ECON 521(S) Urbanization and Development (Same as Economics 388 and Environmental Studies 388)
At current rates of growth, the combined population of urban areas in developing countries will double in the next 30 years. The land area devoted to urban use is expected to double even more quickly. The costs of providing housing and infrastructure to accommodate this growth are enormous, but the costs of failing to accommodate urban development may be even larger. The decisions made in response to these challenges will affect the economic performance of these countries and the health and welfare of the urban residents. By affecting global patterns of energy use, these decisions will have broader impacts on the entire planet. This course will focus on these challenges. What are the economic forces that drive the process of urbanization, and how does the level of urbanization affect economic development? How are policies towards housing, transportation, public finance and development affected by urbanization? What policy choices are available, and which are most likely to succeed in dealing with the challenges of urban growth?
Format: lecture/discussion. Requirements: a midterm and a final exam, plus a paper that evaluates specific problems, policy alternatives, and provides some analysis of relevant data.
Prerequisites: Economics 251 plus 253, 255, 510 or 511. Expected enrollment: 20. Undergraduate enrollment limited and requires instructor's permission.
Hour: S. SHEPPARD