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Applied Economics A

Module Code: ECU44081/ECU44083

Module Title: Applied Economics A: Urban Development & Housing Markets

• ECTS Weighting: 10/5
• Semester/Term Taught: Semester 1
• Contact Hours: 22 hours of lectures and 4 hours of tutorials
• Module Personnel: Lecturer - Professor Ronan Lyons

Module Learning Aims 

In Urban Development & Housing Markets, students will be introduced to the main steps involved in applied economic research, using the subject of urban development as reflected in the housing market. Lectures covering seminal theories relating to city growth and housing markets will set the groundwork for applied research, which will focus on two major U.S. cities. Students will summarize the existing literature on the economic development of their city of focus and then gather and analyse housing market data for that city. Both these strands will be used to develop research proposals. Work will be assessed through continuous assessment, involving both individual and group work. No prior knowledge of econometrics is required for this module. However, a willingness to learn how to read, understand and critique academic papers is.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will be able to:

• Discuss the key theories and empirical facts around city growth and housing markets
• Summarize the principal phases and turning points in a city’s development
• Outline the key forces at work in shaping a city over time
• Identify research questions to develop policy lessons from past episodes of a city’s growth
• Gather relevant data to answer the research question

Module Content

While the module does not follow a standard lecture format throughout the semester, it will cover the following topics:

1. City size and growth
2. Housing demand
3. Housing supply
4. Land use and regulations

Recommended Reading List

Detailed readings will be given in lectures and through Blackboard. Here you can find some general background readings:

• Ed Glaeser, Triumph of the City. Penguin, 2011.
• Jane Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, 1961.
• William A. Fischel, Zoning Rules! The Economics of Land Use Regulation, 2015. (Especially Chapter 5, but also Chapters 1, 4 and 9.)

Module Pre Requisite

EC2110 & EC2111 Intermediate Economics

Assessment Details

The 10 ECTS module (ECU44081) is assessed as follows:

• Review slide deck and presentation (30%)
• Data Collation & Analysis (30%)
• Research proposal (40%)

The 5 ECTS module (ECU44083) is assessed as follows:

• Review slide deck and presentation (50%)
• Data Collation & Analysis (50%)

Module Website

Blackboard