This course is concerned with the economics of cities. Why do cities exist? What determines city size? What explains rural-urban migration? What determines the organization of economic activity within cities (e.g., business versus residential districts)? What are the implications of transportation improvements for cities (e.g., railways, roads, ride hailing, autonomous vehicles)? How do zoning and housing supply restrictions affect city size and the cost of living? What explains segregation by race, ethnicity, education and income within cities? What are the implications of gentrification for neighborhoods and their residents? How do neighborhoods affect socioeconomic and intergenerational mobility? Why do slums exist and what are the implications for public policy? What roles do history and self-fulfilling expectations play in shaping the organization of economic activity within cities?
5 units · Letter or Credit/No Credit
This course is concerned with the economics of cities. Why do cities exist? What determines city size? What explains rural-urban migration? What determines the organization of economic activity within cities (e.g., business versus residential districts)? What are the implications of transportation improvements for cities (e.g., railways, roads, ride hailing, autonomous vehicles)? How do zoning and housing supply restrictions affect city size and the cost of living? What explains segregation by race, ethnicity, education and income within cities? What are the implications of gentrification for neighborhoods and their residents? How do neighborhoods affect socioeconomic and intergenerational mobility? Why do slums exist and what are the implications for public policy? What roles do history and self-fulfilling expectations play in shaping the organization of economic activity within cities?
Offered in Autumn 2026 at Stanford University.