15241 Urban Economics and Infrastructure Planning
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Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Postgraduate
Result type: Grade and marksThere are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
The subject uses concepts from basic microeconomic theory to understand the development of overall urban structures and the operation of land markets within cities. It then focuses on the economic principles underpinning urban economic planning and transport infrastructure investments. This enables students to critically assess, understand and explain key urban trends such as urban consolidation and challenges such as housing affordability and urban disadvantage. Students engage in interactive lectures with a range of practitioners and policy experts and take part in a field trip to appreciate the role of planning in unlocking development capacity through infrastructure investment. The subject facilitates students to reflect on their learning through online quizzes, group presentations and brief reports.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
| 1. | Communicate clearly using a variety of media and technologies. |
|---|---|
| 2. | Explain urban and socio-economic structure and its distributional consequences. |
| 3. | Explain economic drivers of growth, restructuring and decline of cities and regions. |
| 4. | Critically reflect on economic basis for policy and funding model decisions. |
| 5. | Critically analyse theoretical concepts used to explain economic structure and property markets. |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes to the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes:
- Evaluate the history of disadvantage and inequality in societies (in an Australian context this would apply in particular to Indigenous Peoples) and formulate a reasoned argument for how planners should address significant social inequalities (A.3)
- Communicate with people with a wide variety of cultural, social, economic, and political perspectives using verbal, written, and visual media (C.2)
- Investigate strategically the future of cities and regions and identify the drivers of change (P.1)
- Apply a wide array of analytic tools (which may include spreadsheets, geographic information software, three-dimensional simulations, or negotiation tools) to determine constraints and opportunities (P.3)
- Analyse dynamics driving land and property markets and articulate this to planning proposals (P.8)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
The term CAPRI is used for the five Design, Architecture and Building faculty graduate attribute categories where:
C = communication and groupwork
A = attitudes and values
P = practical and professional
R = research and critique
I = innovation and creativity.
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs) are linked to these categories using codes (e.g. C-1, A-3, P-4, etc.).
Teaching and learning strategies
Face-to-face classes incorporate a range of teaching and learning strategies including standard lectures, videos, case studies, discussions and group activities. The use of case studies is posed as problem-based learning where students need to understand economic dynamics to solve or improve an urban issue. In addition, students are required to engage in pre-class work by reading about different economic theories in order to apply that knowledge in collaborative in-class activities, such as small group discussions. In-class discussions also encourage including students' perspectives gained through previous life–work experiences.
Presentations include experts in specific areas, such as key infrastructure providers, housing policy experts, and urban planning and coordinating agencies. These are complemented by further self-directed student learning via subject readings guided by discussion points, questions and field trips.
Content (topics)
The subject covers two main content areas: urban economics, and infrastructure planning and financing.
Urban economics content includes topics on:
- the economics underpinning why cities exist (economies of scale, scope and transport and regional economics);
- the economics of how cities function (externalities, local public goods and pricing of urban services);
- and land markets in cities (accessibility, amenity and rent gradients, and housing markets and affordability).
It also covers urban dynamics and theories of regional growth, including:
- consideration of how city growth is affected by migration,
- employment, affordability and amenity.
Infrastructure planning includes:
- an overview of traffic and transport modelling, and planning for transport.
Infrastructure financing topics cover:
- the financing and pricing for urban infrastructure,
- options such as debt funding,
- public private partnerships, and developer contributions;
- and co-ordination of infrastructure provision.
The subject also includes case studies of urban infrastructure provision.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Application of urban economic theory to land markets
| Intent: | Students are required to complete a short on-line quiz about the pre-readings required for the subject, before attending the first teaching block. After attending the site visit, groups will work together to analyse a local land market and present their findings. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.): C.2, P.1, P.3 and P.8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Presentation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Group, group and individually assessed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 40% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | Each group will prepare a short (maximum 10 minute) Powerpoint presentation outlining their proposed redevelopment concept and principles. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 2: Memo to the Parliament Economic Development Committee
| Intent: | This assessment item focuses on the economic structure of cities and how economic development could be enhanced. In the real world, planners often have to write memos (and very short policy documents) differentiating economic hierarchy in their state or place and potential policies to improve economic development. The assessment provides an opportunity to draft and present a concise independent analysis using appropriate evidence (footnotes, citations etc.). | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 1, 3 and 5 This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.): C.2, P.1, P.3 and P.8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Report | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 30% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | 1000 words (±10%) (Penalties will be applied for the reports that do not meet the word limit requirement) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 3: Submission to your State or Territory Government on planning strategies and policies for affordable housing
| Intent: | This assessment item focuses on the challenges of affordable housing and housing affordability in urban and regional centres and the government response. In your planning career, you may lead in developing submissions as a practitioner or for a local council, non-government organisation, consulting firm or the community on calls for submission to planning departments or parliamentary committees on issues and options for government response to housing. The assessment offers an opportunity to look at the evidence base to develop a professional and insightful submission and apply critical analysis of existing strategies that work or need revisiting or changing using a new approach. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 1, 2, 4 and 5 This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.): A.3, C.2, P.1, P.3 and P.8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Report | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 30% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | 1000 words (±10%) (Penalties will be applied for essays that do not meet the word limit requirement) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Minimum requirements
Students must obtain a total mark of at least 50% to pass the subject.
Required texts
O’Sullivan, Arthur (2019), Urban Economics (9th Edition). McGraw-Hill Irwin. Chicago.
Recommended texts
Readings on digital reserve