About the course

In 2016, politics were shaped by regional development. In Britain, certain regions voted to leave the European Union and others (Greater London, Scotland) to stay. In the American presidential election in November, 473 counties voted for the Democratic Party candidate and about 2600 counties voted for the Republican. However, the 473 counties contain more than 2/3 of the country’s economic output, a majority of its population, produce almost all of its technological innovations, have higher personal incomes, and are responsible for most of the country’s exports. This is because economic development is uneven across regions, within countries and at a wider global scale, between countries and continents. Over the past 40 years, in the current cycle of economic development that is defined by globalization and new technologies, these differences have become sharper, leading to more sharply divided politics in many countries. The future of many countries depends on the future of their regional development patterns: where prosperity is located, how regions and their people transition in response to changing economic forces. In this course, we will learn the theories, analytical tools and data that explain the issues and frame the challenges for development of both prosperous and less prosperous regions.