ECON BC3063 (02) Senior Seminar: Spatial Analysis in Urban Economics

Instructor: Randall Reback, Fall 2005

This seminar surveys topics in urban economics, with a particular emphasis on spatial relationships. Each week, we will discuss a set of readings that focus on the spatial aspects of a topic in urban economics. These topics include land use, transportation, job decentralization, ghettos and segregation, public housing, crime, school enrollment, and interregional tax competition.

During the beginning of the course, each student will choose to specialize in one of these topics. This student is then responsible for completing additional readings concerning the topic, giving a presentation of the readings and facilitating class discussion during the week in which the topic is discussed, and completing a research project in which the student investigates an issue related to this topic currently relevant to urban policy in New York City. The final two weeks of the class will consist of short presentations of students' New York City research projects.

Grading: 20% Class Participation, 20% Presentation/Facilitating Class Discussion, 60% Research Project

Prerequisites: All courses for the major except the senior requirement