Economic Thinking for Planners

What do urban economics topics have to contribute to things planners think about in their everyday experiences? Course instructor Peter Gordon, professor emeritus at the University of Southern California, answers this question and gives students the tools they need to bring economic awareness to planning processes. The first course in "Economic Thinking" reviews scarcity and trade-offs in public life and policy. Students will learn about gains from trade, specialization, supply and demand, and the relationship between economics and the environment. Finally, students will apply their knowledge to the context of cities, externalities, and local government. Each course in this track is approved for AICP CM credit.

Economic Thinking for Planners: Overview

This course shows how "Economic Thinking" can inform our thinking on big questions like why some countries are rich while some are poor and how so many us have become so much better off than our ancestors.

56 Mins

AICP CM

SACPLAN CPD

Economic Thinking for Planners: Gains from Trade, Labor, and Immigration

This course focuses on the example of the Prisoner's Dilemma to illustrate the fact that gains from trade opportunities are lost if transactions and/or communications costs are high, property rights and contracting rules are not enforced, and levels of trust are low.

47 Mins

AICP CM

SACPLAN CPD

Economic Thinking for Planners: Supply and Demand

"Supply and demand" is one of the most fundamental concepts of economic thinking. The familiar supply and demand curves are seemingly simple, but in reality, the relationship between supply in demand is complex.

78 Mins

AICP CM

SACPLAN CPD

Economic Thinking for Planners: Economics of the Environment

This course provides an introduction to environmental economics by exploring the economic effects of national and local environmental policies. By the end of the course, you'll understand market failure, externalities, and private and social costs, applying these concepts to issues like recycling, species preservation, and climate change.

56 Mins

AICP CM

SACPLAN CPD

Economic Thinking for Planners: Cities, Externalities, and Governance

Through history, people have become better off as they urbanized. This course investigates how and why the quality of life has improved in cities.

56 Mins

AICP CM

SACPLAN CPD

Economic Thinking for Planners: Local Government and Governance

This course uses economic thinking to investigate local government. The course includes discussions of public goods, market failure, private communities, and homevoter cities.

53 Mins

AICP CM

SACPLAN CPD