Lecture Series: Urban Environmental Economics

A comprehensive 24-hour special course on urban economics integrated with environmental insights

Highlights

Comprehensive Integration: Covers urban growth, land use policies, transportation, and environmental management.
Concept Boxes: Each lecture features a focused "box" highlighting a key economic concept.
Applied Readings: Lists literature references and case studies to enhance understanding and analysis.

Detailed Syllabus Outline

Course Overview

This course provides an in-depth exploration of urban environmental economics, integrating theoretical frameworks with practical case studies. The 24-hour lecture series is designed to bridge urban economic theories and environmental challenges, including issues such as land use, air and water quality, transportation economics, and sustainable urban policy-making. Each lecture includes a dedicated "concept box" that introduces and explains an important economic principle, aiding students in linking theory to real-world dynamics. Throughout the course, students will engage with key literature, enabling them to critically evaluate and apply the concepts discussed.

Lecture Breakdown

Lecture 1: Introduction to Urban Environmental Economics

Contents: Overview of urban environmental economics, course objectives, and an introduction to urban systems and environmental challenges.

Concept Box: Supply and Demand – Discussing market dynamics and their influence on urban resource allocation.

Literature: O'Sullivan, Arthur. Urban Economics (McGraw-Hill).

Lecture 2: Urbanization and Economic Development

Contents: Examination of urban growth, agglomeration economies, and the role of cities in economic development.

Concept Box: Agglomeration Economies – Understanding the benefits accruing from the concentration of economic activities in urban areas.

Literature: Glaeser, E. L. Triumph of the City (Penguin Press).

Lecture 3: Land Use, Zoning, and Urban Form

Contents: The principles of land use planning, zoning regulations, and spatial economic theories in urban settings.

Concept Box: Zoning and Land Use Regulation – Exploring the economic rationale behind urban land allocation.

Literature: Brueckner, Jan K. Lectures on Urban Economics (MIT Press).

Lecture 4: Transportation Economics in Urban Areas

Contents: Analysis of urban transportation systems, congestion issues, and the environmental impact of transit policies.

Concept Box: Network Externality – Examining how the benefits or costs of transportation systems are influenced by user participation.

Literature: Small, K. A., & Verhoef, E. T. The Economics of Urban Transportation (Taylor and Francis).

Lecture 5: Urban Housing Markets and Affordability

Contents: Discussion on the dynamics of urban housing markets, affordability challenges, and policy responses.

Concept Box: Externalities – Understanding positive and negative external impacts in housing development.

Literature: O'Sullivan, Arthur. Urban Economics (McGraw-Hill).

Lecture 6: Air Pollution and Urban Health

Contents: Economic analysis of air quality issues, pollution control measures, and health implications for urban populations.

Concept Box: Tragedy of the Commons – Evaluating the challenges in managing shared environmental resources.

Literature: Hardin, Garrett. The Tragedy of the Commons (Science, 1968).

Lecture 7: Urban Water Resource Management

Contents: Examining water supply and demand in cities, water conservation strategies, and pricing mechanisms.

Concept Box: Rebound Effect – Analyzing how improvements in water efficiency can paradoxically increase consumption.

Literature: Peterson, David E. Water Resource Economics (Resource Publications).

Lecture 8: Solid Waste Management and Recycling

Contents: Policies for waste reduction, recycling initiatives, and the economic implications of waste management.

Concept Box: Pigouvian Tax – Discussing taxation as a means to correct negative externalities from waste production.

Literature: Lessard, E. Waste Management and Resource Recovery (Environmental Policy Series).

Lecture 9: Energy Consumption in Cities

Contents: Overview of urban energy demands, renewable energy adoption, and efficiency strategies.

Concept Box: Rebound Effect – Evaluating how efficiency gains in energy systems may lead to increased overall usage.

Literature: Brekke, L. & Vennemo, H. Energy Economics (Academic Press).

