After successful completion of the course, students are able to understand different theories from regional science, urban econmics and economic geography and to aplply them for esplaining complex processes of uran and regional development. This basic understanding is focussed on the origin and change of spatial structures and on the driving forces of urban and regional development processes under constantly changing conditions.

regional development theory

1. basics of economic regional development (definitions, indicators, economic transformation)
2. driving forces of regional development (production functions and factors, location fakctors, economic-base-theory, innovation, product cycles, endogenous growth theoriy)
3. spatial concentration of economic activities (agglomeration effects, localised knowledge spill-overs, innovative milieus, industrial districts, clusters, business networks, transaction costs)
4. Spatial disparities (definitions, growth and decline, neo-classical theory, polarisation theory, diffusion of cumulative processes)

urban development theory

1. urban development and urbanisation in a space-time context (empirical relevance, definitions)
2. explanation of urban systems (territorial urban systems, structural models, stage models, steering capabilities)
3. characteristics and influencing factors of urban-regional development  (technological progress, agglomeration effects, sub-urbanisaton and urban sprawl, metropolisation, smart cities)
4. Challenges of metropolitan development  (metropolisation, globalisation, competitiveness, segregation, territorial cohesion, fragmentation, exclusion, transformation processes)

All presentations are accessible via TUWEL, where the slides and videos can be downloaded. The live-meetings should help to deepen the expertise by summing up the main issues and by answering students' questions.

Empfohlene Lehrbücher:

Fassmann, H. (2004) Stadtgeographie I: Allgemeine Stadtgeographie, Westermann: Braunschweig.

Heineberg, H. (2001) Grundriss allgemeine Geographie: Stadtgeographie, 2. aktualisierte Auflage, Schöningh: Paderborn et al.

Maier, G., Tödtling, F. (2006) Regional- und Stadtökonomik 1: Standorttheorie und Raumstruktur. 4. aktualisierte und erweiterte Auflage, Springer: Wien und New York.

Maier, G., Tödtling, F., Trippl, M. (2006) Regional- und Stadtökonomik 2: Regionalentwicklung und Regionalpolitik. 3. aktualisierte und erweiterte Auflage, Springer: Wien und New York.

Bathelt, H., Glückler, J. (2002) Wirtschaftsgeographie. Ökonomische Beziehungen in räumlicher Perspektive. Ulmer: Stuttgart.

Schätzl, L. (2003) Wirtschaftsgeographie 1 ¿ Theorie. 9. Auflage. Schöningh: Paderborn et al.

written exam on the understanding and implementation of the theoretical concepts presented

questions: multiple Choice and open / interpretative questions

Basic understanding of regional science and macroeconomics