EJB Talks has returned for its 11th season, featuring an interview with Professor Mi Shih, the director of the urban planning program at the Bloustein School. In a conversation with Dean Stuart Shapiro, Shih discussed her work on urban development globally, focusing on Taiwan.
Shih shared her interest in urban planning and the tension between populism and expert decision-making. She explained "density bonusing" in Taiwan, a planning tool where developers receive more development rights in exchange for public benefits. She critiqued the lack of transparency and community involvement in these processes.
Regarding density bonusing, Shih said: "Local planning authorities give real estate developers more development rights so they can build taller...in exchange for privately funded public benefits." She highlighted that this process often excludes community input: "The communities are completely left out of this process."
Shih emphasized the motivations of today's urban planning students to make a difference. "They just want to make the world a better place," she said, stressing the importance of connecting knowledge to action for public good.
Shapiro noted that many people might be interested in urban planning if they understood its impact. He expressed hope that listeners would gain insight from the podcast.
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