Regional Socioeconomic Impact Analysis and Modeling OpenCourseWare: A Free Graduate Level Class by MIT

Published Mar 18, 2009

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Students studying urban planning and civil engineering can find a useful resource in this free OpenCourseWare from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). 'Regional Socioeconomic Impact Analysis and Modeling' contains information on the study of regional economic issues, with particular examples taken from the Boston area. This material covers both the process of research and analysis of research data.

Regional Socioeconomic Impact Analysis and Modeling: Course Specifics

Degree Level Free Audio Video Downloads
Graduate Yes No No Yes

Lectures/Notes Study Materials Tests/Quizzes
No Yes No

Regional Socioeconomic Impact Analysis and Modeling: Course Description

Regional economic impact modeling is a way of forecasting the positive or negative effects of a given change within a city or region, such as the loss of an industry, a population increase or the building of a new airport. This OpenCourseWare presents class material taken from an MIT course on the subject taught by Professor Karen Polenske. Included with this material are three student final projects from the original class, which provide examples of regional impact analysis in action. Students used Regional Economic Models Inc., or REMI, to model the effects of offshoring local jobs, analyze proposed changes to coastal zoning in Boston and chart the impact of Boston's Logan Airport on the regional economy. Also included with the readings in this course are an article on how to properly measure economic impact and a case study of working families in Massachusetts. This material could be a useful reference for students studying for a master's degree in urban planning or civil engineering.

This OpenCourseWare provides readings, a sample problem set, student final projects and a style guide for student papers. To make use of these free online materials, visit the socioeconomic impact analysis course page.

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