The course covers the following topics:

• Geography, trade and development
• Geography and economic theory
• Core models of economic geography and empirical evidence
• Agglomeration, home market effect, and spatial wages
• Applications and extensions

Learning objectives:

The student

• analyses how spatial distribution of economic activity is determined.
• uses quantitative methods within the context of economic models.
• has basic knowledge of formal-analytic methods.
• understands the link between economic theory and its empirical applications.
• understands to what extent concentration processes result from agglomeration and dispersion forces.
• is able to determine theory based policy recommendations.

Recommendations:

Basic knowledge of micro- and macroeconomics is assumed, as taught in the courses Economics I [2600012], and Economics II [2600014]. An interest in mathematical modeling is advantageous.

Workload:

The total workload for this course is structured as follows:

• Attendance at lectures/exercises (presence time) (3 SWS × 15 weeks): 45 h

• Preparation and follow-up of course content: 50 h

• Exam preparation and participation in the assessment: 40 h

Total workload: 135 h (corresponds to 4.5 ECTS credits)

Assessment:

The assessment consists of a written exam (60 minutes) (following §4(2), 1 of the examination regulation).

Steven Brakman, Harry Garretsen, Charles van Marrewijk (2009): The New Introduction to Geographical Economics, 2nd ed, Cambridge University Press.

Weitere Literatur wird in der Vorlesung bekanntgegeben.
(Further literature will be announced in the lecture.)