Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information below is subject to change,
in particular that concerning the teaching mode (presential, distance or in a comodal or hybrid format).
5 credits
30.0 h
Q2
Teacher(s)
Gomes Joseph;
Language
English
Prerequisites
Basic notions of microeconomics and econometrics taught at the Bachelor level.
Main themes
The course will be built around three distinct parts, the first one focused on economic geography, the second one on urban economics and the third one on regional policies. Theoretical and empirical approaches will be continuously alternated. Specific topics, such as, for example, the spatial consequences of the European integration or NAFTA, spatial wage disparities in China, competitiveness clusters policies in Belgium and in France or EU structural funds will be treated.
Aims
At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to : | |
| 1 | The aim of this course is to provide students with theoretical and empirical tools necessary to understand why the location of economic activities is uneven across space within countries. At the end of the term, the students should be able to discuss the existence, the causes and the consequences of regional inequalities. The primary goal of this course is not to focus on the technical aspects of the models or of the econometric techniques of the papers that will be presented. The students are rather expected to understand the concepts and the mechanisms behind, so as to integrate them in argumentative discussions about issues related to economic integration and local development. |
Content
The course will be divided into two parts. The first part will focus on economic geography and urban economics. This part of the course will include both theoretical and empirical topics. The second part of the course will give a hands-on training to students on using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to manipulate spatial data. This second part of the course will be held in the form of computer lab sessions.
Teaching methods
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.
The first part of the course will take the form of lectures that will cover theoretical and empirical aspects of the course. The second part of the course will take the form of computer-based lab sessions, where students will be guided through GIS methods by the professor.
Evaluation methods
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.
There will be a written exam in June which will count for 50% of the final marks and a GIS-based project that students will be required to submit after the second part of the course is completed (either individually or in small groups depending on class size). This will constitute the remaining 50% of the grade. For the project, the professor will make suggestions on topics. Students will be allowed to do the written exam a second time in August which will then count for 100% of the final marks.
Bibliography
Bibliographie:
- First part of the course: Economic geography, P.P. Combes, T. Mayer and J. Thisse, Princeton University Press.
- Second part: Lecture Notes prepared by the Professor.
Faculty or entity
ECON
Force majeure
Evaluation methods
Previously all students were required to submit a group-based project which would count as 50% of the final grade, the other 50% would have been based on the final exam. To be fair on all students, the students will now have the following two options:
1. 50% grade based on group project + 50% grade based on final exam
2. 100% grade based on final exam.
Each student can choose any one of the two options. There is no obligation on any student to choose any particular option. Each student can choose the option they prefer the most. Further, since some students will choose option 2, for the group project, some groups will now have fewer students. It is not a problem at all to have fewer students in groups. Anything from 3 students to 5 students in a group is possible. If some groups become too small we can also merge some groups.
The deadline of submission of the group project has also been extended to 10 May.
1. 50% grade based on group project + 50% grade based on final exam
2. 100% grade based on final exam.
Each student can choose any one of the two options. There is no obligation on any student to choose any particular option. Each student can choose the option they prefer the most. Further, since some students will choose option 2, for the group project, some groups will now have fewer students. It is not a problem at all to have fewer students in groups. Anything from 3 students to 5 students in a group is possible. If some groups become too small we can also merge some groups.
The deadline of submission of the group project has also been extended to 10 May.
