Urban Economics
Code: 102465 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2501573 Economics | OT | 3 | 2 |
| 2501573 Economics | OT | 4 | 0 |
Contact
- Name:
- José Luis Roig Sabaté
- Email:
- JosepLluis.Roig@uab.cat
Use of Languages
- Principal working language:
- spanish (spa)
- Some groups entirely in English:
- No
- Some groups entirely in Catalan:
- No
- Some groups entirely in Spanish:
- Yes
Prerequisites
Students taking this course are required to have previously taken courses of basic microeconomics and econometrics
Objectives and Contextualisation
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
Competences
- Economics
- Capacity for adapting to changing environments.
- Capacity for independent learning in the future, gaining more profound knowledge of previous areas or learning new topics.
- Demonstrate initiative and work individually when the situation requires it.
- Identify the processes that govern the operation of markets in different competition systems, different scenarios of interrelationship and different timescales.
- Lead multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, implementing new projects and coordinating, negotiating and managing conflicts.
- Organise the work in terms of good time management, organisation and planning.
- Select and generate the information necessary for each problem, analyse it and take decisions based on that information.
- Take decisions in situations of uncertainty, demonstrating an entrepreneurial and innovative attitude.
Learning Outcomes
- 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.
- Analyse regional labour markets.
- 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.
- Capacity to adapt to changing environments.
- Capacity to continue future learning independently, acquiring further knowledge and exploring new areas of knowledge.
- Demonstrate initiative and work independently when required.
- Interpret sustainability in urban and territorial contexts.
- 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.
- Master and apply the main tools of urban and territorial planning.
- Organise work, in terms of good time management and organisation and planning.
Content
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
Methodology
Teaching will be offered on campus or in an on-campus and remote hybrid format depending on the number of students per group and the size of the rooms at 50% capacity.
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
Activities
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Practical classes | 13 | 0.52 | 1, 6, 7 |
| Theoretical classes | 33 | 1.32 | 2, 3, 4, 11, 8 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Follow up of reports | 6.5 | 0.26 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 1, 11, 8, 10 |
| Tutorials | 6 | 0.24 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 1, 11, 8, 10 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Individual study | 88 | 3.52 | 2, 3, 4, 11, 8 |
Assessment
The evaluation will take place according to the following weightings of the activities:
1. Final exam 50%
2. Midterm exam 35%
3. Problem sets 15%
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 115. 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 https://eformularis.uab.cat/group/deganat_feie/application-for-exams-reschedule
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 3 of Article 112 ter. The recovery (UAB Academic Regulations). Additionally, it is required that the student to have achieved an average grade of the subject between 3.5 and 4.9.
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 10 of Article 116. Results of the evaluation. (UAB Academic Regulations).
The proposed evaluation activities may undergo some changes according to the restrictions imposed by the health authorities on on-campus courses.
Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final exam | 50% | 2 | 0.08 | 2, 3, 4, 1, 6, 11, 8 |
| Midterm exam | 35% | 1 | 0.04 | 2, 3, 4, 1, 6, 11, 8 |
| Problem sets | 15% | 0.5 | 0.02 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 1, 6, 11, 7, 8, 9, 12, 10 |
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.
Additional reading lists and material by topic will be available at campus virtual