College of Urban Affairs Cleveland State University URBAN
SPATIAL SYSTEMS UST
301 Spring Semester 2001 Course Description: This course is an introduction
to the way in which market forces allocate the use of space in cities
and regions and the economic development of regional economies.
It also provides instruction and understanding of a few basic techniques
of urban spatial economic analysis. The course has three components:
instructor-based lectures, guest-based lectures, and readings. Courses
similar to this one are taught under a variety of names in planning,
public policy, and urban studies programs. The most common names
are Urban and Regional Economics as well as Urban and Regional Geography.
In all cases the course is firmly rooted in an introductory knowledge
of microeconomics. The structure of urban space—land uses—and the
way regional economies use that space is fundamentally an economic
process of distribution and competition that is directed by both
market and politically driven investments. These investments are
overlaid on the history of the built and natural environments. The
various markets that compose the urban system are all related to
the three factors of production: land, labor and capital. In the
case of metropolitan areas the fundamental markets are the local
labor market, the housing market (that sits at the intersection
of the market for urban land and international capital markets),
and product markets. In short, this course takes an unabashedly
economic view of the world and stresses regional and local economic
development. At the same time we realize that not all of
the world is economically determined, and that community is a social
construct that moderates the economic world and is in itself a major
component of social capital. One powerful expression of spatial
community is neighborhood, but we are also associated with aspatial
communities—such as professional organizations—and communities that
have a spatial component—formal politics or church membership are
two good examples. We will also spend time Prerequisites: There are no formal prerequisites
to the course. It is expected that you have access to, and a working
knowledge of, word-processing and spreadsheet computer programs.
Students are expected to know how to calculate percentages, percent
change, understand the concept of a line—including slope, and be
comfortable with the calculation and interpretation of means, medians,
modes, standard deviations, and correlation analysis. Course Objectives:
The most important objective of this course is to think in a systematic
manner about how land is used in cities and regions, and to understand
how market forces influence land use (and reuse) and the development
of the economy. We are also concerned with the ways in which public
policy can interact with market forces to influence spatial development.
We also discuss how neighborhoods—the social sites of urban settlements,
residential areas, and communities, relate to the productive portions
of those same areas. There are a series of secondary objectives for
the course: (1)
to
learn specific theories of land use and economic development, (2)
to
master economic base analysis, and (3)
to
think about space and cities from an economic worldview. Texts: The text will be accompanied
by a number of articles. John P. Blair, Local Economic Development (Sage:
1995). Attendance and
Guest Lecturers: Attendance is expected but no roll is taken. Class sessions may start
out with a guest lecturer who is an expert in a specific area of
regional or local development. Information presented during these
sessions will be used on both the mid-term and final examinations.
While I will be taking notes too, should you miss class you will
need to obtain the information from classmates. Examination material
will be drawn from the lectures as well as from the course readings,
however, copies of the lecture notes will not be provided. Absences
from examinations must be reported in advance. As a rule make-up
examinations will not be scheduled. Class participation:
Class participation does count and it is judged by quality as well
as quantity. If a student’s grade is on the border between two letter
grades, “participation” will be used as a tie-breaker. Please note: the policies posted on the
CSU website for the last day to drop the course. Grades: Midterm examination: 35 points Final examination: 35 points Paper: 30 pointsIncompletes are not normally given. Paper: Each student will produce
a ten (10) page paper on an issue relevant to the economy of the
Cleveland region. This would appear to be an interesting year in
Cleveland. A troubled steel industry, declining retail in the downtown
area, medical services losing money as well as a general macro economic
slow down all make for interesting research. This will be an opinion
paper that will empirically support a position relative to a contemporary
issue. It is expected that the paper will be a reasoned opinion
that is based in fact and supported by research. The paper must
be word-processed, with reasonable and normal margins and spacing.
I would like to discuss the progress of your paper and your topic
as the semester progresses, but the responsibility for contact on
these issues resides with you. It is possible to do a group project
(including presentations) if you choose, but the expectations will
be increased and the same grade will be assigned to each member,
regardless of participation or contribution. Readings: As the semester progresses,
additional outside supporting and timely readings may be assigned.
These readings will provided at the beginning of each class and
will either be on the shelf or on reserve in the library. Unless there are both extenuating circumstances
and you have received written permission to turn in the paper in
late, the grade will be reduced by 5% for each class-day that the
assignment is late. The date the paper is due will be determined
and discussed in class. As a rule incompletes are not given. In
no case will an incomplete be extended beyond the first class-day
of the following quarter. In all cases taking an incomplete requires
prior permission. Please note:
ALL work
should be turned in with only the student number as the identifier.
Please do not put names on exams, papers or assignments; doing so
will result in a deduction in points. I. Introduction Chapter
1: Economic development and market logic Chapter
2: Three fundamental and recurring issues II. The Core of Urban Development Chapter
3: Business location, expansion, and retention Chapter
4: Market area and economic development strategies III. Growth and Externalities Chapter
5: Understanding economic structure Chapter
6: Regional growth and development Chapter
7: Additional tools and perspectives on economic growth IV. The Theories of Comparative and Competitive
Advantage On Reserve: Bogart Chapter 5: Intermetropolitan trade
Chapter 6: Factor abundance and specialization*
Chapter 7: Agglomeration and metropolitan growth* V. Questions in Professional Practice Chapter
8: Issues in economic development practice VI. Land Use and Housing Chapter
10: Land use Chapter
11: Housing and neighborhood development VII. From Region to Neighborhood and Local Economic
Development Handouts
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