Urban Economics

Intro to urban econ focusing on location of economic activity in geographic space and implications for society. Course uses theoretical modeling, empirical analysis, and historical accounts to explore questions: Why cities exist, form where they do, and grow/decline? How economic activity is organized. Spatial patterns of work, housing, transportation. Environmental consequences of urban density, suburban sprawl, polluting firms. Determinants of price of land, house values, rents. Household sorting across neighborhoods. Causes/consequences of racial segregation, neighborhood gentrification, spatial concentration of poverty/wealth. Recommended prerequisites: Economics 201D and Economics 204D.