ECON 7455

Local Labor Markets: Disparities and Remedies

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2024-2025.

Since the 1980s, American cities have exhibited increasingly divergent trends. This "Great Divergence" has had profound effects on local employment, income, political preferences, health outcomes, and intergenerational mobility. As more detailed data become available, recent research seeks to uncover the causes of this divergence and evaluate how policy interventions might mitigate its negative effects. Building on this research, this course explores recent advancements at the crossroads of labor and spatial economics. It begins by examining the growing disparities between cities and regions in terms of productivity, labor market opportunities, and amenities, in several countries. It then investigates the rationale behind place-based policies and their potential to stimulate local development. Finally, the course will provide students with essential tools and theories to study the sorting of workers and firms over space and to understand its implications for economic growth and inequality.

When Offered Fall or Spring.

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