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Local and Regional Development

Code: 104264 ECTS Credits: 6
2025/2026
Degree Type Year
Geography, Environmental Management and Spatial Planning OP 4

Contact

Name:
Esteve Dot Jutglā
Email:
esteve.dot@uab.cat

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

There are no specific requirements to take this course.

Objectives and Contextualisation

This course offers a critical approach to local and territorial development from the reality that imposes for the territory and its population three current challenges: 1) the climate and environmental crisis, 2) the growing inequalities in the distribution of wealth; and 3) the fourth revolution linked to the role of new technologies and artificial intelligence.
										
											The course has three main objectives: 1) to critically examine the concept of development in general and local / regional development from different theories and practices, 2) to understand the dynamics of the local economy within the conditions imposed by economic, environmental and energy changes , 3) explore new economic models that raise local development from an ethical and eco-centered position. Classes will combine theoretical, practical and discussion format.

Learning Outcomes

  1. CM22 (Competence) Conduct an original research project based on the mandatory reading of basic texts on theories in local development and practical experiences.
  2. CM23 (Competence) Develop proposals for action and intervention in the territory that address socio-demographic and environmental problems.
  3. KM36 (Knowledge) List the theoretical and conceptual approaches related to housing, mobility, local and territorial development.

Content

1) The current challenges of local development: environmental, social, and economic crisis.
2) The concept of local development. Origins, evolution, and new formulation.
3) The Community Economies in the Anthropocene era. Case studies and experiences.
4) The policies and strategic lines of urban development of the last decades.
5) Local development linked to tourism: experiences, opportunities, and deficiencies.
6) Local development linked to the knowledge economy and the smart city: experiences, opportunities, and shortcomings.
7) Local development and climate change.
8) The role of the public sector in local development.
9) Local development and sustainability.
10) DLT and policy making. The programs PADL and AODL.


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Field Trips 8 0.32
Practicum 9 0.36
Theoretical Classes 31.5 1.26
Type: Supervised      
Practical exercices and research project 20 0.8
Tutorial 5 0.2
Type: Autonomous      
Project 40 1.6
Readings 20 0.8
Study 15 0.6

Theoretical classes will be complemented with fieldwork on real research projects, which will allow students to reflect on the problems and difficulties posed by local development.
Students will have to build in parallel to the teaching sessions an original research project as part of the training process in this subject. It will be compulsory to read a series of basic texts on theories in local development and practical experiences.
The learning process and acquisition of skills will be supervised by the teacher through individual and/or group tutorials. The teachers of the subject will be available to students to resolve doubts and follow the evolution of the aforementioned process of learning and acquisition of skills.

Field trips will be conducted in accordance with the official Field Trip Protocol established by the Faculty. Students will be provided with specific safety documentation related to off-campus activities organized by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). It is the responsibility of each student to review and acknowledge this documentation prior to participating in any field activity.

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
Class activity and case studies 10 0 0 CM22, CM23, KM36
Class activity and individual case studies 20 0 0 CM22, CM23, KM36
Fieldwork report 10 0 0 CM22, CM23, KM36
Term paper 20 0 0 CM22, CM23, KM36
Test 40 1.5 0.06 KM36 

The evaluation of the subject will be based on the continuous evaluation of the process of acquiring knowledge and skills by the student and will consist of:
										
											
										
											a. Final exam (40% grade)
										
											
										
											b. Field work report (10%)
										
											
										
											c. Attendance in class, discussion and participation in the tasks proposed in class (10%)
										
											
										
											d.  Preparation of research project and presentation in class (20%)
										
											
										
											e. Completion of mandatory practical exercises. These must be done individually and during class time. The exercises entail the delivery of a document for evaluation (20%).
										
											
										
											 
										
											
										
											The final exam must be passed in order to have the right to have the rest of the qualifications considered.
										
											
										
											Field trip is mandatory.

Exam Scheduling and Assignment Submission:

Exam dates and assignment deadlines will be communicated to students well in advance and cannot be modified individually (except in exceptional and duly justified cases). Erasmus students requesting to take an exam early must present a written document from their home university justifying the request.

The resit exam date will be set by the Faculty of Philosophy and Arts and cannot be changed.

Grade Review:

At the time of each evaluative activity, the teaching staff will inform students (via Moodle) of the procedure and date for grade review.

Resit:

To be eligible for a resit, students must have been previously assessed in a set of activities that account for at least two-thirds of the total grade.