Lecture 10: Urban Green Infrastructure and Ecosystem Services

Contents: Importance of urban green spaces, benefits of ecosystem services, and strategies for integrating nature into the cityscape.

Concept Box: Ecosystem Services – Understanding how urban greenery contributes to economic and environmental well-being.

Literature: Kumar, Pushpam. The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (Earthscan).

Lecture 11: Climate Change Impacts on Urban Areas

Contents: Analysis of urban vulnerabilities to climate change, mitigation and adaptation strategies, and risk assessment.

Concept Box: Climate Externalities – Assessing the indirect costs imposed on society by urban emissions and heat islands.

Literature: Rosenzweig, Cynthia, et al. Climate Change and Cities (Urban Climate Change Research Network).

Lecture 12: Urban Environmental Justice and Social Equity

Contents: Exploration of environmental justice in urban contexts, equitable distribution of environmental resources, and policy direction.

Concept Box: Equity in Resource Distribution – Examining how urban policies can bridge disparities in environmental burdens and benefits.

Literature: Sampson, Robert J. & Worrall, John H. Urban Inequality (Scholarly Press).

Lecture 13: Urban Fiscal Policies & Local Government Finance

Contents: The role of fiscal policy in urban governance, including taxation, subsidies, and financing sustainable urban projects.

Concept Box: Taxes and Subsidies – Understanding government tools that influence urban economic behaviors.

Literature: Brueckner, Jan K. Lectures on Urban Economics (MIT Press).

Lecture 14: Urban Poverty and Welfare Economics

Contents: Examination of urban poverty, welfare policy impacts, and social safety nets within metropolitan areas.

Concept Box: Income Inequality – Analysis of differential access to resources and opportunities in urban settings.

Literature: O'Sullivan, Arthur. Urban Economics (McGraw-Hill).

Lecture 15: Technological Innovations and Smart Cities

Contents: Role of digital technologies, big data, and IoT in transforming urban planning and improving sustainability outcomes.

Concept Box: Innovation Economics – How technological advances catalyze economic improvements within urban infrastructures.

Literature: Townsend, A. M. Smart Cities: Big Data, Civic Hackers, and the Quest for a New Utopia (W.W. Norton & Company).

Lecture 16: Urban Policy Instruments and Regulatory Frameworks

Contents: Overview of policy tools and regulatory approaches used to manage urban environmental challenges, including standards and incentives.

Concept Box: Policy Effectiveness – Evaluating the impact and efficiency of various regulatory instruments in urban contexts.

Literature: Boardman, A. E., et al. Cost-Benefit Analysis: Concepts and Practice (Cambridge University Press).

Lecture 17: Urban Resilience and Adaptation Strategies

Contents: Strategies to enhance urban resilience against environmental shocks and climate hazards, including infrastructure improvements and community responses.

Concept Box: Risk Management – Analyzing how cities prepare for and mitigate potential economic and environmental risks.

Literature: Grimm, N. B., et al. Global Change and the Ecology of Cities (Science, 2008).

Lecture 18: Urban Contamination and Remediation

Contents: Discussion of industrial pollution, contaminated land, remediation strategies, and the role of government intervention in cleanup efforts.

Concept Box: Public Goods – Exploring the challenges in providing non-excludable and non-rival public services for a clean environment.

Literature: Ostrom, E. Governing the Commons (Cambridge University Press).

Lecture 19: Globalization, Urbanization, and Environmental Impacts

Contents: Examination of how globalization influences urban environments, including shifts in industrial patterns and environmental standards.

Concept Box: Global Economic Integration – Assessing how interconnected markets shape urban environmental policies.

Literature: Sassen, Saskia. Global City (Princeton University Press).

Lecture 20: Case Studies of Sustainable Urban Practices

Contents: Detailed analysis of global case studies where cities have successfully integrated sustainable practices in planning, transport, and waste management.

Concept Box: Best Practices – Learning from real-world examples to understand successful sustainability initiatives.

Literature: Willi, R. M. B. L. Sustainable Cities: A Global Perspective (Case Study Compilations).

