Publications

Publication November 7, 2024 The Green Cities Guarantee Fund: Unlocking Access to Urban Climate Finance The SDSN Global Commission for Urban SDG Finance proposes a Green Cities Guarantee Fund (GCGF) as an important tool to increase the flow of public and private capital into subnational climate-responsive projects. This report details the case for the GCGF, offers a roadmap for operationalizing the fund, and makes suggestions for its initial market pilot in Latin America.

Research Paper October 28, 2024 Forbearance Worked during Covid-19. Does it Always? Forbearance worked during Covid-19, but does it always? The authors build on recent literature to show the efficacy of forbearance policies during Covid-19--an unexpected outcome. Andrey D. Pavlov Susan Wachter Housing

Research Paper October 26, 2024 From Grey to Green: Better data to finance nature in cities The Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR) released a report for the United Nations (UN) Environment Programme Cities Unit’s State of Finance for Nature in Cities, "From Grey to Green: Better data to finance nature in cities," during COP16 Colombia. Amanda Lloyd Samuel Geldin Eugénie L. Birch Climate Change & Resilience

Article October 24, 2024 Faculty Spotlight: Allison Lassiter Penn IUR Faculty Fellow Allison Lassiter is adapting drinking water systems to climate change. She tells Penn IUR about a tool her lab is developing, SaltCast, and her role in serving on Penn’s delegation to the UNFCCC Conference of Parties. Climate Change & Resilience

Article October 16, 2024 Gilles Duranton on the Growth of Cities In his foundational review, “The growth of cities,” Duranton, together with co-author Diego Puga, argue that there are four main drivers to city growth. Gilles Duranton Urban Development

Article October 16, 2024 Commission Advances Agenda During New York Climate Week World mayors, urban finance and legal experts comprising the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Global Commission for Urban SDG Finance developed recommendations to address cities’ climate financing needs during Climate Week in New York. Climate Change & Resilience

Annual Report October 16, 2024 Sustainable Urban Futures: 2023-2024 Penn IUR Annual Report Penn Institute for Urban Research's annual report, Sustainable Urban Futures: Bridging Research, Policy, and Practice, documents the Institute’s research initiatives, publications, events, and instructional activities over the 2023–2024 academic year. Climate Change & Resilience Urban Development + 1

Article September 19, 2024 Vincent Reina on Shaping Housing Policy Vincent Reina, an Associate Professor of City and Regional planning at the University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design and Faculty Director of the Housing Initiative at Penn (HIP), spoke with Penn Institute for Urban Research on his experience as Senior Advisor for housing and urban policy in the White House Domestic Policy Council. Vincent Reina Megan Schmidgal Housing

Research Paper September 14, 2024 SDSN Global Commission for Urban SDG Finance Recommendations Report The SDSN Global Commission for Urban SDG Finance is working at a critical juncture for urban climate finance. Cities continue to face record-breaking heat and devastating disasters. As the cost of our underpreparedness mounts, cities continue to receive only 7-8% of climate funds despite housing nearly 60% of the global population. There are signs that enabling conditions are being strengthened and cities are gaining the attention they desperately need. However, cities need to be ready for the spotlight. Mauricio Rodas Eugénie L. Birch William Burke-White Laura Frances Mueller-Soppart Amanda Lloyd Climate Change & Resilience

Newsletter September 3, 2024 Penn IUR newsletter, Fall 2024 The Penn Institute for Urban Research's biannual newsletter is a journal of record, activities and news. Urban Development

Research Paper August 28, 2024 The Challenge of Affordable Housing: Shared Equity as a Way Forward This report summarizes ideas exchanged at a one-day roundtable on shared equity housing (SEH) convened by Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR) and the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy in June 2023. With housing shortages impacting communities of all sizes, Penn IUR Research Associate Meagan Ehlenz, PhD, AICP teamed up with Susan Wachter, Penn IUR Co-Director and Wharton Albert Sussman Professor of Real Estate and Finance, to explore shared equity as as a strategy to respond to the urgent demand for affordable housing. Meagan Ehlenz Housing

