ECO 3384 - Urban Economics

Credits: 3

Description: This course covers the economics of cities and urban planning. Why do cities exist? What makes for a flourishing city? Why do some cities deteriorate in a matter of decades, while others continue to flourish after centuries of existence? Using the tools and insights of economics, we will explore some of these questions. We will discuss the role of government in city planning. We will investigate efforts to mitigate climate change, encourage public health and sanitation, manage urban spaces, and plan transportation. But more than this, we will investigate the absence of planning by exploring the possibility and extent to which cities can prosper without excessive oversight from central authorities. The goal of this class is to be able to make use of economic tools to sort through some of the popular fallacies surrounding urban economics and urban planning. In addition, we will seek to understand the history, origin, and evolution of cities.