UGOVERN: FROM POLICY TO PRACTICE: INNOVATIVE REGULATORY TOOLS FOR ADDRESSING THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS

Organizers

Nuno Travasso, University of Coimbra
Ebru Kurt-Özman, University of Amsterdam

Contributors

Tuna Taşan-Kok, University of Amsterdam
Ebru Kurt-Özman, University of Amsterdam
Andre Legarza, University of Amsterdam
Ayda Eraydın, The Middle East Technical University
Gülden Erkut, Istanbul Technical University
Nuno Travasso, University of Coimbra

The roundtable we propose will explore innovative regulatory tools and practices addressing the affordable housing crisis within fragmented governance systems, with a focus on their implementation, benefits, and challenges in diverse country contexts. While housing market trends and urban development processes vary significantly across nations, this session aims to foster a comparative analysis of actionable policy instruments that have demonstrated potential to stimulate affordable housing production while addressing equity and sustainability goals.

In the context of the global housing crisis, particularly in the Netherlands, Turkey, Portugal, the U.S., and France, discussions on the most effective public policies and planning tools have gained urgency. A nuanced analysis of specific regulatory approaches within these fragmented governance systems is essential to formulating innovative strategies. 

This roundtable will pursue three key objectives:

1. Highlighting Innovative Tools: Exploring specific regulatory instruments and policies being used to address the housing crisis in different contexts.
2. Evaluating Contextual Effectiveness: Understanding the conditions under which these tools operate and the factors influencing their success or failure.
3. Fostering Adaptability: Discussing the potential for adapting and scaling these tools across diverse governance systems while respecting contextual specificities.

Additionally, the roundtable will aim to establish a set of key metrics and issues to support future comparative research, potentially leading to a broader international publication on this theme, comprising a larger number of countries.

Structure of the Roundtable:

1) Introduction and Comparative Data

The session will begin with a brief overview of the affordable housing crisis and its relationship with fragmented governance systems across the different case studies. A comparative statistics dataset will set the stage, helping to understand the different contexts on which the different policy tools operate.

2) Policy Tool Presentations

Each speaker will present one innovative regulatory tool currently in use in their country. Presentations will focus on:

1. Tool Design and Implementation: A detailed description of the regulatory tool, including its goals, mechanisms, and governance structure.
2. Impact and Challenges: An evaluation of the tool’s effectiveness in addressing the affordable housing crisis, with attention to equity and sustainability.

The tools presented may include:

* The Netherlands: The 40-40-20 rule, which balances social, mid- income, and market-rate housing in new developments.

* Turkey: Urban transformation projects incentivized through public- private partnerships.

* Portugal: Affordable rental housing programs targeting middle- and low-income households.

* U.S.: Inclusionary zoning policies and housing trust funds.

* France: The ZAC (Zone d’Aménagement Concerté) model for integrated urban development and affordable housing production.

3) Discussion and Interactive Engagement

The open discussion will examine the benefits, limitations, and transferability of the described tools across governance systems. Participants will critically assess how these fragmented yet innovative approaches can address housing affordability while advancing equity and sustainability goals.

To make the session more engaging, interactive elements such as small group exercises or real-time polling may be incorporated. For example, participants might propose adaptations or new tools inspired by the cases presented and collaboratively discuss their feasibility in different governance contexts.

Key words: affordable housing, regulatory tools, fragmented governance, urban development, comparative analysis