North America | Penn IUR

Announcement November 19, 2025 Penn Institute for Urban Research Releases Policy Brief on the Future of the GSEs The Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR) at the University of Pennsylvania has released a new policy brief, “The Future of the GSEs: Conservatorship, Capital, and Mission, Housing

Publication November 12, 2025 The Future of the GSEs: Conservatorship, Capital, and Mission This brief is the outcome of a roundtable examining the privatization of the GSEs through a utility model. Attendees considered the elements needed and best structure for a more privatized GSE model for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Housing

Dec 16 11:00 am Special Briefing on the Outlook for 2026: How States & Cities Will Adapt to Wrenching Change Speakers: William Glasgall Susan Wachter Matt Fabian Eric Kim Allison Schrager Torsten Slok State & Local Finance

Podcasts October 28, 2025 Special Briefing on Strategies for Closing the US Infrastructure Gap Public infrastructure gaps and deferred maintenance are critical challenges for state and local governments. Join William Glasgall, Penn IUR Fellow and Volcker Alliance Public Finance Adviser, and Susan Wachter, Co-Director of Penn IUR and Wharton professor, and our expert panel as we discuss how states and municipalities can better measure, manage, and fund infrastructure gaps. Panelists include Geoffrey Buswick, Managing Director & Sector Leader in U.S. Public Finance, S&P Global Ratings; Camila Fonseca Sarmiento, Director of Fiscal Research, Institute for Urban and Regional Infrastructure Finance; Hughey Newsome, Chief Financial Officer, Sound Transit; Leslie Richards, Professor of Practice, City and Regional Planning, Weitzman School of Design and Former CEO of SEPTA; Fatima Yousofi, Senior Officer, The Pew Charitable Trusts. Geoffrey Buswick Camila Fonseca Sarmiento Hughey Newsome Fatima Yousofi Leslie Richards State & Local Finance

Article October 20, 2025 Erick Guerra on the Costs and Benefits of Roads Erick Guerra studies the intersection of transportation, land use, and travel behavior, particularly in rapidly urbanizing and motorizing cities. Urban Development

Nov 20 2025 Past Event Special Briefing: AI in Government—More Efficiency but Fewer Workers? Speakers: William Glasgall Susan Wachter Jon Hartley Megan Kilgore Howard Neukrug Leigh Palmer Thomas Sanchez State & Local Finance

News September 26, 2025 Transit Briefs: R-TRIP, MTA LIRR, Metra, REM Urban Development

Announcement September 25, 2025 Penn Launches Richards Transportation Initiative to Drive Smarter, More Accessible Mobility Solutions Urban Development

Oct 17 2025 Past Event The Richards Transportation Initiative at Penn Launch Event Speakers: Leigh Palmer Urban Development

Oct 16 2025 Past Event The Richards Transportation Initiative at Penn Networking Happy Hour Speakers: Leslie Richards

Fellow in Urban Leadership Skyla Rimple

Penn IUR Fellow in Urban Leadership

News September 12, 2025 Marketplace: The Effect of Falling Mortgage Rates Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter talks with Marketplace on what falling mortgage rates represent for the economy and potential homebuyers. Housing

Oct 16 2025 Past Event Special Briefing: Strategies for Closing the US Infrastructure Gap Speakers: William Glasgall Susan Wachter Leslie Richards Camila Fonseca Sarmiento Geoffrey Buswick Fatima Yousofi Hughey Newsome State & Local Finance

News August 25, 2025 U.S. home sales rose 2% in July — but affordability remains near historic lows Penn IUR's Susan Wachter tells Marketplace: there’s only a “slight — but I have to underline slight — improvement.” Housing

News August 15, 2025 Eugenie L. Birch to receive the 2025 Above and Beyond Award from the Regional Plan Association RPA will recognize Dr. Birch for her many contributions to urban planning and policy here and abroad in October 2025. Urban Development

Apr 10 2025 Past Event Book Talk | Unforgiving Places: The Unexpected Origins of American Gun Violence with Jens Ludwig Speakers: John MacDonald Jens Ludwig Urban Development

Apr 11 2025 Past Event Seventh Annual Nowak Memorial Lecture | Founding Visions: A Journey of Collaboration and Impact Speakers: Patricia L. Smith Eva Gladstein Joyce Wilkerson Dr. Katherine O’Regan Urban Development

Feb 20 2025 Past Event Special Briefing: The New Administration’s First Month Speakers: Mark Zandi Carolyn Bourdeaux Jeffrey Holland Eric Kim Vikram Rai Torsten Slok William Glasgall Susan Wachter State & Local Finance

Podcasts December 5, 2024 Special Briefing: The Road Ahead for the Economy, States, and Localities as Donald Trump and the GOP Take Charge Major policy shifts in immigration, taxes, trade, energy, health care, and pandemic-era programs passed under the Biden Administration look increasingly likely with Donald Trump capturing the White House and his fellow Republicans taking control of both houses of Congress for the first time in two years. Our panel of experts will share their views on what this sea change may mean for the economy and Federal Reserve, as well as the impact on states, localities, and the $4 trillion municipal bond market, including the possible elimination of the federal tax exemption on most muni bond interest. Susan Wachter William Glasgall Annie Linskey Carolyn Bourdeaux Eric Kazatsky Teryn Zmuda Torsen Slok State & Local Finance

Faculty Fellow Sanya Carley

Presidential Distinguished Professor of Energy Policy & City Planning, Weitzman School of Design Mark Alan Hughes Faculty Director, The Kleinman Center for Energy Policy

Climate Change & Resilience

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