Political Economy of the City explores the forces that have worked to make cities what they are today. We look at the tension between politics and economics, and the importance of the physical and spatial aspects of the city. Why have some cities continued to grow while others have declined? What are the common issues among them? This course takes US cities as a starting point while recognizing that we are all operating in an international context and that many of the critical issues facing cities today are global in nature-climate change, inequality, the privatization of public space. We will use New York City as our classroom, getting outside and walking around, going on field trips, and bringing experts in to talk about their work and perspectives.