ECON 201T Cities (Same as Environmental Studies 207T) (Not offered 1998-99)

In some ways all cities are alike; in some ways every one is different. Economics can help one understand both the common features and the differences. Topics may include the following: Examples of the diversity of economic bases that generate employment, including heavy and light industry, "high tech," defense, tourism and amenities, government, and finance; racial and class segregation, land markets and transportation links, and how they shape patterns of land use, rents, density, building height, and household income; dependence and competition between downtowns and suburbs; "edge cities;" problems of declining small cities and towns and the "WalMart Problem." One or more of the short papers that each student writes may apply the principles of the course to a particular city of his/her choice. Each student will meet with the instructor and one other student on a weekly basis. Students will be expected to prepare a 7-page paper every other week and act as a discussant/critiquer for the other student's paper on the "off" weeks. The tutorial will meet a few times as a whole. Students' grades will be based on their contributions to the tutorial and the quality of their papers. Prerequisite: Economics 101.

R. BOLTON