SGPE Summer School 2026 : Long-Run Urban Development: History, Methods, and PolicyInfo Location Contact More Info Event Information
DescriptionThe Scottish Graduate Programme in Economics (SGPE) is delighted to host the 2026 Summer School, led by Stephan Heblich (Professor of Economics, University of Toronto and Editor, Journal of Urban Economics). This intensive short course offers PhD students and academic staff a unique opportunity to engage with cutting-edge
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More InformationWhat is the course about?
Cities are among the most important economic and social institutions in human history. But why do they emerge? How are they structured internally? And what drives their growth over time?
This summer school explores these questions through a long-run perspective, guided by the influential work History and Urban Economics. Participants will examine how historical processes continue to shape modern urban systems, and how economists can rigorously study these dynamics. What will you learn?
The course will cover three core themes:
• The origins of cities – why cities exist and how agglomeration forces shape economic activity • Urban structure and infrastructure – how cities organise internally and how infrastructure emerges • Long-run urban growth – the evolution of cities over time and the persistence of historical patterns
Methods and tools
A key feature of the summer school is its focus on innovative empirical methods at the frontier of urban and economic history research. Participants will be introduced to: • Techniques for digitising historical records and maps • GIS-based methods to infer past conditions from present-day data • Model-based approaches to reconstruct historical economic environments
These approaches allow researchers to uncover new insights into how cities develop and how past shocks continue to influence present-day outcomes.
A collaborative research environment
The summer school is designed to be interactive and interdisciplinary. Participants will have the opportunity to: • Present and discuss their own research ideas • Engage with peers from across economics, urban studies, geography, sociology, and data science • Receive feedback in a supportive, research-focused setting
Publishing and professional development
In addition to the academic content, Stephan Heblich will offer a dedicated session on publishing in top journals, drawing on his experience as an editor of the Journal of Urban Economics.
This will include a “pitch session”, where participants can develop and present their research ideas, gaining practical insights into how to position work for publication.
Who should attend?
The summer school is open to • PhD students in economics and related disciplines • Early career researchers and academic staff • Researchers with an interest in urban development, economic history, or applied empirical methods
No prior background in urban economics is required, although familiarity with econometrics will be helpful.
Key details at-a-glance • Dates: 11–14 May 2026 • Location: University of Stirling • Format: In-person, intensive short course
Further details on registration and participation will be announced shortly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
