Political Economy Flashcards
what is the key difference between the Chicago school and the political economy school ?
The chicago school sees the city as a self-regulating organism, whereas the political economy school acknowledges that political and corporate powers have agency in shaping cities.
what are 3 critiques of the chicago school by the political economy school ?
1) Times have changed. With the decline of the industrial city, the outward pulse of the concentric zone model is no longer happening.
2) The willingness to ignore a control from a political power is a naïve idea : of course there are agencies and institutions that control, in the interests of the wealthy
3) Their methods. Chicago scholars practice ethnography, however you cannot “stumble upon” power. Political economy scholars use theoretical insights to think about where they should look.
What is political economy?
1) The study of how industry groups, the state, and other powerful actors interlock
2) The study of the systems that emerge as a result
3) The study of the consequences these systems produce (for [in]equality, international relations, etc.)
Political economy is based on what fundamental insight by Engels ?
The city is an expression of economic functions and needs.
How does the political economy school perceive company towns ?
Industrial leaders govern cities: in company town, like in Asbestos; employer of the mine often owns everything else in the town; resistence becomes futile bc dependent on that company on a wide variety of axis. Soft power; the company engages in philanthropy, build good will of the ppl, close influence over entire political class. Ex: whoever wins elections is friend will local industry
Who wrote about political economy?
Molotch, Harvey, Hoang, Smith (although we talked about smith in the gentrification section)
