas of knowledge.
- Analyse urban labour markets.
- Describe the historical evolution of the strategic factors determining the development and location of industry.
- Demonstrate the capacity for oral and written communication at an advanced level of English using complex concepts.
- Demonstrate initiative and the capacity to work autonomously when the situation requires.
- Lead multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, implement new projects, coordinate, negotiate and manage conflicts.
- Make decisions in situations of uncertainty and show an enterprising and innovative spirit.
- Select and generate the information necessary for each problem, analyse it and make decisions accordingly.
Contents
1. Introduction
- What is urban economics?
- What is a city?
- Why do cities exist?
2. Economies of agglomeration
- Typology of economies of agglomeration
- Microfoundations of economies of agglomeration
- Measurement of economies of agglomeration
3. Urban spatial structure
- Urban land rent
- Model of monocentric city
- Models of policentric city
- Density functions
4. Urban size and system of cities
- Benefits and costs of urban size
- Urban Size and industry mix of cities
- Urban size distribution
- Urban growth
5. Inequality and city
- The measurement of segregation
- Causes of segregation.
- Costs of segregation
6. Sustainability and city
- Sustainability and urban form
- Costs of the urban dispersion
- Policies against urban dispersion
- Urban transport policy
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practical classes | 17 | 0.68 | 5, 7, 8, 21 |
| Tutorials | 6 | 0.24 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 17, 21 |
| Theoretical classes | 32.5 | 1.3 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 17 |
| Follow up of reports | 6.5 | 0.26 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 21 |
| Individual study | 88 | 3.52 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 15, 21 |
Teaching will be offered on campus.
The theoretical sessions consist in the development of the different contents of the subject. The students can use the main textbooks as well as additional material and supplementary bibliography for each topic.
The practical classes consist in the development of the required empirical methods to understand the empirical evidence enabling the students to interpret results. Data sets are delivered to the students to use the different methodologies explained in the classes.
Some practical classes will be devoted at the discussion of policy issues taking a relevant text as a starting point. These discussions should enable students to use the knowledge acquired in the theoretical lectures
The proposed teaching methodology may undergo some modifications according to the restrictions imposed by the health authorities on on-campus courses
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Problem sets | 20% | 0 | 0 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
| Midterm exam | 40% | 0 | 0 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 17, 18 |
| Final exam | 40% | 0 | 0 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 13, 16, 17, 18 |
This subject/module does not offer the option for comprehensive evaluation
The evaluation will take place according to the following weightings of the activities:
1. Final exam 40%
2. Midterm exam 40%
3. Problem sets 20%
All students are required to perform the evaluation activities. The two exams (midterm and final) require a minimum score of 3.5 each. When this threshold is not reached
(that is, when the mark is below 3.5) the score of the correspondent exam that will be considered for the final mark will be zero. The marks of the other activities to complete the final evaluation do not require a mínimum threshold.
The subject is approved with a final mark of 5. In the case of a final mark less than 3.5, the student will have to take to the subject in the following year.
Students who have obtained a final mark that is equal to or greater than 3.5 and less than 5 are eligible for a retake exam. The lecturers will decide the type of the retake exam. When the mark of the retake exam is greater than 5, the final mark will be PASS with a maximum numerical score of 5. When the mark of the retake exam is less than 5, the final mark will be a FAIL with a numerical score equal to the mark
previously achieved (not the mark of the retake exam).
A student who does not perform any evaluative task is considered \"not evaluable\", therefore, a student who performs a continuous assessment component can no longer be qualified with a \"not evaluable\"
Calendar of evaluation activities
The dates of the evaluation activities (midterm exams, exercises in the classroom, assignments, ...) will be announced well in advance during the semester.
The date of the final exam is scheduled in the assessment calendar of the Faculty.
\"The dates of evaluation activities cannot be modified, unless there is an exceptional and duly justified reason why an evaluation activity cannot be carried out. In this case, the degree coordinator will contact both the teaching staff and the affected student, and a new date will be scheduled within the same academic period to make up for the missed evaluation activity.\" Section 1 of Article 264. Calendar of evaluation activities (Academic Regulations UAB).
Students of the Faculty of Economics and Business, who in accordance with the previous paragraph need to change an evaluation activity date must process the request by filling out an Application for exams' reschedule: e-Formulari per a la reprogramació de proves.
Grade revision process
After all grading activities have ended, students will be informed of the date and way in which the course grades will be published. Students will be also be informed of the procedure, place, date and time of grade revision following University regulations.
Retake Process
\"To be eligible to participate in the retake process, it is required for students to have been previously been evaluated for at least two thirds of the total evaluation activities of the subject.\" Section 2 of Article 261. The recovery (UAB Academic Regulations). Additionally, it is required that the student to have achieved an average grade of the subject greater than or equal to 3.5 and less than 5.
The date of the retake exam will be posted in the calendar of evaluation activities of the Faculty. Students who take this exam and pass, will get a grade of 5 for the subject. If the student does not pass the retake, the grade will remain unchanged, and hence, student will fail the course.
Irregularities in evaluation activities
In spite of other disciplinary measures deemed appropriate, and in accordance with current academic regulations, \"in the case that the student makes any irregularity that could lead to a significant variation in the grade of an evaluation activity, it will be graded with a 0, regardless of the disciplinary process that can be instructed. In case of various irregularities occur in the evaluation of the same subject, the final grade of this subject will be 0\". Section 11 of Article 266. Results of the evaluation. (UAB Academic Regulations).
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
In this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted exclusively for support tasks, such as search for references or other information, text correction, or translations. The student must clearly identify which parts have been generated using this technology, specify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and the final outcome of the activity. If the student fails to disclose the use of AI in any of the activity subject to evaluation will be considered a lack of academic integrity which can imply a partial or total penalization for the grade of the activity or more severe penalties in serious cases.
The completion of assessment activities is subject to the provisions set out in this course guide and in the "Policy of the School of Economics and Business on the Detection of Irregularities during Assessment Activities", which regulates the conditions under which assessment tasks are conducted and the procedures applicable in cases where indications of irregularities are detected. Students are encouraged to consult the policy.
Bibliography
Main textbooks:
Jan K. Brueckner (2011) Lectures on Urban Economics. The MIT Press.
Arthur O’Sullivan (2018) Urban Economics. 9th edition. McGraw-Hill
Roberto Camagni (2002) Economía Urbana. Antoni Bosch Ed.
John F. McDonald y McMillen, Daniel P.(2007) Urban Economics and Real Estate. Blackwell Publishing
Henri L.F. de Groot et al. (2015) Cities and the Urban Land Premium. Edward Elgar
Holger Sieg (2020) Urban Economics and Fiscal Policy. Princeton University Press
Additional reading lists and material by topic will be available at campus virtual
Software
The software mainly used is: GRETL, Stata and Excel
Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE
| Type of teaching | Group | Language | Semester | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Spanish | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (PAUL) Classroom practices | 1 | Spanish | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 1 | Spanish | first semester | morning-mixed |