Urban Economic Policy
URPA 5312
Summer 2011
Rod Hissong
Office Hours: Mon. & Wed. 10:00-12:00
and by appointment.
501B University Hall
Phone: 817-272-3350
Email: [email protected]
URPA 5312, Urban Economic Policy, explores the economic dimensions of different public policy arenas.
The course begins with a general discussion of some basic economic principles that are critical to
understanding why we address policy areas and how the programs within a policy area are expected to
affect social problems. We then turn our attention to six specific policy areas. In each policy area we
discuss programs in the context of the economic principles presented at the outset of the semester. Students
present the findings of assigned articles and write response papers to questions pertaining to the articles.
Each paper will be submitted electronically. Include your name on the first page of each paper and insert
page numbers.
The discussion and the sum of the response papers comprise seventy-five percent of the course grade. The
remaining twenty-five percent of the grade is based upon the course paper.
The course paper is a seven to ten page paper that explicitly applies the concepts from the beginning of the
semester and integrates three policy areas on which the course has a lesson. The student will demonstrate
how each policy area influences the other two areas and how the other two influences it. At a minimum you
should remain aware of this assignment throughout the semester and ideally you would work on it over the
course of the semester.
Student Learning Outcomes:
1.
Explain the efficiency conditions that determine the optimal program coverage.
2.
Demonstrate techniques used to estimate the consequences of policy/program changes.
3.
Discuss the economic principles that enhance or diminish the effect of spatially specific programs.
June 8:
Calendar
Introduction and some basic economic concepts.
Keating & Keating (2009). Consumer Theory and Public Goods. Chapter 3 of Microeconomics
for Public Managers.
June 15:
Basic concepts continued. (Homework Assignment 1 due.)
Keating & Keating (2009). Estimating client Choice. Chapter 4 of Microeconomics for Public
Managers.
Keating & Keating (2009). Market Failure and Public Choice. Chapter 5 (pages 151-160) of
Microeconomics for Public Managers.
June 22:
Decentralization and Land Use Policies (Homework Assignment 2 due.)
Anthony, J., (2004). Do State Growth Management Regulations Reduce Sprawl? Urban Affairs
Review, 39, 376-397.
Carruthers, J. I., (2002). The Impacts of State Growth Management Programmes: A
Comparative Analysis, Urban Studies, 39, 1959-1982.
Downs, A. (2005). Smart Growth: Why We Discuss It More than We Do It, Journal of he
American Planning Association, 71, 367-380.
Nechyba, T. and Walsh R., (2004). Urban Sprawl, Journal of Economic Perspectives, 18, 177200.
June 29:
Decentralization and Land Use Policies (continued)
Baum-Snow, N., (2007). Did Highways Cause Suburbanization? The Quarterly Journal of
Economics, 122, 775-805.
Galster, G., Hanson, R., Ratcliffe, M. Wolman, H., Coleman S. and Freihage J. (2001)..
Wrestling Sprawl to the Ground: defining and Measuring an Elusive Concept. Housing Policy
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Urban Economic Policy
URPA 5312
Summer 2011
Debate, 12, 681-717. (This article is recommended as reference to Sarzynski et al. article
below.)
Quigley, J., Raphael S. & Rosenthal, L., (2004). Local Land-use Controls and Demographic
Outcomes in a Booming Economy. Urban Studies, 41, 389-421.
Sarzynski, A., Wolman, H. Galster, G. and Hanson, R., (2006). Testing the Conventional
Wisdom and Land Use and Traffic Congestion: The More We Sprawl, the Less We Move?
Urban Studies, 43, 601-626.
July 6:
Transportation Policy (Homework assignment 3 due.)
Delucchi, M. (2007). Do motor-vehicle users in the US pay their way? Transportation Research
Part A, 41, 982-1003.
Litman, T. (2004). Transit Price Elasticities and Cross-Elasticities. Journal of Public
Transportation, 7, 37-58.
Wassmer, R., (2008) Causes of Urban Sprawl in the United States: Auto Reliance as Compared
to Natural Evolution, Flight from Blight, and Local Revenue Reliance. Journal of Policy
Analysis and Management. 27, 536-555.
July 13:
Regional Environmental Policies
Dinan, Terry, (2008). Policy Options for Reducing CO 2 Emissions. U.S. Congressional Budget
Office.
Freeman III, A. M. (2002). Environmental Policy Since Earth Day I: What Have We Gained?
Journal of Economic Perspectives, 16, 125-146.
Houston, D., Wu, J., Ong, P. & Winer, A. (2006). Down to the Meter: Localized Vehicle
Pollution Matters. Access, 29, 22-27.
McKibbin, W. J., & Wilcoxen, P.J. (2002). The Role of Economics in Climate Change Policy.
Journal of Economic Perspectives, 16, 107-129.
Portney, P.R., (2000). Environmental Problems and Policy: 2000-2050. Journal of Economic
Perspectives, 14, 199-206.
