城市经济学_课程_空间经济学

课程

课程信息

课程名称：城市经济学 Urban Economics

任课教师：彭聪 Cong Peng
邮箱：congpeng@nsd.pku.edu.cn
授课时间：周三 18:40–21:40
地点：理教 303
办公室：承泽园 253

学习目标

理解集聚经济、交通拥堵、住房市场等城市经济学关键概念
掌握经典和现代城市与空间经济学模型
具备阅读和讨论城市经济学实证论文的能力
能在AI工具辅助下完成城市经济学实证研究项目
通过短视频清晰地呈现研究发现

考核方式

课堂参与 5%
研究进度提交 25%（8次Task各2% + 3次Assignment各3%）
期中考试 30%
期末AI辅助研究视频（3–5分钟）40%

Course Description

This course covers the most important topics in urban economics in a rigorous yet nontechnical manner. It is designed to help students view urban issues through the lens of economics by introducing them to key theories and insights developed primarily since the 1970s. The first half focuses on core theories within urban economics. In the second half, students explore several special topics that encourage applying the theories learned earlier to real-world situations.

Assessment includes class participation, research progress submissions, a mid-term exam, and a final short video (3–5 minutes) that presents an AI-assisted urban economics research project. Students will be guided to use AI tools to find ideas, review literature, collect data, code, analyze, and produce a clear research story for video.

Learning Goals

Develop an economic way of thinking about urban issues such as agglomeration, congestion, housing and environmental quality.
Understand classic and modern models in urban and spatial economics and how they relate to real-world cities.
Read, interpret and discuss empirical research in urban economics.
Design and implement an AI-assisted empirical project using open data and standard tools such as Stata or Python.
Communicate research findings clearly through short videos and written material.

Assessment

Component	Weight	Details
Class participation	5%	Each signup counts for 1%. Three absences result in Fail.
Research progress submissions	25%	8 Tasks (2% each) + 3 Assignments (3% each)
Mid-term exam	30%	Week 9
Final video project	40%	3–5 minute AI-assisted research video

Weekly Teaching Plan

Part I: Core Theories

Week	Topic	Interactive Lab
1	Introduction to Urban Economics Course structure. Think like an urban economist: the market of trips.	–
2	Urban Spatial Structure Why cities exist. Monocentric urban model (Alonso-Mills-Muth).	Module 1.1: AI-assisted workflow + Stata basics. [Task 1] Idea pitch.
3	System of Cities Hierarchy of cities. Oversized cities and policy.	Module 1.2: Literature mapping with AI. [Task 2] "10-to-2 Funnel" – brainstorm 10 questions, use AI to filter to top 2.
4	Transportation The size of regions. Roads and growth (Donaldson 2018).	Module 1.3: Pitch clinic and feedback. [Assignment 1] One-page concept note.
5	Intracity Transportation and Congestion Fundamental law of traffic congestion. Congestion pricing.	Module 2.1: Coding environment with AI (Stata/Python). [Task 3] Set up GitHub-linked project folder.
6	Modern Spatial Economics The flow of goods. The flow of workers (Allen & Arkolakis 2017).	Module 2.2: Data discovery and collection. [Task 4] Data plan.

Part II: Special Topics & Applications

Week	Topic	Interactive Lab
7	Spatial Analysis & Alternative Data Satellite imagery and nighttime lights in urban economics.	Module 2.3: Project proposal + teaser video (60–90s). [Assignment 2] Proposal package + teaser video.
8	Urban Sprawl & Land-Use Control Market failure and urban sprawl. The role of institutions.	Module 3.1: Spatial data & visualization with AI. [Task 5] Spatial visualization + code.
9	Mid-term Exam
10	Housing Markets Housing demand and supply. Housing policy and regulation.	Module 3.2: Empirical analysis clinic. [Assignment 3] Midterm progress video (2–3 min).
11	Urban and Environment Cities, pollution and environmental policy.	Module 3.3: Coding clinic on cleaning & debugging. [Task 6] Bug report or code roadblock.
12	Place-Based Policy People, places and public policy. Evaluating local development programs.	Coding clinics.
13	Cities in Developing Countries Urbanisation, slums, and development.	Module 4.1: Storyboarding and scripting. [Task 7] Research script draft.
14	Urban and Trade Trade, migration, and productivity.	Module 4.2: Figures, slides & narration. [Task 8] Create project slides + start video editing.
15	Review and Final Presentations

AI-Assisted Urban Economics Video Project

Students may work individually or in pairs. Throughout the semester, the instructor provides feedback at the end of each module. When selecting a topic, consider the following angles:

New phenomenon: an emerging trend, policy, or technology changing cities.
Unanswered puzzle: a pattern visible in data but not well explained.
Replication/extension: reproduce a classic result with new data, a new city, or a new angle.

Key milestones: (i) a teaser video (60–90s) near the end of Module 2, (ii) a midterm progress video (2–3 min) near the end of Module 3, and (iii) the final video (3–5 min) at the end of Week 16.

Submit with the video: a short AI-use disclosure (150–250 words) and a link to your replication folder (data, code, figures).