Economics | Planetizen Courses

The study of the production and consumption of goods and services, economics plays an important role in urban planning decisions and the development of cities. Planetizen Courses zero in on the economic issues that most affect urban development, from travel behavior and pricing in transportation planning to fiscal impact analysis, real estate valuation, and how urban development impacts supply chains and resource distribution.

Economics Courses

government building

Economic Thinking for Planners: Local Government and Governance

53 Mins

AICP CM
SACPLAN CPD

A crumbling residential building with collapsed floors

Building Bad, Part 1: How Architectural Utility is Constrained by Politics

Jonathan Ochshorn

57 Mins

CIP
AIA CES
AICP CM

abandoned houses during great recession

Understanding the Great Recession

74 Mins

solar panels on roof with large buildings in the background

Introduction to Corporate Sustainability

45 Mins

AICP CM

suburban homes aerial photo

Time Value of Money for Planners

80 Mins

AICP CM
CNU-A

A group of workers sorts through electronic waste.

E-Waste: A Growing Concern in Waste Management

51 Mins

CIP
AICP CM

cars and buses on busy street with metro train in background

Transportation Planning: The Role of Transportation Systems in Social and Economic Life

Richard Willson

47 Mins

AIA CES
AICP CM
CNU-A
SACPLAN CPD

people working in a warehouse surrounded with boxes

Sustainable Supply Chains

59 Mins

CIP
AICP CM

office buildings surrounding small park

Property Cash Flow Analysis for Planners

72 Mins

AICP CM
CNU-A

Aerial shot of a sewage water treatment plant.

Connecting Households to Sewer Systems

55 Mins

CIP
AIA CES
AICP CM

cars in traffic emitting pollution

Transportation Planning: Effects on the Environment, Health, and Social Justice

Richard Willson

57 Mins

AIA CES
AICP CM
CNU-A
SACPLAN CPD

women and children sitting at praxagora kok project in Stockholm

Women and Cities 3: Gender Equity in Private Life

Katrina Johnston-Zimmerman

54 Mins

CIP
AIA CES
AICP CM

building development under construction

Property Valuation for Planners

54 Mins

AICP CM
CNU-A

pedestrian on path next to bikeshare

Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

79 Mins

CIP
AIA CES
AICP CM

metro train with buildings in background

Transportation Planning: Land Use and Transportation Systems

Richard Willson

62 Mins

AIA CES
AICP CM
CNU-A
SACPLAN CPD

downward view of crowd crossing intersection

Introductory Population Analysis with Excel

50 Mins

SACPLAN CPD

Boston buildings and bridge

The Elements of Citymaking: Design, Policy, and Finance

57 Mins

CIP
AIA CES
AICP CM
SACPLAN CPD

building under construction

Real Estate Debt for Planners

73 Mins

AICP CM
CNU-A

aerial view of cars at large intersection

Transportation Planning: Travel Behavior Principles and Modelling Approaches

Richard Willson

55 Mins

AIA CES
AICP CM
CNU-A
SACPLAN CPD

pie chart of different sectors

Introductory Urban Economics Analysis with Excel

28 Mins

SACPLAN CPD

cars waiting at a toll road

Traffic Congestion, Part Two: Congestion Pricing

Michael Manville

56 Mins

CIP
AIA CES
AICP CM

exterior of office buildings

Office Property Valuation Case Study for Planners

83 Mins

AICP CM
CNU-A

aerial view of mulitple freeways intersecting

Transportation Planning: Travel Behavior Regulations, Pricing, and Programs

Richard Willson

65 Mins

AIA CES
AICP CM
CNU-A
SACPLAN CPD

aerial of freeways connecting

Economic Thinking for Planners: Overview

56 Mins

AICP CM
SACPLAN CPD

Top Economics Instructors

Peter Gordon

Peter Gordon is Professor Emeritus at the University of Southern California Price School of Public Policy...

Richard Willson

Richard Willson is a professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at California State...

Menka Sethi

Menka Sethi is an accomplished consultant and professor in the field of real estate development and...

Todd J. Poole

Todd Poole is president, founder, and managing principal of 4ward Planning Inc., with more than 24...

Michael Manville

Michael Manville is Associate Professor of Urban Planning at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.

Seema Thomas

Seema is an urban development professional focused on developing and expanding innovative and inclusive initiatives to...

Carlos Zapata

Carlos Zapata is a Sustainability and ESG professional who is a graduate of Yale's MBA in...

William Riggs

William (Billy) Riggs, Ph.D., AICP, LEED AP is a nationally recognized professor, consultant, and strategist.

Jeff Speck

Jeff Speck is a city planner who advocates internationally for more walkable cities.

Jonathan Ochshorn

Jonathan is a registered architect with an academic background in structural engineering and urban design as...

Qian He

Dr. Qian He is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Maryland, College Park and...

David Dixon

David is well known for helping create new, mixed-use urban districts (in both cities and suburbs)...

Jenny Schuetz

Jenny is a Senior Fellow at Brookings Metro and an expert in housing policy.

Jason Neville

Jason is an experienced urban planner, redevelopment professional, and affordable housing developer.

Katrina Johnston-Zimmerman

Katrina is a lecturer, researcher, and advocate for heart-centered cities. Her work focuses on human behavior...

Jonathan Barnett

Jonathan Barnett is Fellow of the Penn Institute for Urban Research and an Emeritus Professor of...

Donald Shoup

Donald Shoup is Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Urban Planning at UCLA. His research...

Kevin Credit

Kevin is the Assistant Director for Urban Informatics at the Center for Spatial Data Science at...

James Brasuell

James Brasuell is the managing editor of Planetizen.

William Fulton

William Fulton is the director of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research and the former mayor...

Scott Frazier

Scott Frazier is one of the hosts of the L.A. Podcast. Scott is also Director of...

Mariela Alfonzo

Mariela Alfonzo is the founder and CEO of State of Place. Mariela also has a PhD...

Allison Arieff

Allison Arieff is the editorial director of SPUR and a columnist for The New York Times.

Tammy Seale

Tammy Seale is a principal with Michael Baker International and director of the Sustainability and Climate...

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All Economics Courses

Generative AI, Ethics, and the Future of Urban Planning

Instructor: Tom Sanchez

Explore the ethical and equity implications of using generative AI in urban planning. This course addresses bias, transparency, public trust, emerging tools like digital twins, and offers practical guidance for responsible adoption.

4.30

66 Mins

CIP

AIA CES

AICP CM

The Ethics of Disruptive Transportation Technologies

Instructor: Carol D. Barrett

This course discusses the process for making ethical decisions as part of planning for disruptive technologies.

4.38

83 Mins

AICP CM

CNU-A

SACPLAN CPD