Regional Economics

Location and Time
    Lecture:   MacLean Hall 166    11:30 MWF
     Office Hours: MW

Instructor: Gregory W. Stutes

e-mail: stutes@mnstate.edu

Phone: 477-4027

Office: 380K MacLean

Textbook: See Reading List Below 

Course Description:

The intent of this class is to introduce economic theories and policies as applied to small and medium open economics.  Small open economies can range from urban neighborhoods to remote rural villages.  We will review the basic economic theory to prepare us to explore the commonly used methods to analyze spatial patterns of economic activities and regional economic changes.  As always, there are more topics than time permits so we may modify, but the rough draft of topics includes shift-share, location quotient, economic base (regional multipliers), input-output analysis, spatial interaction models, and GIS application.

Course Objectives:

1.  To gain a better economic theory that can be used to analyze problems of regional development.

2.  To acquaint yourself with some of the tools that are useful in the analysis of regional economies.

The course will include three projects: a PowerPoint presentation and report on the historical, social, demographic, and economic conditions of a particular community, a group project poster presentation and news article on the background conditions and potential for growth in an industry that has a local presence, and a group project with a news article and methodology report on a local economic condition and an indicator to the current level.  We will have a series of homeworks to reinforce a set of methods/techniques developed in the class.  The final will be take-home and comprehensive. 

No late assignments will receive full credit without written documentation of the EMERGENCY which caused the assignment to be late. If a test is missed without prior approval, the student must have written documentation of the EMERGENCY to receive a make-up test instead of a zero. Make-up tests may increase in difficulty from the original.

Assignments should be typed and are expected to be well organized "final product."

Any student in this course who has a disability the may prevent him/her from demonstrating his/her abilities should contact me personally as soon as possible so that we can discuss accommodations necessary to ensure full participation.

Any student who will miss a class in which an assignment is due or a test is to be taken to observance of a religious holiday must notify me at least one week prior to the date of the missed class to avoid late penalties or receive a make-up test.

Grades: There are 1000 points possible in the class and are distributed as follows:

Homework                            10 percent

Community Project                25 percent

PowerPoint
Report

Group Industry Study             20 percent

Poster Presentation
Magazine Article

Class City Study                    25 percent

You will be able to sign-up for and group and the corresponding project.

College CPI
Senior Consumer Confidence Index
Chamber Survey of Business Activity
Database of Business Activity

Midterm 1                              10 percent

Midterm 2                              10 percent