Urban Politics: Key Concepts and Economic Foundations

Course Logistics and Introduction to Urban Politics

Presentation Schedule: Presentations are scheduled for every Thursday, with each session lasting 75 minutes. The course includes a total of four presentations.

Interdisciplinary Field: Urban politics is an inherently interesting and complex field that is studied across multiple social science disciplines. This indicates its multifaceted nature, requiring diverse analytical frameworks to fully comprehend.

Primary Funding Mechanism: Property taxes serve as the fundamental and primary method for providing funds to local governments. This direct link between property value and local public services underscores the significance of property-related policies.
Statewide Propositions and Local Impact: Even a proposition enacted at the statewide level can have profound and significant implications for local communities. This highlights how broader legislative decisions can dramatically shape local governance and resource allocation, particularly concerning property taxes which are vital for local funding.
Localities and Divergent Interests: Localities often possess distinct interests that may not align with broader national or state concerns. For example, some localities might lack specific military interests, indicating a preference for local issues over national defense priorities.

Focus on Private Spheres: Within cities, various groups often concentrate intensely on their specific, private interests. These groups might prioritize their 'private corner of the world,' focusing on issues that directly affect their immediate environment or community, rather than broader civic or metropolitan concerns.

Fundamental Distinction: A critical distinction exists between 'use value' and 'exchange value'; these two concepts are not interchangeable and represent different dimensions of an item's worth.
Use Value: This refers to the utility or satisfaction derived from using a good or service. Aspects of use value are often intrinsically difficult to quantify monetarily. Examples include:
- Social well-being contributors.
- The sense of community and belonging.
- Aesthetic qualities (e.g., natural beauty, architectural appeal).
- Environmental benefits (e.g., clean air, green spaces).
- Social functions (e.g., public gathering spaces, cultural institutions).
- These are elements that enrich life and contribute to overall societal health but are challenging to assign a price tag to.
Exchange Value: This refers to the value of a commodity in the market, expressed in terms of money, for which it can be bought and sold. It's the quantitative aspect of worth determined by market forces. A characteristic of our current economic system is that many things that provide essential social well-being functions are increasingly viewed and treated as commodities to be bought and sold.

Commodification of Housing: There is a growing trend where housing, which inherently possesses significant 'use value' (shelter, home, community), is increasingly treated predominantly as a commodity with 'exchange value.'
Politics of Property and Place: This shift ties directly into the politics of property and the politics of places. When housing is primarily seen as an investment or a tradeable asset, it profoundly impacts urban development, affordability, social equity, and the overall character of communities. These themes will be further explored in subsequent discussions.