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Content

Urbanisation and Development explores key economic concepts, theories, and tools for problem diagnosis and policy-making in urbanization contexts. Integrating Classical Economic Theory, Economic Geography, and Critical Urban Theory, the module critically examines global development's impact on urbanisation patterns. Using case studies from various countries, it addresses urban economic development processes, with insights from multilateral organisations, cities, local governments, social movements, and civic society organisations.

The module is structured into three parts: Problems and Frameworks, Sectoral Analyses and Regional Case Studies, and Policy Challenges and Critical Analyses. It covers topics like capital accumulation, neoliberal governmentality, migration and globalisation, smart cities, creative industries, and municipalism in urban contexts.

Teaching delivery

DEVP0038, a 15-credit module, comprises weekly teaching units delivered in Term 2 through lectures, tutorials, and workshops. The module includes detailed analyses of agglomeration economies, global value chains, technology's role in development, and creative industries. It also critically examines municipalism, urban commons, and economic democracy. Students are expected to engage in face-to-face sessions, supported by core and optional readings available on Moodle.

Indicative lecture topics:

1. Introduction to urbanisation and development
2. Capital accumulation and global development
3. Agglomeration economies and global value chains
4. Migration and globalisation
5. Technologies and development in the Global North
6. Technologies and development in the Global South
7. Creative industries and urban economic development
8. Municipalism and financialisation of cities
9. Urban commons and economic democracy

Module Aims and/or Objectives

Upon completion of the module, participants will be able to:

• Understand and apply the key concepts of economic growth and development, urbanisation, agglomeration economies and diseconomies, the global economy and their relations.
• Have been introduced to the contemporary contexts (both international, regional, and national) of urbanisation and development.
• Have been introduced to principal types and issues of development intervention in the urban sector.
• Have been introduced to the dynamic of the interaction between agglomeration economies, capital accumulation, economic growth, social justice and environmental sustainability and the global capitalism affecting urbanisation and development.

Assessment

The module's assessment is based on a 2,500-word essay, accounting for 100% of the final grade.

Module Structure and Participation

This 15-credit module requires approximately 150 learning hours per term, with an expectation of 10-12 hours of commitment per week for full-time students. Active participation in all module activities is expected, with regular monitoring of engagement. Core readings are provided electronically, and further optional readings are recommended for deeper exploration.

Recommended introductory readings

UN Habitat. Envisaging the Future of Cities. World Cities Report 2022. Nairobi: UN Habitat, 2022.

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