The field of urban economics introduces space into economic models and studies the location of economic activity. Urban economics typically addresses three sets of questions, and this course is organized around these three areas. The first set of questions focuses on the development of urban areas. Why do cities exist and why do some grow more rapidly? How can local governments encourage such growth, and if so, how? The second set of questions addresses patterns of development within metropolitan areas. Why do certain parts of metropolitan areas grow more rapidly than others? How do firms and households decide where to locate within given metropolitan areas? What determines the price of land, and how do these prices vary across space? The third set of questions concerns the economics and spatial dimensions of urban problems. In this class, we will focus on poverty, racial segregation, and suburban sprawl.
