BREAD-IGC Virtual PhD course on urban economics
This virtual PhD-level course is designed to provide a comprehensive review of the economic questions relevant to urbanisation and the economics of cities in low and middle-income countries.
The Bureau for Research and Economic Analysis of Development (BREAD), in collaboration with the International Growth Centre (IGC), is offering a virtual PhD non-credit course from 25 September, 2024 to 20 November 2024.
Throughout the series, we delve into diverse topics such as agglomeration, migration, land markets and land-use planning, transport, service delivery, crime and urban sustainability. Students are challenged to identify the urgent questions which remain unanswered. Each lecture is led by expert economists who can provide deep insights into urbanisation in the developing world.
The course is designed for PhD students as well as active researchers in economics and related fields worldwide. Completed or concurrent PhD-level coursework in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics will be necessary to fully benefit from the course content. Course materials (syllabus, lecture presentations, and recorded lectures) will be available after the end of each lecture on the IGC website. The course is an excellent opportunity for a deep dive into the frontier of economic research for urbanisation and development.
Lecture schedule
Urbanisation, agglomeration and development: 'The dynamic city'
Access the slides from Ed Glaeser and Diego Puga. Here is the week 1 reading list.
Listen to the VoxDev podcast "The role of cities in economic development" with Ed Glaeser and Diego Puga.
View the lecture slides and reading list.
Land use, markets and planning: ‘The physical city’
Access the slides from Vernon Henderson and Maisy Wong. Here is the week 3 reading list.
Listen to the VoxDev podcast "Designing cities in developing countries: Land planning, slum upgrading and reconstruction programmes" with Vernon Henderson and Maisy Wong.
Access the slides from Gilles Duranton and Gabriel Kreindler. Here is the week 4 reading list.
Service delivery (water and sanitation): ‘The connected city Pt2’
Access the slides from Matthew Turner and Kelsey Jack. Here is the week 5 reading list.
Crime and state capacity: ‘Making and breaking the city’
Access the slides from Joana Monteiro and Augustin Bergeron. Here is the week 6 reading list.
Spatial methods and models: ‘Modelling the city’
Access the slides from Nick Tsivanidis and Stephen Redding. Here is the week 7 reading list.
Cities, politics & conflict: ‘The disruptive city’
Access the slides from Leonard Wantchekon and Sandra Sequeira.
Sustainable urbanisation: ‘Adapting the city’
Access the slides from Matthew Kahn and Siqi Zheng.