July 20:
Housing Policies (Homework assignment 4 due.)
Cowan, S., (2006). Anti-Snob Land Use Laws, Suburban Exclusion, and Housing Opportunity.
Journal of Urban Affairs, 28, 295-313.
Dietz, R. D. & Haurin, D. R., (2003). The Social and Private Micro-level Consequences of
Homeownership. Journal of Urban Economics, 54, 401-450.
Engel, K. & McCoy P. (2004). Predatory Lending: What Does Wall Street Have to Do with it?”
Housing Policy Debate, 15, 715-751.
Ihlanfeldt, K. R., (2004). Exclusionary Land-use regulations within Suburban Communities: A
Review of the Evidence and Policy Prescriptions, Urban Studies, 41, 261-283.
Lax, H., Manti, M. Raca, P, & Zorn, P. (2004). Subprime Lending: An Investigating of
Economic Efficiency. Housing Policy Debate, 15, 533-571.
Renuart, E., (2004). An Overview of the Predatory Mortgage Lending Process, Housing Policy
Debate, 15, 467-502.
July 27:
Local Economic Development Policies
Dye, R. and Merriman, D. (2000). The Effects of Tax Increment Financing on Economic
Development. Journal of Urban Economics 47,306-328.
Jeong, M. and Feiock, R. (2006). Impact Fees, Growth Management, and Development: A
Contractual Approach to Local Policy and Governance. Urban Affairs Review, 41, 749-768.
Neumark, D. and Kolko, J. (2010) Do Enterprise Zones Create Jobs? Evidence from
California’s Enterprise Zone Program. Journal of Urban Economics 68, 1-19.
O’Keefe, Suzanne, (2004). Job Creation in California’s Enterprise Zones: A Comparison Using
a Propensity Score Matching Model. Journal of Urban Economics 55, 131-150.
Papke, L., (1994). Tax Policy and Urban Development: Evidence from the Indiana Enterprise
Zone Program. Journal of Public Economics 54, 37-49.
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Urban Economic Policy
URPA 5312
Summer 2011
August 3: Urban Labor Policies (Homework assignment 5 due.)
Morrison, P., (2005). Unemployment and Urban Labour Markets. Urban Studies, 42, 22612288.
Skinner, C., (2004). The Changing Occupational Structure of Large Metropolitan Areas:
Implications for the High School Educated. Journal of Urban Affairs 26, 67-88.
Stoll, M., (2005). Geographical Skills Mismatch, Job Search and Race. Urban Studies, 42, 695717.
August 10: Final paper due.
Attendance Policy: Formal attendance is not taken but it behooves the student to attend all class meetings.
The material is cumulative through the semester and material from previous classes is necessary for
subsequent ones. I do not provide class notes to absent students.
Drop Policy: The last day to drop is July 19, 2011.
Americans With Disabilities Act:
The University of Texas at Arlington is committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity
legislation; reference Public Law 92-112 - The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. With the passage of
federal legislation entitled Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), pursuant to section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act, there is renewed focus on providing this population with the same opportunities enjoyed
by all citizens.
I will provide "reasonable accommodations" to students with disabilities, so as not to discriminate on the
basis of that disability. Student responsibility primarily rests with informing me of their need for
accommodation and in providing authorized documentation through designated administrative channels.
Information regarding specific diagnostic criteria and policies for obtaining academic accommodations can
be found at www.uta.edu/disability. Also, you may visit the Office for Students with Disabilities in room
102 of University Hall or call them at (817) 272-3364.
Academic Integrity:
It is the philosophy of The University of Texas at Arlington that academic dishonesty is a completely
unacceptable mode of conduct and will not be tolerated in any form. All persons involved in academic
dishonesty will be disciplined in accordance with University regulations and procedures. Discipline may
include suspension or expulsion from the University.
"Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for
credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an
examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to
commit such acts." (Regents’ Rules and Regulations, Series 50101, Section 2.2)
Student Support Services Available:
The University of Texas at Arlington supports a variety of student success programs to help you connect
with the University and achieve academic success. These programs include learning assistance,
developmental education, advising and mentoring, admission and transition, and federally funded
programs. Students requiring assistance academically, personally, or socially should contact the Office of
Student Success Programs at 817-272-6107 for more information and appropriate referrals.
Final Review Week:
A period of five class days prior to the first day of final examinations in the long sessions shall be
designated as Final Review Week. The purpose of this week is to allow students sufficient time to prepare
for final examinations. During this week, there shall be no scheduled activities such as required field trips
or performances; and no instructor shall assign any themes, research problems or exercises of similar scope
that have a completion date during or following this week unless specified in the class syllabi. During Final
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Urban Economic Policy
URPA 5312
Summer 2011
Review Week, an instructor shall not give any examinations constituting 10% or more of the final grade,
except makeup tests and laboratory examinations. In addition, no instructor shall give any portion of the
final examination during Final Review Week. Classes are held as scheduled during this week and lectures
and presentations may be given.
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