Announcements

  1. Course Page is Online. (Feb. 15)
  2. Lecture Note for Feb.16 posted.
  3. Term Paper Guideline posted.
  4. Lecture Note for Feb. 23 posted. (Feb.24)
  5. Lecture Note for Mar.2 posted. (Mar.3)
  6. Lecture Note for Mar.9 posted. (Mar.8)
  7. Lecture Note for Mar.16 posted. (Mar.17)
  8. Lecture Note for Mar.23 posted. (Mar.23)
  9. Answers to the end of Chapter Exercise Questions posted. (Mar.25)
  10. Lecture Note for Mar.30 posted. (Mar.30)
  11. Thursday class will start on 22 April at 13:00. The classroom is D9. There is no class on 20 April.
  12. Midterm Exam Result posted. (April 26)
  13. Term Paper Due Date is May 14 Friday at 5PM. Submit by e-mail.
  14. Please check the list of students to confirm your term paper submission. (May 14)

Personnel

Instructor: Shihomi Ara-Aksoy
(mail: )

Course Information

Schedule: Tuesdays 9:00-11:45, D11

Office hours: Mondays and Tuesdays 13:00-14:00, Or By Appointment

Course description: This course is composed of two parts. In the first half of this course, the economics of agglomeration and urban spatial structure will be introduced.  We observe how the individuals’ utility maximization and firms’ profit maximization determine the urban land use pattern. We also analyze the urban transportation system and explore the externality problems from urban traffic. In the second half of this course, regional development policies and the cases in Turkey and EU will be introduced. The regional differences in social and economic development in Turkey and the political measures to reduce the gaps will be discussed.
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

Term Paper Guideline

Lecture Schedule

Chapters

Contents

Introduction

[pdf]

(Feb 16)

Topics:
  • Introduction
  • What is Urban Economics?
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 1

Development of Cities (1)

[pdf]

(Feb 23)

Topics:
  • Why Do Cities Exist?
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 2

Model Answers CH2

Development of Cities (2)

[pdf]

(Mar.2)

Topics:
  • Why Do Firms Cluster?
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 3

Model Answers CH3

Development of Cities (3)

[pdf]

(Mar.9)

Topics:
  • City Size
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 4

Model Answers CH4

Development of Cities (4)

[pdf]

(Mar. 16)

Topics:
  • Urban Growth
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 5

Model Answers CH5

Land Rent and Land Use Patterns

[pdf]

(Mar. 23)

Topics:
  • Urban Land Rent
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 6

Model Answers CH6

Neighborhood Choice

[pdf]

(Mar. 30)

Topics:
  • Neighborhood Choice
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 8

Model Answers CH8

* Term Paper Topic Submission Due Date

EXAM

(TBA)

MIDTERM EXAM :  Result

Urban Transportation

 

(Apr.13)

Topics:
  • Externalities from Autos
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 10

 

 

(Apr.22*)

Topics:
  • Bölgelerarası Gelişmişlik Farklarını Azaltıcı Politikalar ve Araçlar
Readings:
  • Dinler
(Apr 29*)
Topics:
  • Türkiye'de bölgelerarası sosyal ve ekonomik gelişmişlik farkları
Readings:
  • Dinler

 

 

(May 6*)

Topics:
  • Türkiye'de bölgelerarası gelişmişlik farklarını azaltmaya yönelik araçlar
Readings:
  • Dinler

 

 

(May 13*)

Topics:
  • Yeni sanayi odakları ve Anadolu Kaplanları
Readings:
  • Dinler
May 14 (Friday) Term Paper Submission Due Date

 

 

(May 20*)

Topics:
  • Avrupa Birliği Bölgesel Politikaları
Readings:
  • Dinler

Final Exam

(TBA)

Final Exam: 

Exams

Grading Policy

Midterm Exam40%
Term Paper30%
Final Exam30%

Related Links