The political economy of cities 1900-SM-2-B4-EPM

The lecture will focus on exploring the relationship between economic processes and the actions of public authorities. It will address the role of the public sector in the allocation of resources within the economic system — in this case, the city. Cities will be considered, on the one hand, as elements of a global network, and on the other, as local systems with complex socio-economic structures. This dual perspective will make it possible to examine, among other things, the dynamics of competition between cities occurring at various hierarchical levels — particularly at the global level. The lecture will highlight the relationships and interconnections between transnational corporations, nation-states, and metropolitan areas. At the local scale, it will discuss issues such as the role of public authorities in the functioning and planning of cities, including questions like: Who are the actors “playing” the urban game? and How can functional urban areas be managed in light of game theory? As part of the course, students will also participate in an original simulation game exploring the dynamics of cooperation and competition within a metropolitan area.

Student workload: 2.5 ECTS = 2.5 × 25h = 62.5 hours (including 1.5 ECTS in direct contact)
(N) – work in direct contact with the instructor
(S) – student’s individual (independent) work
• Classes (lectures) = 37.5 h (N)
• Independent preparation for the exam = 10 h (S)
• Independent preparation for lectures – 1 h/week = 15 h (S)
TOTAL = approx. 62.5 hours