Any evaluative activity involving irregularities is not eligible for resit.

Non-Assessable Students:

Students will receive a “non-assessable” grade if they have submitted less than 30% of the evaluative activities. If an evaluative activity is not completed, the grade for that activity will be 0, it will not be eligible for resit, and it will be included in the weighted average.

Plagiarism or Fraudulent Conduct:

If a student commits any irregularity that may significantly affect the grade of an evaluative activity, that activity will be graded with a 0, regardless of any disciplinary proceedings that may follow. If multiple irregularities occur in the same course, the final grade for that course will be 0.

“Copying” is defined as a work that reproduces all or most of another student’s work. “Plagiarism” is presenting all or part of a text by another author as one’s own, without citing sources, whether in print or digital format. See UAB documentation on plagiarism: http://wuster.uab.es/web_argumenta_obert/unit_20/sot_2_01.html

Use of AI:

In this subject, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted as an integral part of the development of the work, provided that the final result reflects a significant contribution of the student in the analysis and personal reflection. The student must clearly identify which parts have been generated with this technology, specify the tools used and the inclusion of critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and the final result of the activity. The lack of transparency in the use of AI will be considered a lack of academic honesty and may lead to a penalty in the grade of the activity, or greater sanctions in serious cases.

Single Assessment:

This course does not offer a single assessment option.


Bibliography

Additional bibliography will be added during the course.
										
											
										
											Optional bibliography:

ALBURQUERQUE, Francisco (2013) "Economía del Desarrollo y Desarrollo Territorial" http://www.delalburquerque.es/images/subidas/E%20Desarrollo%20y%20Desarrollo%20Territorial%203.0.pdf

BLAKELY Eduard J. and BRADSHAW, Ted K. (2003) Planning Local Economic Development. London: Sage Publications.

CASELLAS, Antònia (2018) "Nous Reptes, Reflexions i Propostes per un Desenvolupament Local Sostenible" Col.lecció Eines. Elements d'Innovació i Estratègia. Diputació de Barcelona. 21p. https://www1.diba.cat/llibreria/pdf/60118.pdf

CASELLAS, Antònia (2014) " Desenvolupament local i territori. Del creixement indiscriminat a la viabilitat social i econòmica" Diputació de Barcelona. Area de Desenvolupament Econòmic Ocupació.  http://www1.diba.cat/llibreria/pdf/54052.pdf

CASELLAS, A. (2010). La geografía crítica y el discurso de la sostenibilidad: perspectivas y acciones. DAG 56/3, 575-583.

ESTELA, Oriol (2020) Repensar las agencias de desarrollo económico local en la crisis de la covid-19. Asamblea general de Redel.

GIBSON-GRAHAM Julie Katherine, CAMERON, Jenny and HEALY, Stephan (2017) Retomenos la economia. Una guia ética para transformar nuestras comunidades. Bogotá: Editorial Pontificia Universidad Javeriana

GIBSON-GRAHAM Julie Katherine and ROELVINK, Gerda (2010) "An Economic Ethics for the Anthropocene". Antipode, 41(s1), p. 320-346.

POLI, Corrado (2010) "Sustainable Development: from Fallacy to Fraud", Human Geography. A new Radical Journal, Vol. 3 ,2, p. 63-82.

Others:

