ECON 452T(F) Economics of Community Development

This course focuses attention on the economic issues that arise in understanding community development. Students will address such questions as: why do some cities grow, while others lose population? Why are some communities successful in attracting new firms and getting existing ones to expand? Why are some communities regarded as offering better `quality of life' than others? Why do employees of local governments join unions in higher proportions than any other sector of the economy? How do decisions made in local governments affect the overall economy, and how does the economy and competition between communities affect local decisions? Thinking about such questions helps to develop skills in economic analysis and understanding of communities, the challenges they confront, and how to improve them. Students will be expected to read, discuss, and synthesize a variety of analytic approaches into their own analysis of particular community development questions. Students will be expected to work with and analyze data and to present the results of their analysis.
Format: tutorial. Requirements: students will meet with the instructor in pairs for an hour each week; they will write a paper every other week, and comment on their partner's papers every other week.
Prerequisites: Economics 251 and Economics 253 or 255 or the equivalent. Enrollment limit: 10 (expected:10). Preference will be given to senior Economics majors.

Tutorial meetings to be arranged. S. SHEPPARD