Announcements

  1. (Feb 12) Course page is online.
  2. Important change: Attendance will be taken every class.
  3. No Class on March 5.
  4. User name for the access of lecture notes: economics
  5. Midterm Exam I : April 3 Friday, 15:00-16:45 at D7. Coverage: Chapter 1 - 5. Bring calculator. Dictionary allowed. Cell phone NOT allowed.
  6. Midterm Exam Result posted. (Apr.8)
  7. Slides for Ch.6,8 and 10 uploaded. (May 13)
  8. Final Exam: May 20 (Wed) 15:00-16:45, D11. Coverage: Chapters 1, 6, 8 10
  9. Final Exam Result posted. (May 20)

Personnel

Instructor: Shihomi Ara-Aksoy
(Office: İİBF, İktisat Bölümü, Email: )

Course Information

Schedule: Thursdays 9:00-11:45, D2
Office hours: Mondays and Tuesdays 16:00-17:00, Or By Appointment
Course description: This course introduces the economics of agglomeration, urban spatial structure and housing market.  The interaction among individuals’ utility maximization, firms’ profit maximization and local government’s housing/land use policies and regulations are considered. We also analyze the urban transportation system and explore urban problems such as urban poverty, crime, and environment.
Course objective
The objective of this course is to introduce theoretical tools in the economics of urban cities, transportation, housing and the role of local government as well as the cases in Turkey and other countries. Students are expected to thoroughly understand the urban economic theory, develop a capacity to analyze contemporary urban problems, and apply the theory to assess the policy options. 

Prerequisites:
Fundamental Microeconomics knowledge

Texts

Course Syllabus

Lecture Schedule

Chapters

Contents

Introduction

[ppt]

(Feb 12)
Topics:
  • Introduction
  • What is Urban Economics?
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 1

Development of Cities (1)

[ppt]

(Feb 19)
Topics:
  • Why Do Cities Exist?
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 2

Development of Cities (2)

[ppt]

(Feb 26)
Topics:
  • Why Do Firms Cluster?
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 3

Development of Cities (3)

This week's class is cancelled.

(Mar.5)
Topics:
  • City Size
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 4

Development of Cities (4)

[ppt]

(Mar. 12)
Topics:
  • Urban Growth
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 5

Land Rent and Land Use Patterns (1)

[ppt]

(Mar 19)
Topics:
  • Urban Land Rent
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 6

Land Rent and Land Use Patterns (2)

 

(Mar 26)
Topics:
  • Land Use Patterns
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 7

EXAM

(TBA)
MIDTERM EXAM
Result
Slides covered after Midterm Exam [Chapter 6, Chapter 8, Chapter 10]

Land Rent and Land Use Patterns (3)

 

(Apr.9)
Topics:
  • Neighborhood Choice
  • Zoning and Growth Control
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 8 and 9

Urban Transportation (1)

 

(Apr.16)
Topics:
  • Externalities from Autos
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 10
(Apr 23) Holiday, No Class

Urban Transportation (2)

 

(Apr 30)
Topics:
  • Mass Transit
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 11

Urban Crime

 

(May 7)
Topics:
  • Crime
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 12

Local Government

 

(May 14)
Topics:
  • The Role of Local Government
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 15

Final Exam

(TBA)
Final Exam:  Result

Exams

Grading Policy

Attendance:10%
Midterm Exam:40%
Final Exam50%

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