  1. Pallares-Barbera, M. & Salom-Carrasco, J., 2022. RETOS GLOBALES: EL DESARROLLO LOCAL. In GEOGRAFÍA ECONÓMICA. Fundamentos, agentes y procesos. Valencia (Spain). Valencia (Spain): Tirant Humanidades, pp. 463-476.
  2. Alonso Logroño, P., et al., 2022. GEOGRAFÍA ECONÓMICA. Fundamentos, agentes y procesos, Valencia (Spain): Tirant Humanidades.
  3. Pallares-Barbera, M. & Sánchez-Hernández, J.L., 2022. Nuevas fronteras en el espacio económico. Economía social y economías alternativas. New frontiers in economic space. Social economy and alternative economies. Documents d’Anàlisi Geogràfica, 68 (3) , pp. 505-518.
  4. Dot, E. & Pallares-Barbera, M., 2017. The economic reactivation of the surroundings of Can Batlló (Barcelona) based on the social economy. La reactivación económica del entorno de Can Batlló (Barcelona) a partir de la economía social. https://doi.org/10.15366/ntc.2017. XXV Congreso de la Asociación de Geógrafos Españoles, 1, pp. 1035-1044. 
  5. Pallares-Barbera, M. & Jutgla, E.D., 2017. Urban transitions: Replacing traditional work practices in traditional workspaces . In Urban Studies Foundation Seminar Series: Reconceptualising Urban Landscapes of Work. 20-21 April. University of Portsmouth.
  6. Dot, E. & Pallares-Barbera, M., 2016. Espacios económicos emergentes en Barcelona a partir de la economía social. El Poblenou y Sants, 2008-2015. VII Jornadas de Geografía Económica, 6-8 de Julio. Asociación de Geógrafos Españoles, Grupo de Geografía Económica, 1, pp. 57-63.
  7. Dot, E. & Pallares-Barbera, M., 2016. Espacios económicos emergentes en Barcelona a partir de la economía social. El Poblenou y Sants, 2008-2015. In VII Jornadas del Grupo de Trabajo de Geografía Económica. Asociación de Geógrafos Españoles. Universidad de Santiago de Compostela. Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, pp. 1-6.
  8. Dot-Jutglà, E. & Pallares-Barbera, M., 2015. Patrimonio industrial, revitalización económica y compacidad urbana en el Poblenou22@Barcelona ¿un nuevo modelo Barcelona?. Boletín de la Asociación de Geógrafos Españoles, 69, pp. 9-35.
  9. Pallares-Barbera, M. & Vera, A., 2015. El Berguedà un medi innovador resilient: passat, present i futur. Revista Erol, Depósito legal: B-17569-1982, ISSN: 02 12-445, 125, pp. 32-35.
  10. Pallares-Barbera, M., 2010. How to change in difficult times? Advantages and disadvantages in the competitive Barcelona and symbolic economy (Com canviar quan els canvis són difícils? Avantatges i desavantatges de la Barcelona competitiva des de l’economia simbòlica). Treballs de la Societat Catalana de Geografia, 69, pp. 229-245. 
  11. Tulla, A., Pallares-Barbera, M. & Vera, A., 2009. Naturbanization and Local Development in the mountain areas of the Catalan Pyrenees. In Naturbanization. New identities and processes for rural-natural areas. Leiden, Netherlands: 265. Leiden, Netherlands: 265: Taylor & Francis Group, Publishers, pp. 75-92. 
  12. Pallares-Barbera, M., et al., 2007. ACTIVIDADES ECONÓMICAS Y NATURBANIZACIÓN EN EL ENTORNO DE LOS PARQUES NATURALES DEL “CADÍ– MOIXERÓ” Y DEL “ALT PIRINEU” (PIRINEO CATALÁN). In Espacios Naturales protegidos / Les espaces naturels protégés. Baeza (Seville). Baeza (Seville): Asociación de Geógrafos Españoles, pp. 543.
  13. Pallares-Barbera, M., Tulla, A.F. & Vera, A., 2004. Spatial loyalty and territorial embeddedness in the multi-sector clustering of the Berguedà region in Catalonia (Spain). Geoforum, 35 (5), pp. 635-649.
  14. Pallares-Barbera, M., 2004. Innovation, networks and flows in the study of the territory (Innovación, redes y flujos en el estudio del territorio). Treballs de la Societat Catalana de Geografia, 57, pp. 159-180.
  15. Tulla, A., Vera, A. & Pallares-Barbera, M., 2003. Local development, socioeconomic and natural externalities in mountain areas. ISBN: 80-86377-09-1. In Regional Geography and its applications. Brno (Txeck Republic). Brno (Txeck Republic): Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. Institute of Geonics, pp. 178-185.
  16. Pallares-Barbera, M. & Vera, A., 2001. Economic spaces and industrial innovative milieus in the region of Berguedà (Spain) (Espais econòmics i milieus innovatius industrials a la comarca del Berguedà). Documents d’Anàlisi Geogràfica , 38 , pp. 33-53. 
  17. Pallares-Barbera, M., et al., 2000. Industrial embeddedness and innovative milieu in the Berguedà County (Spain). (Incrustación industrial y medio innovador en la comarca del Berguedà). In Innovación, pequeña empresa y desarrollo local en España. Madrid. Madrid: Civitas, pp. 195-210.

 


Software

none


Groups and Languages

Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(PCAM) Field practices 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(PCAM) Field practices 2 Catalan second semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed