Regional Economics

Subject: Economics

Discipline: Applied Economics

Master's Program for Regional Economics

(Secondary discipline code: 020202; Institute of Finance and Economics)

1. Overview

This program aims to cultivate well-trained researchers and analysts in the field of regional economics, with the objective of contributing to the regional economic and social development at global and local levels. This master’s program is designed for students who intend to address challenges faced with regional economics. Based on the field study of economics, geography, and systematic research skill training, the Program nurtures individuals with specialized knowledge and skills who can solve various regional challenges and enhancing the sustainability of these regions. The students explore fields and directions related to 1) China Economy and National Governance; 2) Regional and Country-specific Economy; 3) World Economy and International Politics. The Program is expected to contribute to the practices of international cooperation and urban and rural development in China and overseas.

2. Research field

1) Regional and Country-specific Economy; 2) China Economy and Regional Development ; 3) World Economy and Regional Development  

3. Training goals and duration of study

The program is to train economics experts who, in possession of their theoretical and methodological knowledge, are capable of uncovering the regional economic dimensions of development issues at either local or global level and undertaking the economic analysis of different development processes and mode considering the interrelationships between regions and nations. Capable of cooperating in a creative and innovative way in the development of global and regional policies, strategies, and programs, and working in economic geography and regional science. They are capable of solving analytic and planning tasks independently , working in teams and managing team work, and performing economic development analysis and research in the academic, public and private sectors. They are prepared to continue their study at the Ph.D. level.

The duration for completing a master degree is 2 calendar years maximum starting from registration.

4. Requirements

The Program includes:

●Economic and social science study (economics and methodology study, including advanced macroeconomics; advanced microeconomics, quantitative methods, managerial economics et al.)

●Regional Economy professional study (economic development and growth (economic development, innovation); spatial aspects of economic processes, spatial aspects of social processes, regional and environmental analytic methods, regional economy, regional policy, regional economic development, integrated rural development, regional programming and management, local economy and business development, urban geography, urban management) .

The students shall master the basic theory, systematic professional knowledge and cutting-edge research methods of regional economics; and be able to engage in high-level economic management, scientific research or professional technical work in the discipline; and also have the ability to conduct literature review and data analysis so as to undertake in-depth analysis of the issues in regional economic development at home and abroad.

5. Credits

The number of credits to be completed for the master’s degree: 32credits

6. Dissertation requirements and process control

This subject confers a master's degree in economics.

The dissertation is intended to allow the candidates to demonstrate their mastery and expertise in the chosen area of study through a presentation of their research. Through the process of defending the thesis, the candidates further demonstrate their capacity to engage meaningfully in scholarly discourse in their chosen area. Based on an evaluation of the written thesis and the candidates' performance in the thesis examination, the examining committee will render decisions as to whether the candidates’ work has satisfied the requirements for the master degree in economics.

Following "Central University of Finance and Economics Master's Thesis Process Management Measures (Revision)" (School Circulation [2018] No. 79) and other documents, the college and supervisors will conduct process control in the whole process prior to dissertation defense, which include topic selection, research proposal formation and presentation, thesis writing, guidance, mid-term inspection, finalization, pre-defense, misconduct detection, review, and defense.

7. Curriculum

For details, please refer to the " Postgraduates Curriculum for (Regional) Economics (with professional reading list).

 

Postgraduates Curriculum for (Regional) Economics

Faculty (Research Institute): Institute of Finance and Economics

Discipline and Major: Regional Economics

Research field:       

1) Regional and Country-specific Economy;

2) China Economy and Regional Development ;

3) World Economy and Regional Development  

Note: For details of education, research and internship, dissertation, supplementary courses, etc., please refer to the "Regulations on the Implementation of the Training Program for Graduate Students of Central University of Finance and Economics"

 

Reading List

Books:

[1]Isard, W. (1960). Methods of regional analysis: an introduction to regional science. Published jointly by the Technology Press of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Wiley, New York.

[2]Brueckner, J. K. (2011). Lectures on Urban Economics. The MIT Press.

[3]Hoover, E. M. (1971). An Introduction to Regional Economics, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

[4]O`Sullivan, A. (2019). Urban economics. New York, NY.

[5]Strange, W. C., Henderson, J. V., & Duranton, G. (2015). Handbook of Regional and Urban Economics. North Holland.

Papers:

[1]Allcott, H. and Keniston, D., 2018, "Dutch Disease or Agglomeration the Local Economic Effects of Natural Resource Booms in Modern America", Review of Economic Studies.

[2]Ambrus, A., Field, E. and Gonzalez, R., 2020, "Loss in the Time of Cholera: Long-Run Impact of a Disease Epidemic on the Urban Landscape", American Economic Review.

[3]Bagger, J. and Lentz, R., 2019, "An Empirical Model of Wage Dispersion with Sorting", Review of Economic Studies.

[4]Benjamin, F. and Cecile, G., 2019, "Tourism and Economic Development: Evidence From Mexico’S Coastline", American Economic Review.

[5]Bernard, A. B., Moxnes, A. and Saito, Y. U., 2019, "Production Networks, Geography, and Firm Performance", Journal of Political Economy.

[6]Cai, Y., Selod, H. and Steinbuks, J., 2018, "Urbanization and Land Property Rights", Regional Science & Urban Economics.

[7]Caliendo, L., Parro, F. and Rossi-Hansberg, E., 2018, "The Impact of Regional and Sectoral Productivity Changes on the U.S. Economy", Review of Economic Studies.

[8]Chyn, E., 2018, "Moved to Opportunity: The Long-Run Effects of Public Housing Demolition on Children", American Economic Review.

[9]Criscuolo, C., Martin, R., Overman, H. G. and Van Reenen, J., 2019, "Some Causal Effects of an Industrial Policy", American Economic Review.

[10]Desmet, K., Nagy, D. V. K. N. and Rossi-Hansberg, E., 2018, "The Geography of Development", Journal of Political Economy.

[11]Fajgelbaum, P. D. and Gaubert, C., 2020, "Optimal Spatial Policies, Geography, and Sorting", Quarterly Journal of Economics.

[12]Fajgelbaum, P. D., Morales, E. and Serrato, J. C. S., 2019, "State Taxes and Spatial Misallocation", Review of Economic Studies.

[13]Fu, C. and Gregory, J., 2019, "Estimation of an Equilibrium Model with Externalities: Post-Disaster Neighborhood Rebuilding", Econometrica.

[14]Gaubert, C., 2018, "Firm Sorting and Agglomeration", American Economic Review.

[15]Grant, M., 2020, "Why Special Economic Zones Using Trade Policy to Discriminate across Importers", American Economic Review.

[16]Guo, S. and Fei, Y., 2018, "Breaking the Barriers: How Urban Housing Ownership Has Changed Migrants` Settlement Intentions in China", Urban Studies.

[17]Henderson, J. Vernon, 1972, "The sizes and types of cities", The American Economic Review.

[18]Hornbeck, R. and Keniston, D., 2017, "Creative Destruction: Barriers to Urban Growth and the Great Boston Fire of 1872", American Economic Review.

[19]Krugman P. , 1998, "Space: the final frontier", Journal of Economic perspectives.

[20]Lee, S. and Lin, J., 2018, "Natural Amenities, Neighbourhood Dynamics, and Persistence in the Spatial Distribution of Income", Review of Economic Studies.

[21]Li, W., Sun, B. and Zhang, T., 2019, "Spatial Structure and Labour Productivity", Urban Studies.

[22]Ma, L. and Tang, Y., 2020, "Geography, Trade, and Internal Migration in China", Journal of Urban Economics.

[23]Maarten, B., Uwe, D. and Mark, R., 2018, "Hukou and Highways the Impact of China's Spatial Development Policies On Urbanization and Regional Inequality", Regional Science and Urban Economics.

[24]Martin, B., Erik, H. and Juan, O., 2019, "The Aggregate Implications of Regional Business Cycles", Econometrica.

[25]Melissa, D., Nathan, L. and Pablo, Q., 2018, "The Historical State, Local Collective Action, and Economic Development in Vietnam", Econometrica.

[26]Murray, M. P. and Sun, G., 2017, "The Demand for Space in China", Journal of Urban Economics.

[27]Proost, Stef, and Jacques-François Thisse, 2019, "What can be learned from spatial economics?", Journal of Economic Literature.

[28]Qiu, L. and Zhao, D., 2019, "Urban Inclusiveness and Income Inequality in China", Regional Science and Urban Economics.

[29]Tao, J., Ho, C., Luo, S. and Sheng, Y., 2019, "Agglomeration Economies in Creative Industries", Regional Science & Urban Economics.

[30]Tinglin, Z., Bindong, S., Yinyin, C. and Rui, W., 2019, "Government Fragmentation and Economic Growth in China’s Cities", Urban Studies.