Università Roma Tre

The course introduces students to the principles and applications of spatial analysis in economics, with a particular focus on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the use of spatial data in empirical research. Students will learn how to handle geospatial data, apply GIS methods using R, and explore key economic questions where spatial dimensions play a central role.

Introduction to Spatial Economic Analysis
- The relevance of space in economic theory and empirical research
- Key concepts in spatial economics

Overview of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Economic Research
- Role of GIS in economic and social sciences
- Basic GIS tools and functionalities

Working with Spatial Data in R
- Introduction to R packages for geospatial analysis
- Types and structures of geospatial data
- Importing and managing spatial datasets
- Data manipulation and transformation
- Visualization of spatial data (maps, overlays, thematic layers)

Applications of Spatial Analysis in Economics, e.g.:
- Spatial agglomeration and economic growth
- Development economics: institutions, infrastructure, and markets
- Climate change, natural disasters, and environmental externalities
- The economics of conflict, displacement, and migration
- Innovation and knowledge diffusion in space
- Urban, regional, and transportation economics

A selection of academic papers will be provided and discussed throughout the course. These papers will be used as the basis for in-class replication exercises and hands-on applications with geospatial data. Covering a range of topics in spatial economic analysis, the readings will introduce students to current empirical research and cutting-edge methodologies in the field. The teaching material (e.g. slides, lecture notes, publications on scientific journals) will be available on the Moodle/Teams platforms.

Below is a representative list of the articles that will be studied and discussed throughout the course:

Chaney, E. (2013). Revolt on the Nile: Economic shocks, religion, and political power. Econometrica, 81(5), 2033-2053.
Alesina, A., Giuliano, P., & Nunn, N. (2011). Fertility and the Plough. American Economic Review, 101(3), 499-503.
Abadie and Gardeazabal (2003). The Economic Costs of Conflict: A Case Study of the Basque Country. American Economic Review, 93(1), 113-132.
Alsan, M. (2015). The effect of the Tsetse Fly on African development. American Economic Review, 105(1), 382-410.
Dell, M. (2010). The persistent effects of Peru's mining mita. Econometrica, 78(6), 1863-1903.
Mayshar, J., Moav, O., & Pascali, L. (2022). The origin of the state: Land productivity or appropriability?. Journal of Political Economy, 130(4), 1091-1144.
Henderson J. V., Storeygard A., Weil D. N. (2012), Measuring Economic Growth from Outer Space, American Economic Review, 102(2): 994-1028.
Chen, Y., Jin, G. Z., Kumar, N., & Shi, G. (2013). The promise of Beijing: Evaluating the impact of the 2008 Olympic Games on air quality. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 66(3), 424-443.
Nunn, N. (2008). The long-term effects of Africa's slave trades. The Quarterly journal of economics, 123(1), 139-176.
Harari, M., & Ferrara, E. L. (2018). Conflict, climate, and cells: a disaggregated analysis. Review of Economics and Statistics, 100(4), 594-608.
Conley, T. G., & Udry, C. R. (2010). Learning about a new technology: Pineapple in Ghana. American economic review, 100(1), 35-69.
Costantini, V., Leone Sciabolazza, V., & Paglialunga, E. (2023). Network-driven positive externalities in clean energy technology production: the case of energy efficiency in the EU residential sector. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 48(2), 716-748.
Michalopoulos, S. (2012). The Origins of Ethnolinguistic Diversity. American Economic Review 102 (4): 1508–39.
Dinkelman, T. (2011). The Effects of Rural Electrification on Employment: New Evidence from South Africa. American Economic Review 101 (7): 3078–3108.
Duflo, E., & Pande, R. (2007). Dams. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 122(2), 601-646.
Chiovelli, G., Michalopoulos, S., Papaioannou, E. (2025). Landmines and spatial development. Econometrica, Forthcoming.
Kahn, M. E., Li, P., and Zhao, D. (2015). Water Pollution Progress at Borders: The Role of Changes in China's Political Promotion Incentives. American Economic Journal: Economic Policy 7 (4): 223–42.
Proost, S., & Thisse, J. F. (2019). What can be learned from spatial economics?. Journal of Economic Literature, 57(3), 575-643.
Kudamatsu, M. (2018). GIS for credible identication strategies in economics research. CESifo Economic Studies, 64(2), 327-338.
20. Dell, M., Jones, B. F., & Olken, B. A. (2014). What do we learn from the weather? The new climate-economy literature. Journal of Economic literature, 52(3), 740-798.