urban economy essay

One of the most interesting aspects of urban economics is that urban structure and local public policy (both good and bad) can be observed simply by looking around. Is there congestion on city streets? Are there agglomeration economies present? Why is there a “wrong side of the tracks?” Where do the homeless migrate to? The class project asks you to take scenes relevant to you and interpret them through the lens of the models we talk about in class.

You will take three (digital) photographs per person of urban scenes, and you will write accompanying text (one page maximum of double-spaced text per scene) to interpret the photograph using economic concepts discussed in this class. For example, a photo of a congested road during rush hour may prompt a discussion on the externalities of car travel and how to improve it. You may also juxtapose two photographs to illustrate one scene (rich vs. poor, cluster vs. isolated site, etc.) – those count as one scene.

This is a group project, with 4 members in each group. Each photo in your group needs to highlight a different topic from the course, meaning members cannot photograph and explain the same topics.

During the term, you should feel welcome to come by to show me photos if you would like to talk about them. Be sure to attribute your photos! Make a note of: who took the photograph, and the location/date/time. If you had taken a photo before this course that you’d like to include, that is fine. Finally, if you happen upon a really fantastic photograph taken by someone else (a friend, online, a book, etc.), you may include it with proper attribution. In that case, the text of the photograph will be given much more weight than the photo. No more than four of your groups’ scenes may come from photos not taken by you.

Projects will be graded on several dimensions: (1) your ability to transfer the concepts seen in class to your photographs; (2) the quality of your descriptions/explanations and their relevance to class material; (3) the variety and originality of your photographs. (Please don’t submit ten photographs of Cleveland or New York City skylines!) Extra consideration will be given to photographs that illustrate more than one concept from class.

A Reminder: You should NOT expect that photographs of the real world can be perfectly explained by models we see in class. The real world is much more complex than any of our models ever are. Keep this in mind in your write-up.

Groups will present one top photo per group member and a brief explanation/analysis of the pictured topic in class on May 2nd. I will call on groups randomly so everyone must be prepared to present and stay the full class. A hard copy of your project (which includes printouts of your photos) is required and will be collected in class. If the quality of your printed photos is lacking, you can also email me the photos only.

Go be creative!!!!!