Economic Development Analysis and Practice

Overview

Course Description

This course examines strategy development, methods of analysis, and approaches to practice for urban and regional economic development policy and planning.

The course will combine lectures, guest presentations from methodological experts and development practitioners, assignments, and a project. 

Related Courses

PUBP 6602/CP 6422 is the second in the series of economic development core courses offered in public policy and planning. Students should have taken the first course in the sequence, PUBP 6600/CP 6412, Foundations of Local Economic Development Planning and Policy (offered in the Fall Semester).

Links:

• Georgia Tech School of Public Policy | Economic Development Concentration
• Georgia Tech City and Regional Planning Program | Specialization in Economic Development

Course Objectives

As a result of completing the participation, reading, discussion, research, writing and presentation requirements of PUBP 6602/CP 6422, students will acquire

• Improved comprehension of key economic development concepts, strategies and issues raised in the first course.
• An understanding of the processes and analytical steps involved in developing economic development strategies.
• Awareness of major data sources used in economic development planning, including how to access those sources, data construction, and limitations.
• Awareness of selected methods and analytical tools frequently used in economic development planning, including practical applications.
• An introduction to new methods of analysis in economic development focusing on innovation and technology diffusion.  
• Awareness of approaches to incorporate and present analyses for use in economic development planning.
• Hands-on experience in developing an economic development profile of a selected locality and in benchmarking localities.

Required Books

Koven, Steven G. and Thomas S. Lyons (2003), Economic Development: Strategies for State and Local Practice, Washington DC: International City/County Management Association. ISBN 0-87326-134-8.

Bendavid-Val, Avrom, (1991), Regional and local economic analysis for practitioners, Westport CN: Praeger Publishers. ISBN 0-275-93751-8.

Required books have been ordered through the Georgia Tech bookstore, and can be purchased there. Books can also be purchased through an online bookseller

Schedule

Subject to change.  Please re-review at start of each week. Class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:35-11:05, DM Smith Room 204. Updated to 03/28/05.

For further information on using PDF files and installing Adobe Acrobat select [here].

Additional Reading

For those with limited prior experience in economic development policy and planning or for anyone who seeks a broad review of economic development policy and planning, you are encouraged to (re)-read appropriate sections of the following library reserve books:

Blakeley, Edward J., (1989) Planning Local Development: Theory and Practice, Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications. HC110 .I53 B56 1989.

Eisinger, Peter K., (1988) The Rise of the Entrepreneurial State: State and Local Economic Development Policy in the United States, Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press.  HC110 .I53 E56 1988.

Bingham, Richard D. and Robert Mier (eds) (1993) Theories of Local Economic Development, Sage Publications, Newbury Park, CA. HC110 .I53 T48 1993.

One of the key journals in the field is Economic Development Quarterly (EDQ). Students are encouraged to read current and back issues. Articles from EDQ are available electronically via Galileo.

You are also encouraged to become aware of the Georgia Tech School of Public Policy, Comprehensive Reading List in Economic Development, http://www.cherry.gatech.edu/8550/xreading-b.htm. Most of the references on this list are are available on reserve in the Georgia Tech library, under PUBP 8550.

Useful Links

Web-Based Resources

• EconData.Net - Guide to Regional Economic Data on the Web, http://www.econdata.net/
• Economic Development Information Sources on the World Wide Web. Prepared by PUBP6602/CP6422 students - Fall 2002.
• Governing.com - Development and Land use links
• Gunter Krumme, Economic Impact Studies, http://faculty.washington.edu/~krumme/350/impacts.html
• Library of Economic Development Impact Analysis, Economic Development Research Group, Boston, MA, http://www.edrgroup.com/pages/library.html
• Web Book of Regional Science, Regional Research Institute, West Virginia University, http://www.rri.wvu.edu/regscweb.htm

Journals

• Regional Studies
• Review of Regional Studies
• Other sources - identified by students

Assessment

To extend and reinforce learning and skills, you will be asked to undertake:

• A test to reinforce experience with data sources and methods discussed in class.
• Preparation and delivery or oral presentations of assignments in class.
• Research, analysis, and presentation of an economic development profile of selected localities.

Readings should be completed by the date indicated in the course outline. Required and recommended additional readings are indicated in the course schedule. 

Course assessment and grades will be based on the following:

Test, in-class assignments		20%
Economic development profile report		45%
Class participation and presentations		35%
		100%

You are expected to be aware of and conform to Georgia Tech and School of Public Policy student academic and honor policies. Assignments may be assigned, submitted and posted electronically. For details, see responsibilities.

Communications

Electronic Office Hours: For fastest response, students are encouraged to communicate with the Instructor by electronic mail, to:

jan.youtie@edi.gatech.edu

Regular Office Hours (Spring 2005): Tuesday, 11:15 – 12:30, Room 230, Economic Development Building

Individual Meetings: Where physical meetings can be arranged, students are encouraged to schedule individual appointments with the Instructor. At other times, electronic communication methods are available.

Telephone: USA: +1 (404) 894 6111; Fax: USA: +1 (404) 894 1417

Instructor

Dr. Jan Youtie is a Principal Research Associate with the Economic Development Institute and an Adjunct Associate Professor of Public Policy in the School of Public Policy at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, USA. She is a principal researcher with the Georgia Tech Policy Project on Industrial Modernization.

Rights and Responsibilities

Enrollment in this course indicates that you have read, acknowledge and agree to abide by the following:

• Policy on academic performance and incompletes - see Georgia Tech School of Public Policy Student Handbook.
• Georgia Tech Honor Code - including Addendum for Graduate Students. You are informed that student papers may be reviewed by plagiarism detection software.

Enrollment for the course indicates that you agree to attend all scheduled classes on time. With instructor's permission, one or two absences from class may be forgiven for good reason. Absences beyond this or repeated non-timeliness will likely result in a lower final grade.

Access to an email account is a necessary requirement for effective course participation and interaction.  All class emails will be sent to official Georgia Tech student email addresses, which are generally on prism.  You are responsible for ensuring that you have access to this prism account.  If you wish to use a private email address, it is your responsibility to redirect your prism mail to your preferred address. For more information, see E-mail guidance and also Georgia Tech Office of Information Technology.

You also acknowledge that completed assignments may be shared electronically with other students and posted to the Worldwide Web.  See privacy statement that will guide postings.