Urban Development and Density in Taiwan: EJB Talks with Mi Shih

EJB Talks returns for its 11th season! Today Dean Stuart Shapiro interviews Professor Mi Shih, the director of the school's nationally-ranked urban planning program, about her work on urban development globally, with a focus on Taiwan. Mi discusses her interest in urban planning and the tension between populism and expert decision-making. She explains the concept of "density bonusing" in Taiwan, a planning tool where developers receive more development rights in exchange for public benefits, and critiques the lack of transparency and community involvement in these processes. Mi and Stuart also talk about the motivations of today's urban planning students to make a difference in the work they are doing, emphasizing the importance of connecting knowledge to action for the public good.