Economic Geography - GEOG 221, Hunter College
From Urban Earth
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GEOG 221 Economic Geography
Urban Field Survey Assignment
Students, use this link to work collaboratively on your urban field survey assignment: Urban Field Survey
Basic Course Info:
- Instructors:
- Prof. Lee Hachadoorian (leehach@geo.hunter.cuny.edu)
- Prof. Jennifer Cox (Lab Instructor, jenrcox@gmail.com)
- Office: 1216 Hunter East
- Office Hours: By appointment
- Hunter Course Code: 1170
- Scheduled Class Time:
- Lecture: Tuesdays & Fridays 9:45 AM – 11:00 AM, 1022 Hunter North
- Lab: Fridays 11:10AM – 1:00 PM, 1090B Hunter North
Course Calendar (including reading assignments)
Course Description
This course is concerned with the spatial organization of economic activity. Where do businesses choose to locate, and why? What can or should governments do to influence business location? Why do people live one place and work somewhere else? What are the causes and implications of suburbanization of population and employment? What causes regional specialization? How have patterns of global trade been changing? What are the implications for the populations of more and less developed countries?
We will be examining these questions in three broad groupings. First, we will examine location theory, which concerns itself with business location based on the location of raw materials, labor, other inputs, and markets. Second, we will survey urban economics, which concerns itself with residential and business location, commuting patterns, local public services and tax policy, and strategies for employment growth. Third, we will look at international trade and globalization, with an emphasis on the history behind current patterns of wealth and poverty, the relationship between more and less developed countries, and strategies for ameliorating conditions in less developed countries. Throughout the course we will be learning and applying microeconomic principles, and learning to use computer software (including Microsoft Excel and ArcGIS) to investigate the economic landscape.
Textbooks
The following textbooks are available in the campus store:
- Economic Geography: A Contemporary Introduction by Coe, Kelly & Yeung (on order)
- City Economics by O’Flaherty (currently at the campus store)
The following book is an older edition which I have not ordered through the campus store. Basically, the fifth edition sells for ~$60, but it isn’t (in my opinion) different enough from the fouth edition (available online for between $10 and $20) to justify ordering the new edition.
- Global Shift 4e by Dicken
All three textbooks are required in the sense that there will be required readings in all of them. However, they will all be on reserve in the library, so you don’t have to purchase all of them.
Communicating With the Instructor
You may send me messages via Blackboard or at leehach@geo.hunter.cuny.edu. If we talk in person about something that is important, I may ask you to email me a note about the discussion in order to remind me. All email should contain Geog221 at the beginning of the subject line. Also, if you use some funky email address like luv2party@aol.com, please sign your email with your first and last name so that I know who you are.
If you are not in the habit of checking your Hunter email, email me during the first week of class from the address that you do check regularly. Also, I strongly suggest that you set up your Hunter account to forward email to the mailbox that you actually use.
Grade Components
Your grade will be based on exams, labs, participation, and other assignments. The breakdown is as follows:
- Location Theory (Unit 1) Exam 20%
- Urban Economics (Unit 2) Exam 20%
- Globalization and Trade (Unit 3) Exam or Paper 20%
- Labs (overall) 30%
- Urban Field Survey 5%
- Country Economic Profile and Global Mapping 5%
Labs
Labs will be a mix of computer exercises, other in-class exercises (including games!) and problem sets.
The first part of the lab will be lab instructions and a demonstration of any techniques necessary for completion of the lab. Although you should always make every effort to make it to class on time, it is particularly important that you are on time for labs, so that the lab instructor can devote her time to helping you work on the lab rather than repeating the instructions.
Many of the labs will involve the use of ArcGIS, Excel, and possibly some statistical analysis package. This class has no GIS or computer prerequisite, so everything you need to know will be taught in class. Other Factors Attendance
We’re going to be covering a lot of material in this class, not all of it in the textbooks. If you do not attend class regularly, it is unlikely that you will do well and possible that you will fail. There is no separate grade for attendance. After the first two absences, every class that you miss will reduce your final class score by 2.5 points. I realize that people have jobs, illnesses, family emergencies, and any number of other things that may make them miss class. That’s why you get two “free” absences. Use them wisely. The wisest use would be not to use them at all.
Tardiness
Despite our best intentions, life gets in the way. If you are occasionally late, don’t sweat it. If you are consistently five minutes late, you are displaying a lack of respect for me, your fellow students, and the course material. Serial offenders will be warned, after which late arrivals will be treated as absences.
Participation
Participation is not a separate element in the final grade. If you attend class, pay attention in class, and ask relevant questions or make relevant comments in class, I may choose to award an extra credit point if it will make a difference in your final grade. Overall, your participation grade is my fairly subjective assessment of your involvement in the class.
Academic Integrity
Plagiarism, dishonesty, or cheating in any portion of the work required for this course will be punished to the full extent allowed according to Hunter College regulations. Hunter College regards acts of academic dishonesty (e.g., plagiarism, cheating on examinations, obtaining unfair advantage, and falsification of records and official documents) as serious offenses against the values of intellectual honesty. The College is committed to enforcing CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity and will pursue cases of academic dishonesty according to the Hunter College Academic Integrity Procedures.
The policy is available at http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/senate/assets/Documents/Hunter%20College%20Policy%20on%20Academic%20Integrity.pdf[[Category:]]
