PPA (ECON) 251: URBAN PROBLEMS, ECONOMICS, AND PUBLIC POLICY

GRADUATE PROGRAM IN PUBLIC POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO

FALL 2003

Professor: Robert Wassmer, Ph.D.

E-Mail: rwassme@csus.edu or rwassme@attbi.com 

Home Page: http://www.csus.edu/indiv/w/wassmerr/

Office: Room 3037, Tahoe Hall.

Office Phone: (916) 278-6304.

Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 4:00-6:00 p.m. and if necessary by appointment.

Course Held: Lassen 3005, Thursday from 6:00 p.m. - 8:50 p.m.

Required Texts:

(1) Urban Economics, 2003, Fifth Edition, Arthur O’Sullivan, McGraw-Hill Irwin.  Available for purchase at CSUS bookstore or on web at Amazon.Com.

(2) Readings in Urban Economics: Issues and Public Policy, 2000, Robert W. Wassmer, Blackwell.  Available for purchase at CSUS bookstore or on web at Amazon.Com.

(3) Metro Futures: Economic Solutions for Cities and their Suburbs, 1999, Daniel Luria and Joel Rogers. Available for purchase at CSUS bookstore or on web at Amazon.Com.

(4) Urban Sprawl: Causes, Consequences, and Policy Responses, 2002, Gregory Squires. Available for purchase at CSUS bookstore or on web at Amazon.Com.

Internet Access:

I will also post outlines for each time we meet and possible other course related material at my web site. Thus, access to the Internet is also required for this class. If you do not have it at work or home, access is provided to students at the university library.

Overview:

This course is structured around some of the most pressing problems facing central cities and urban areas in the United States (poverty, crime, urban abandonment/suburban sprawl, edge cities, deteriorating infrastructures, fiscal stress, etc.). The historic development of each problem is discussed, the economics behind it is presented, and possible policy solutions are discussed. The first half of the course deals with the shape and look of U.S. metropolitan areas. The second half of the course deals with contemporary issues and problems within U.S. metropolitan. Examples are drawn from California and Sacramento.

PPA 251 is intended to be an elective for Master's students in the PPA program, for Master's students in economics (cross listed as ECON 251), for undergraduate majors in economics, and for others who satisfy the prerequisite of a course in intermediate microeconomics (PPA 220A or ECON 100B at CSUS).

The course consists of one 170 minute meeting a week. We will take a 15 minute break at 7:30 p.m.   Each Thursday I will require you to hand in a well-developed question from readings assigned for that week.  This question is not due the first time we meet, but will be due every subsequent time.  (On the first night of class I will provide an example of a question that could have been written for the first meeting.) You will also be asked to complete written exercises out of the assigned texts and to sometimes prepare short position papers. Your questions, exercises, and position papers can only be turned in on the Thursday that they are due and by you (no exceptions or excuses accepted for missed classes). This acts as a form of attendance. I will assign an overall grade of "A", "A-", B+", ..., "C", "C-", or "F" (not turned in) for each of these weekly assignments.

I would very much like to conduct this class in an active learning format. In my mind this consists of about half lecture and half organized discussion amongst ourselves. To do this you will need to complete all of the assigned reading before the night it is covered. Thus, my emphasis on completing summaries, exercises, and position papers; and rewarding those who do a good job at it.

Questions and comments pertaining to lecture are encouraged during the lecture. Other questions will be answered during my office hours. Office hours can also be used to handle a complaint or suggestion on how the class is taught; a general discussion of economics and policy, the public policy and administration program, or your career plans.

Grading Procedure:

The midterm project will involve choosing a paper out of the Squires' book on Urban Sprawl, reading it, reading at least five references of other work cited in it, and writing a ten-page (double-spaced and typed briefing paper) on the content of the paper and existing research on this subject, your critical assessment of what is good and bad about it, and the relevance of this issue for the Sacramento Region.  Further details on this assignment will be given out (October 30) three weeks before it is due (November 20).  I need to get all chapters in Squires' book covered (some will be done by more than one), so please put your request in for a chapter ASAP. The style of writing for this assignment should be as if it is written for the elected local officials that make up the Board of the Sacramento Area Council of Governments.  You will also be required to make a 10 minute (max) presentation to the class on your paper in the course.  Your grade will be based 70% on your paper and 30% on presentation.

There will also be a take-home examination given out at the close of the December 12 lecture that will be due by December 19.  The final take home exam will be cumulative and it is intended for only individual completion. Material for exams will be taken out of assigned reading, lecture, and homework.

Exam grades will be calculated using the following formula:

A number grade will be assigned to everything you do. Your final grade will be calculated based on these number grades.

The grade given your midterm project accounts for 30 percent of your final grade. The average of the grades given on best 11 Thursday assignments accounts for 30 percent of your final grade. (Their will be 13 total assignments.  You may choose to not do two of them, or if more than 11 are done, I will only count the grades on the best 11.)  The final exam accounts for 30 percent of your final grade. Classroom participation accounts for the remaining 10 percent of your final grade. 

University policy for dropping this course will be followed. You must complete the final exam to receive a passing grade.

Schedule:

The following schedule lists the major topics covered and the assigned reading that accompanies them. I reserve the right to make minor changes. (For instance I may add a few readings from Internet sources.)

Back to Top of PPA251 Syllabus

Return to Course Syllabi and Information Page

Return to Home Page