Research Paper June 26, 2024 Reflections on Doom Loop or Boom Loop Work from Home and the Challenges Facing America’s Big Cities Richard Voith David Stanek Susan Wachter State & Local Finance

Article May 21, 2024 Paris Meeting of Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Global Commission for Urban Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Finance Marks A Year of Progress Eugénie L. Birch Mauricio Rodas Climate Change & Resilience Urban Development

Article May 21, 2024 Urban Doctoral Symposium Celebrates Emerging Urban Research and Local Urban Leader Urban Development

Article May 15, 2024 Localizing International Manufacturing Companies in the U.S. - Examining Successful Labor Practices What labor practices have international manufacturing companies implemented to successfully localize in the US post-COVID-1 9? Zou's research focuses on comprehending the driving factors behind localization efforts, the alterations in labor practices, and the overall ramifications of these adaptations on both the workforce and the industry at large. State & Local Finance

Equality and the City by Enrique Peñalosa Londoño book cover

Book April 30, 2024 Equality and the City: Urban Innovations for All Citizens In Equality and the City, Enrique Peñalosa Londoño draws on his experience as mayor of Bogotá, Colombia to share his perspective on the issues facing developing cities, especially sustainable transportation and equal access to public space. Enrique Peñalosa Urban Development

Book April 26, 2024 Underground: Dreams and Degradations in Bucharest Underground moves beneath Romania’s capital, Bucharest, to examine how the demands of global accumulation have extended urban life beneath city sidewalks. Bruce O'Neill Urban Development

Article April 22, 2024 Sixth Annual Jeremy Nowak Memorial Lecture Highlights Key Role of Community Development Financial Institutions The Sixth Annual Jeremy Nowak Memorial Lecture, a collaboration between the Reinvestment Fund and the Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR), brought together a panel of Community Development Financial Institutions leaders to explore their pivotal role in fostering economic opportunities for all. Urban Development State & Local Finance

Article April 19, 2024 Penn IUR Celebrates Resilience with 2024 Urban Leadership Prize The Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR) honored three pathbreaking urban leaders from around the globe at the 19th Annual Urban Leadership Forum on April 5: • Jaime Alberto Pumarejo Heins, former Mayor, City of Barranquilla, Colombia; • Andrew Melnik, former International Projects Manager, City of Bucha, Region of Kyiv, Ukraine; and • Lauren Sorkin, Executive Director, Resilient Cities Network. Climate Change & Resilience

Article April 18, 2024 Mr. Terrell Goes to Washington: Penn IUR Undergraduate Fellow Visits DC Timethius Terrell (C’24), shares his experience traveling to Washington, D.C. for a daylong trip to meet policymakers and urban policy experts as part of the Penn IUR Fellows in Urban Leadership program. Anchor Institutions

Article April 17, 2024 2024 Lawrence C. Nussdorf Student Award Winners Honored at Penn IUR 19th Annual Urban Leadership Forum Three University of Pennsylvania undergraduate students claimed the 2024 Lawrence C. Nussdorf Student Award, presented by the Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR) at the 19th Annual Urban Leadership Forum April 5: Joey Jung, Marielle Kang, and Khalid Mohieldin. Eugénie L. Birch Susan Wachter Urban Development

Newsletter April 5, 2024 Penn IUR Newsletter, Spring 2024 Climate Change & Resilience Urban Development

Article March 25, 2024 Annual Conference Brings Together City Leaders Held in February 2024, the annual student-run Wharton-Weitzman Future of Cities conference convened more than 100 attendees for a day-long event “to bring together those who want to make cities better.” This year’s theme, Embedded Environments: Making the Invisible Visible, covered several topics including urban leadership, real estate, resilience, mobility, and decarbonization. Penn IUR co-sponsored the event. Urban Development Anchor Institutions

Publication February 14, 2024 Weitzman Students Present Green Infrastructure Plan to Ukrainian Ambassador Climate Change & Resilience Urban Development

Newsletter January 17, 2024 Penn IUR Newsletter, Fall 2023 Urban Development

Publications

All Publications

Don’t miss the latest from Penn IUR. Subscribe to Urban Link.