Introduction to Urban Economic Theories

Outcomes

A brief Introduction to economic theories - both city and slum economies

(Urban Economics wil be developed more comprehensively in TUL550 Community Economics).

Presentations

Students will present one of the following to the rest of the class:

  • 2 circuits theory (Santos)
  • Import replacement theory (Jacobs)
  • Equality of cities theory (Jacobs)
  • Just urbanization gradient theory (Grigg)
  • Cost of Excessive Bureaucracy (de Soto)

Readings

de Soto, Hernando. (1989). The Costs and Importance of Law. In The Other Path. pp 131-187. (Scan)
or Jacobs, Jane. (1984). Cities and the Wealth of Nations. The Atlantic Monthly (Mar/Apr 1984).
Or Martin, David. (1990). Protestantism and Economic Culture. In Tongues of Fire, pp 205-232 (Scan)
Or browse Santos, Milton. (1979). The Shared Space

Grigg, Viv. (2004). A Just Urbanization Gradient. In Cry of the Urban Poor. chap 6.

Projects

Proj 4.6: Talk with a shopkeeper or poor business person about the steps they have to take to become a legal business and the length of time. Compare that with the process in Lima, Peru. (1 page)

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