Dr Felipe Carozzi S416

This course is compulsory on the MSc in Regional And Urban Planning Studies and MSc in Urban Policy (LSE and Sciences Po). This course is available on the CEMS Exchange, MBA Exchange, MPhil/PhD in Economic Geography, 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

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.

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.

In the Department of Geography and Environment, teaching will be delivered through a combination of classes/seminars, pre-recorded lectures, live online lectures and other supplementary interactive live activities.

This course is delivered through a combination of seminars and lectures across Michaelmas Term only. 

The course will also feature a pre-sessional element in week 0 of Michaelmas Term and a reading week in Week 6 of Michaelmas Term.

A take home formative exam will be carried out during Lent Term.

1) A O'Sullivan Urban Economics;

2) J F McDonald and Daniel P. McMillen, Urban Economics and Real Estate;

3) J Stiglitz, Economics of the Public Sector;

4) Pindyck & Rubinfeld Microeconomics, Suslow & Hamilton Study Guide.

5) J Brueckner, Lectures in Urban Economics

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

6) R W Vickerman, Urban Economics;

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

More detailed readings will be provided during the course.

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

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.