Policy

News April 28, 2026 Bipartisan Push to Protect Taxpayers in GSE Privatization As Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac move closer to privatization, bipartisan lawmakers and Susan Wachter are converging on one key safeguard: codifying credit risk transfer protections to shield taxpayers from future mortgage losses. State & Local Finance
Article April 20, 2026 Penn IUR Fellows in Urban Leadership Explore Housing Policy in Washington, D.C. Penn IUR 2026 Fellows in Urban Leadership traveled to Washington, D.C. on March 27 for an intensive, day-long immersion focused on housing policy. Urban Development Housing
Article April 20, 2026 Faculty Spotlight: Sanya Carley Penn IUR Faculty Fellow Sanya Carley, Penn’s Vice Provost for Climate Science, Policy, and Action, is leading a new era of multidisciplinary climate strategy. She speaks with Penn IUR about the launch of the Penn Climate office, the upcoming Grand Climate Challenge Initiative, and her research into energy justice and the human costs of the clean energy transition. Climate Change & Resilience
Announcement April 13, 2026 Former Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter Launches Public Service and Policy Initiative at University of Pennsylvania Penn IUR and Weitzman School of Design is launching a Public Service and Policy Initiative with former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter. Urban Development
Podcasts April 9, 2026 Special Briefing on Transportation Opportunities & Challenges in the New Federalism Affordability pressures, shifting federal priorities, and uncertainty around long-term funding have reshaped the transportation policy landscape in the U.S. For a discussion of how evolving federal-state-local relationships are redefining infrastructure investment, funding stability, and project delivery across the country, Penn IUR and the Volcker Alliance convened a panel of leading transportation, finance, and policy experts for “Special Briefing on Transportation Opportunities & Challenges in the New Federalism” on March 26, 2026.  Eryn Hurley State & Local Finance
Apr 07 2026 Past Event Mayor Cherelle Parker on Public Safety & Education Speakers:  Cherelle Parker Urban Development
Article March 18, 2026 The Future of Decentralization and Multilevel Governance in a Rapidly Changing World Penn IUR Scholar Paul Smoke convened scholars, practitioners, and policy leaders at New York University (NYU)’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service for a global roundtable on the future of decentralization and multilevel governance (MLG) on February 26–27, 2026. Urban Development
Article March 17, 2026 Mariaflavia Harari on Slum Upgrading and Urban Development Outcomes Dr. Mariaflavia (Nina) Harari studies at the intersection of urban economics, international development, and real estate, focusing on how institutions, land markets, and infrastructure shape the evolution of cities in emerging economies Urban Development
Article February 12, 2026 Fernando Ferreira on the Economic Value of Zoning Reform Fernando Ferreira studies how public policy and market forces interact to shape cities, housing markets, and public outcomes State & Local Finance
Podcasts February 11, 2026 Special Briefing on The Year Ahead for Cities A nationwide housing supply shortage is shaping local and state responses to mounting affordability pressures across the U.S.. For a discussion of the economic, fiscal, and policy drivers of housing affordability and the strategies states and localities are pursuing to expand housing access, Penn IUR and the Volcker Alliance convened a panel of housing finance, policy, and urban development experts for “Special Briefing on Addressing the Housing Crisis: Innovative Solutions from across America” on February 19, 2026. State & Local Finance
Mar 19 2026 Past Event PhD Lunch & Lightning Talks Urban Development
Feb 09 2026 Past Event The Senator Nikil Saval Forum Speakers:  Nikil Saval Vincent Reina Housing
Feb 19 2026 Past Event Special Briefing on Addressing the Housing Crisis: Innovative Solutions from Across America Speakers:  William Glasgall Susan Wachter Hannah Blitzer Eric Goldywn Laurie Goodman Paul Steenhausen State & Local Finance
mayor janet cowell headshot
Advisory Board Member Mayor Janet Cowell
Mayor, Raleigh
State & Local Finance
News January 4, 2026 Beyond zoning reform Penn IUR Faculty Fellows Ben Keys (The Wharton School) and Vincent Reina (University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design) on how the solution to the housing affordability crisis goes beyond zoning reform Housing
News December 16, 2025 Leslie Richards on Penn’s Ambitious New Transportation Initiative The former CEO of PennDOT and SEPTA is working to break down silos and overcome the barriers to innovation. Leslie Richards Urban Development
Jan 29 2026 Past Event Special Briefing: The Year Ahead for Cities Speakers:  William Glasgall Susan Wachter Mayor Janet Cowell Fitzroy Lee Sarah Parker Nicholas Samuels Matthew Stitt State & Local Finance
Research Paper December 11, 2025 Surveillance or Safety? How Cities are Rewriting Tourism Cities are turning to Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a transformative tool to enhance safety through predictive analytics, real-time monitoring, and rapid response systems. At the same time, AI deployment raises pressing governance questions. Mauricio Rodas Eugénie L. Birch Luke Campo Urban Development
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
Research Paper 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

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