URBG 78718 - Political Economy of the City

The course will explore the framework in which urban policy and development occurs in US
urban areas. We will explore the ‘anatomy’ of the city, that is, to what extent is the physical
shape of the city influenced by the interaction between the public and private sectors. Cities, of course, are embedded in larger economic and political settings. Indeed, some would argue that the forces generated in this larger context tend to overwhelm the local political/economic
theatre. To this end, the course will examine the extent to which greater national and
international political and economic forces impact the shape of cities.