ECONOMICS
ECON 155
FALL 2016; MoWeFr 3:00-4:59
Instructor: Joseph W.H. Lough
CNN: 14273
Units/Credits: 3
Course Location: LECONTE 4
email: joseph.lough@gmail.com
Office phone: 510-219-6569
Office Hours: MW 10-12 EVANS 673
Course Description
Urban economics invites students to critically evaluate the changing shape of the urban landscape using
the tools of economics. Students will explore the formation and expanding role cities have come to play
in trade, finance, and manufacturing; how land-use and zoning in cities have changed over time;
potential conflicts between public and private uses of the cityscape; and some of the challenges facing
citizens and policy makers as they seek to navigate this increasingly volatile landscape.
Learning Goals
As part of Berkeley's Undergraduate Student Learning Initiative (USLI), the Economics Department has
developed learning goals for the Economics major. (See
http://econ.berkeley.edu/undergrad/home/learning-goals.) The specific learning goals that this course
aims to achieve are:
1. To facilitate critical thinking by showing students how to understand urban economics; use
economic theory and modeling to understand and evaluate the decisions, institutions, and
processes shaping that changing urban landscape.
2. To cultivate problem-solving skills to recognize institutional, historical, and social forces that
help account for the peculiar social, economic, political and institutional conditions that prevail
in the city.
3. To cultivate communication skills by helping students communicate clearly and effectively about
urban economics.
4. To help students develop lifelong learning skills working with primary data and narrative sources
to read intelligently, reflect intelligibly, write about urban economics.
This Syllabus
While students may rely upon this syllabus for all readings and assignments, they should also be aware
that unforeseen contingencies may require that we alter the syllabus from time to time. Students are
therefore encouraged to log onto and consult the syllabus on bCourses at regular intervals (at least
three times weekly).
Course Materials
The following books are available for purchase at the usual outlets. Outside of these required texts, this
is a paperless course.
Required Texts
MIDTERM
PART IV: REGULATING THE CITY
WEEK SEVEN: CRIMINALIZING THE CITY
Date
Title
October 17
The Classical
Approach
October 19
The Neoclassical
Approach
October 21
Mass Incarceration
WEEK NINE: THE DE/RE-REGULATED CITY
Date
Title
Assignment (completed by date)
October 24
Terror Cities
Required Reading: M Coleman Geopolitics of Engagement:
Neoliberalism and the War on Terror (bCourses);
PRESENTATION 22
October 26
Working Cities
Required Reading: J Macleavy, Workfare-Warfare
(bCourses); PRESENTATION 23
November 2
November 4
Violence and
Immigration
Race and Migration
WEEK ELEVEN: (UN)SUSTAINABLE CITIES
Date
Title
Assignment (completed by date)
November 7
Green Transition
Required Reading: C Topi, The Economics of Green
Transition Strategies for Cities (bCourses); PRESENTATION
28
November 9
How to Value Health
Required Reading: K Wolf, Metro, Nature, Environmental
Health and Economic Value (bCourses) PRESENTATION 29
November 11
ACADEMIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE HOLIDAY
LAST DAY STUDENTS CAN PRESENT THEIR PAPER TOPICS TO
ME DURING OFFICE HOURS NOVEMBER 15
WEEK TWELVE: (UN)SUSTAINABLE CITIES
Date
Title
Assignment (completed by date)
November 14 Urban Blight
Required Reading: R Weaver, Reframing the urban blight
problem with transdisciplinary insights (bCourses);
PRESENTATION 30
November 16 Green Governance
Required Reading: J Puppim de Oliveira, Green economy
and governance in Cities (bCourses); PRESENTATION 31
November 18 Community
Required Reading: D Okubo, Local Governments and the
Sustainability
Economics of Community Sustainability, PRESENTATION
32
STUDENT FINAL PAPER BIBLIOGRAPHIES DUE (AT LEAST
FIVE SOURCES)
WEEK THIRTEEN: (UN)SUSTAINABLE CITIES
Date
Title