Regional Economics
Code: 102466 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 2501573 Economics | OT | 3 |
| 2501573 Economics | OT | 4 |
Contact
- Name:
- David Enrique Castells Quintana
- Email:
- david.castells.quintana@uab.cat
Teachers
- Vittorio Galletto
Teaching groups languages
You can view this information at the end of this document.
Prerequisites
Students taking this course are required to have previously taken courses of basic microeconomics and econometrics
Objectives and Contextualisation
The subject of Regional Economics has as an objective teaching the economic approach to analyze the spatial distribution of economic activity and spatail phenomena in general. 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 spatial development both in developed and developing countries
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Content
Paet 1. Distribution of population and economic activity
- Historical perspective
- Agglomeration and congestion
- Geography and development
- System of cities, regions and cities today
- Urbanization and development
2. Industrial location: the decision to locate the company
3. Modelization of location
4. Especialization and diversification
5. Labor mobility
6. Determinants of regional and urban development
7. Policy
Activities and Methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Practical classes | 17 | 0.68 | 1, 6, 7 |
| Theoretical classes | 32.5 | 1.3 | 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 |
Teaching of the course will be offered on campus.
The theoretical sessions consist of 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 of 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 departing point. These discussions have to allow the students use the knowledge acquired in the theoretical lectures
If possible, we will visit "Barcelona Activa".
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Assessment
Continous Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final exam | 40% | 0 | 0 | 2, 3, 4, 1, 6, 11, 8, 17, 16, 15, 13, 14 |
| Midterm exam | 30% | 0 | 0 | 2, 3, 4, 1, 6, 11, 8 |
| Problem sets and class work | 30% | 0 | 0 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 1, 6, 11, 7, 8, 9, 12, 10 |
Continous evaluation:
The evaluation will take place according to the following weightings of the activities:
1. Final exam 40%
2. Midterm exam 30%
3. Problem sets 30%
All students are required to perform the evaluation activities. The two exams (midterm and final) require a minimum score of 3.5 each. 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).
COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION (Art. 265 of the UAB Academic Regulations)
By requesting the comprehensive evaluation the student waives the option of continuous evaluation.
The comprehensive evaluation must be requested at the Academic Management (Gestió acadèmica) of the Campus where the degree/master's degree is taught. The request must be filed according to the procedure and the deadline established by the administrative calendar of the Faculty of Economics and Business.
Attendance :
- Student attendance is mandatory on the day of the comprehensive assessment. The date will be the same as that of the final exam of the semester as per the evaluation calendar published by the Faculty of Economics and Business and approved by the Faculty's Teaching and Academic Affairs Committee. The duration of the comprehensive assessment must be specified in the characteristics of such activity.
- 100% of the evaluation evidences must be handed in by the student on the day of the comprhensive assessment.
- The evaluation evidences carried out in person by the student on the same day of the comprehensive assessment must have a minimum weight of 70%.
Single final exam (100%, 3 hours). Place, date and hour as established by Faculty.
RETAKE PROCEDURE :
"For the retake procedure, no distinction is made between students who have followed the continuous evaluation and those who have opted for the comprehensive evaluation. All will be re-assessed using the same test or evaluation evidence."
REVIEW OF THE FINAL QUALIFICATION:
"The review of the final qualification will follow the same procedure as for the continuous evaluation".
Bibliography
Main textbooks:
P.-Ph. Combes et al (2008) Economic geography. The integration of regions and nations. Princeton University Press
M. Fujita y J.F. Thisse (2013) Economics of agglomeration. Cities, Industrial Location and Globalization. Cambridge University Press.
Philip McCann (2013) Modern Urban and Regional Economics. Oxford University Press
Capello (2015) Regional Economics. Routledge.
Sean Fox y Tom Goodfellow (2016) Cities and Development. Routledge
Edward Glaeser and Abha Joshi-Ghani (2015) The urban imperative. Oxford University Press
Additional reading lists and material by topic will be available at campus virtual
Software
The software meinly used is: GRETL, Stata, Word and Excel
Language list
| Name | Group | Language | Semester | Turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (PAUL) Classroom practices | 1 | Spanish | second semester | morning-mixed |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 1 | Spanish | second semester | morning-mixed |
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Spanish | second semester | morning-mixed |