121-006 Urban Economic Geography

Completion of 25 points of first year geography and environmental studies, economics or urban planning.

This subject examines how cities work and provides the tools with which to identify the characteristics of cities. It seeks first to explain the functions performed by cities, how cities work as economic units and how they grow and decline. It seeks secondly to examine the way in which the functions of cities are located in different parts of the city, the key economic sectors in cities and the rules of their location. The subject examines the interaction between industries, labour markets and urban forms and considers the interplay between local, national and global influences on the growth trajectories of cities and regions. The implications for local development strategies and social inequality are considered. The subject introduces students to the information sources that are used in urban analysis, to the principal indicators of urban social and economic well-being and to the tools that are used to analyse cities.

• be able to think critically (for example, about development projects, social concepts);

• be capable of obtain information to evaluate propositions (about urban planning and economic geography);

• be capable of write coherent and researched essays;

• be capable of work in teams (to identify answers to practical problems);

• be capable of apply knowledge (about given examples) to new cases.

An essay of 2000 words 40%, practical work 20% and a 2-hour examination 40%. The examination must be passed in order for the subject to be passed. Students are required to complete and obtain a passing mark on all practical work set in class, this is a hurdle requirement.

Much of the detailed reading for practical classes will be derived from fugitive (unpublished) material produced by local municipalities; other material will be drawn from the web.