We aim to contribute to sustainable, democratic and just urban development through research and teaching. We enhance the understanding of and develop possible solutions for policy and planning challenges that emerge in urbanized regions globally. We are an interdisciplinary group working at the intersection of public policy, planning and urban studies.
The Progressive Politics Research Network (PPRNet) has published a new collection of policy briefs addressing how progressive actors can overcome political barriers to affordable housing and build broad coalitions across income classes and generations. The briefs bring together leading experts from across Europe and draw on cutting-edge empirical research, including large-scale surveys, experiments, and comparative policy analysis.
Malte Wehr, together with Michael Wicki, Stefan Witter, and David Kaufmann, published a new article in the Journal of Public Policy. Called “Beyond NIMBY-ism: rethinking acceptance of housing densification in a direct democratic renters society”, the paper examines how residents perceive and respond to urban housing densification.
How do spatial planners handle AI, regulation, biodiversity and housing shortages? In this interview, the program managers of the continuing education programme MAS in Spatial Development at ETH Zurich show why good planning begins with people.
A recent article by Katrin Hofer in Urban Affairs Review explores how residents of Bramfischerville, an underprivileged area in Johannesburg, South Africa, understand public participation in urban development. The study reveals that for many community members, participation is less about influencing policy and more about gaining recognition and fostering relationships. These locally grounded perspectives challenge dominant theories of participation as a state-led process.
Yuni Zhong joins SPUR as a visiting Ph.D. candidate from the College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University. Her research focuses on the intersection of urban geography and the platform economy, examining how digital platforms reshape urban space and influence the mobility and settlement of rural migrant workers in China.
