URBPLAN 123 : Urban Planning Economics
Creative Arts and Industries
2024 Semester One (1243) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
This course introduces economic theories and explains how these theories are structured and how they influence urban planning policies and decision-making processes. The course focuses on introducing students to the principles of economics as well as principles of political economy of space so that these principles can be integrated into effective urban planning policy formulation.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | People and Place |
| Capability 2: | Sustainability |
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
| Capability 7: | Collaboration |
| Capability 8: | Ethics and Professionalism |
Learning Outcomes
- Develop the ability of the deployment of the principles and theories of economics in planning discipline; (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3)
- Demonstrate an understanding of different systems of economy e.g. the market economy and their impacts and implications for urban planning and design; (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.3, 3.2, 4.2, 5.2, 7.2 and 8.2)
- Demonstrate an understanding of the need and the ability to critically challenge the existing planning system under the current situation of the economy and generate alternatives through exploring multiple sources and different viewpoints of economics; (Capability 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.3 and 8.1)
- Develop practical alternatives to the current failures of the market and/or planning and provide arguments and interpretations in order to improve the well-being and quality of life in cities; (Capability 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.3, 5.3, 6.2, 7.1, 7.2 and 8.2)
- Analyse the planning responses to the markets crisis (including government policy shocks). (Capability 1.1, 2.2, 3.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 6.2, 7.1, 7.3 and 8.3)
- Apply a variety of skills including writing, speaking, reasoning presentation and collaboration and adequate ability through both individual and group course works; (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 2.3, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.3, 8.1 and 8.2)
- Demonstrate adequate skills in communicating urban planning ideas through writing and presentation design for various audiences e.g. peers, planners and the instructors. (Capability 1.1, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2, 7.1 and 8.1)
- Evaluate how markets work and how they fail and how these market operations might influence a person's decisions to buy and a planner’s decision to work; (Capability 1.2, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.3, 5.3, 6.3, 7.2, 7.3, 8.2 and 8.3)
- Demonstrate an understanding of the causes of unemployment, inflation and economic downturn and their impacts on different communities including low income groups and less developed areas of a city. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.2 and 8.3)
- Identify solutions to show how urban economics applied in planning may help to improve well-being and respond to the future needs of cities. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.2, 2.3, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 6.2 and 8.3)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Essay - activities | 30% | Individual Coursework |
| Presentation | 20% | Group & Individual Coursework |
| Final Exam | 50% | Individual Examination |
| 3 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| Essay - activities | ||||||||||
| Presentation | ||||||||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
Teaching & Learning Methods
The pedagogy for the course is based on active learning and students-focused activities and all students are expected to participate in the lectures, LAB sessions and class activities. In addition, the blended teaching is used as the appropriate approach to teaching in the digital technology era.
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 3 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 33 hours of lectures, 2 hours workshops (Week 12), 3 hours tutorials, students are expected to manage at least 111 hours independent-study throughout the semester to pass the course.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Campus Experience
Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including seminars/tutorials will be available as recordings as far as the university provides facilities for them. Students should be aware that there is no facility of recording for some of the course activities especially for the tutorials.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Attendance on campus is required for the exam.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
Other Information
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.