Announcements

  1. Course page is online. (Mar. 5)
  2. Class Room Change: The Class will meet at DK8, starting from Mar.7th. (Mar.5)
  3. Practice Questions and Answers for Chapter 2 posted.
  4. Practice Questions and Answers for Chapter 3 posted.
  5. Practice Questions and Answers for Chapter 4 posted.
  6. Practice Questions and Answers for Chapter 5 posted.
  7. Practice Questions and Answers for Chapter 6 posted. (Mar.28)
  8. Bookstores where you can purchase the textbook.
  9. Midterm Exam: April 12 (Tue) 15:40 - 17:10, at D11. Coverage: Ch1 - 6. Bring a calculator.
  10. April 4th class has been cancelled. (Apr.3)
  11. Midterm Exam Result posted. (May 8)
  12. Final Exam: June 6th 15:00-16:45 at D11. Coverage: Ch.8-12, 15. Bring a calculator.
  13. Practice Questions and Answers for Chapter 15 posted. (May 22)
  14. Practice Questions for Chapters 8 - 12 posted. (May 29)
  15. Practice Answers for Chapter 8 - 12 posted. (May 31)

Personnel

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

Course Information

Schedule: Mondays 9:00-11:45, DK8
Office hours: By Appointment
E-mail the instructor to set up the time.
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

[pdf]

(Feb.21)
Topics:
  • Introduction
  • What is Urban Economics?
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 1

Development of Cities (1)

[pdf]

(Feb 28)
Topics:
  • Why Do Cities Exist?
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 2

Development of Cities (2)

[pdf] 

 

(Mar. 7)
Topics:
  • Why Do Firms Cluster?
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 3

Development of Cities (3)

[pdf]

 

(Mar.14)
Topics:
  • City Size
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 4

Development of Cities (4)

[pdf]

(Mar. 21)
Topics:
  • Urban Growth
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 5

Land Rent and Land Use Patterns (1)

[pdf]

(Mar 28)
Topics:
  • Urban Land Rent
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 6

Land Rent and Land Use Patterns (2)

[CANCELLED]

(Apr. 4)
Topics:
  • Land Use Patterns
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 7

EXAM

(TBA)
MIDTERM EXAM

Land Rent and Land Use Patterns (3)

[pdf]

(Apr.18)
Topics:
  • Neighborhood Choice
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 8

Urban Transportation (1)

[pdf]

(Apr.25)
Topics:
  • Zoning and Growth Control
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 9
(May 2) [pdf]
Topics:
  • Externalities from Autos
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 10

Urban Transportation (2)

[pdf]

(May 9)
Topics:
  • Mass Transit
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 11

Urban Crime

[pdf]

(May 16)
Topics:
  • Crime
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 12

Local Government

[pdf]

(May 23)
Topics:
  • The Role of Local Government
Readings:
  • AS Chapter 15

Final Exam

(TBA)
Final Exam: 

Exams

Grading Policy

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

Related Links