Lecture 21: Urban Economic Forecasting and Future Trends

Contents: Discussion on future challenges, economic forecasting models, and the role of innovation in shaping urban futures.

Concept Box: Future Economic Predictions – Applying forecasting techniques to anticipate urban economic developments.

Literature: Smiley, J. A. Future Urban Development: Trends and Strategies (Emerging Issues in Urban Studies).

Lecture 22: Urban Governance and Stakeholder Engagement

Contents: Evaluating the roles of local governments, businesses, and civil society in constructing sustainable urban environments through collaborative efforts.

Concept Box: Decentralization – The economic benefits of distributing decision-making across various levels of government and stakeholders.

Literature: Alqadi, S.J.F.D. Urban Planning in the Global Era (Policy Perspectives).

Lecture 23: Financing Urban Sustainability Projects

Contents: Discussion of financing mechanisms, public-private partnerships, and innovative funding approaches to support sustainable urban development.

Concept Box: Public vs. Private Financing – Comparison of economic strategies for funding urban infrastructure and socio-environmental projects.

Literature: Logan, L.G. & Huet, M. Financing Urban Sustainability (Finance and Urban Policy Reviews).

Lecture 24: Synthesis, Final Discussion, and Q&A

Contents: Review and synthesis of the lecture series. Final discussions, addressing outstanding questions, and integrating the course’s key themes and concepts.

Concept Box: Cost-Benefit Analysis – Assessing the aggregate economic costs versus benefits of urban environmental policies and projects.

Literature: Aggregated sources from the course, with emphasis on Boardman et al.'s Cost-Benefit Analysis (Cambridge University Press) and key urban economic texts.

Supplementary Materials & Table

Below is a summary table of selected lectures with key concepts and primary literature references:

Lecture	Topic	Concept Box	Literature Reference
1	Introduction	Supply and Demand	O'Sullivan, Urban Economics
2	Urban Growth	Agglomeration Economies	Glaeser, Triumph of the City
3	Land Use & Zoning	Zoning and Land Use Regulation	Brueckner, Lectures on Urban Economics
4	Transportation	Network Externality	Small & Verhoef, The Economics of Urban Transportation
5	Housing Markets	Externalities	O'Sullivan, Urban Economics
6	Air Pollution	Tragedy of the Commons	Hardin, Tragedy of the Commons
7	Water Management	Rebound Effect	Peterson, Water Resource Economics
8	Waste Management	Pigouvian Tax	Lessard, Waste Management and Resource Recovery
9	Energy Consumption	Rebound Effect	Brekke & Vennemo, Energy Economics
10	Green Infrastructure	Ecosystem Services	Kumar, The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity
11	Climate Change	Climate Externalities	Rosenzweig et al., Climate Change and Cities
12	Environmental Justice	Equity in Resource Distribution	Sampson & Worrall, Urban Inequality
13	Fiscal Policies	Taxes and Subsidies	Brueckner, Lectures on Urban Economics
14	Urban Poverty	Income Inequality	O'Sullivan, Urban Economics
15	Smart Cities	Innovation Economics	Townsend, Smart Cities
16	Policy Instruments	Policy Effectiveness	Boardman et al., Cost-Benefit Analysis
17	Urban Resilience	Risk Management	Grimm et al., Global Change and the Ecology of Cities
18	Contamination & Remediation	Public Goods	Ostrom, Governing the Commons
19	Globalization	Global Economic Integration	Sassen, Global City
20	Case Studies	Best Practices	Willi, Sustainable Cities
21	Economic Forecasting	Future Economic Predictions	Smiley, Future Urban Development
22	Governance	Decentralization	Alqadi, Urban Planning in the Global Era
23	Financing Sustainability	Public vs. Private Financing	Logan & Huet, Financing Urban Sustainability
24	Synthesis & Q&A	Cost-Benefit Analysis	Boardman et al., Cost-Benefit Analysis