This is an advanced class considering the economic forces that govern the geographic distribution of economic activity and its implications for economic outcomes and public policy issues. The course is divided into two parts. In the first part, we will develop a simple theory of cities as the result of the interaction between agglomeration and congestion forces. We will proceed to study in detail the agglomeration forces that attract firms, consumers, and workers to cities, as well as the congestion forces that limit the size of cities and how to overcome them through transportation networks and housing markets. The second part of the course extends the basic model to study a system of many locations, the dynamics of city growth and decline, and to conclude, the role of cities and geography for climate change.
Clara SANTAMARIA
Cours magistral seul
English
Spring 2023-2024
Class participation. (10%)
Group empirical analysis. (40%)
In-class essay. (50%)