Eugenie Birch: Financing, Planning, and Trust in the Cities of Tomorrow

In this episode of The Century of Cities, we are joined by Eugenie Birch, scholar, city planner, and Lawrence C. Nussdorf Chair of Urban Research at the University of Pennsylvania. With an eye on both history and horizon, Genie discusses the divergent trajectories of northern and southern cities, and why policy gaps, financing bottlenecks, and the role of planners will define the next century. She makes the case for universities as anchor institutions, explains the trillion-dollar shortfall in climate-resilient infrastructure, and shares bold ideas behind urban finance. Genie also explains why technical expertise and political trust must grow together, how the global South can leapfrog with the right investment, and why she remains "extremely optimistic" about the long game for cities.