The Urban and Regional Economy

Description

This module examines the spatial economic underpinnings of the behaviour of urban and regional economies.

Highlighting the differences and connections between the two types of economy, it explores a diverse range of basic analytical techniques, as well as the most current, state-of-the-art thinking in the field of local economic development, policy, and planning strategy.

The course is divided into two teaching “blocks”, each of 10 weeks and runs over two terms.


Cities and the Urban Economy

This block examines various aspects of spatial economic analysis, explaining why groups of firms and activities are often located together in cities, urban agglomerations, and industrial clusters.

It highlights increased competition between Europe’s cities for mobile investment through the development of public - private partnerships, property development, urban regeneration and place marketing strategies.

This block of lectures also considers the broader historical themes relating to the changing context in which cities and regions nowadays find themselves.


Local and Regional Development

This block explores the key urban and regional economic development theories and discusses their implications for modern economic policy analysis.

It considers the theoretical ways we can understand the location behaviour of individual firms, how the linkages between firms and activities in a local area affect the overall output of an area, and also discusses the various approaches we have to analyse regional growth and decline.

This block of lectures then integrates the arguments in each of the previous lectures in order to explain in detail the nature of – and the justification for – urban and regional economic policy in the context of modern globalisation.

Delivery

  • Lectures: 40 hrs

Assessment

  • 2,500-word essay (50%)
  • Two-hour essay style examination (50%)