OAFP 4410 -

The first part of the course is devoted to the economic intuition about the determinants of countries' urban structure. This will typically answer the following questions:

Why do cities exist? Why do we observe an uneven spatial distribution of land and goods prices within and between cities? Why do cities of different size co-exist within integrated economic areas? What is the impact of the mobility of people and goods on spatial concentration? What is the role of local public policies regarding for instance transport or land use regulation on spatial disparities?

The second part of the course moves to the empirical studies that evaluate the gains and costs from agglomeration, and the balance between the two. A special emphasis is put on the spatial determinants of wages, income, and land/housing prices. The course illustrates the use of individual data available over many years to properly identify the mechanisms at work. If time allows for it, the empirical evaluation of place-based policies will be presented too.

Basic microeconomics and basic econometrics

Standard academic lectures.

Slides (500+) circulated to the students before the lectures.

2-hour exam (50%) after 2/3 of the course (mid-Novembre) on a one-page newspaper article to summarise, relate to the course, and discuss.

Home exam (50%) (over a 4-week period) to be chosen among:

Report or book chapter to summarise, relate to the course, and discuss.

Four non technical 1-page essays to write, each summarising urban economics conclusions on a general question.

6 questions proposed, 4 to be chosen among them.

Weekly re-reading of the slides, questions to prepare for the following lecture if any.