Welcome
I am a Professor of Urban Economics at Universidad Torcuato Di Tella in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I direct the MSc in Urban Economics (MEU) and founded and chair the Urban Policy and Housing Research Center (CIPUV), one of the leading urban research centers in Latin America.
My research bridges theory and practice, focusing on urban policies, housing, land markets, and development financing, including climate adaptation, mitigation, and finance. I place special emphasis on reversing inequalities and fostering urban inclusion, particularly in developing nations.
I hold a Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning from the London School of Economics and Political Science (2008), with a specialization in Spatial Economics and Development. I have lectured at the University of Cambridge, the LSE, UCLA, UC Berkeley, University of Southern California, and the Institute of Housing Studies (Erasmus University, Netherlands). I serve as a David Rockefeller Visiting Scholar at Harvard University.
I consult for Argentine and other Latin American governments and act as a senior advisor to the World Bank, United Nations, Inter-American Development Bank, and CAF (Development Bank of Latin America). I am a Senior Research Fellow at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.
Current Research Topics (2024–2025)
- Climate change and investment in urban adaptation, mitigation, residential energy efficiency, and land-based financing instruments
- Housing policies and financing; decentralization of housing policies; housing sector value chain
- Land management policies and land-based financing for urban development, adaptation/mitigation, and informal settlement upgrading
- Evaluation of programs to enhance thermal conditions in housing; health impacts and household expenses
- Informal settlements and preventive policies against informality
- Public-private financing schemes for informal settlement upgrading in the Buenos Aires metropolitan region
- Rental market and temporary rentals
- Urban growth in the Buenos Aires metropolitan region 2010–2024
Recent Publications
Goytia, C. & Gertner, G. (2025) "Equitable energy transitions in informal urban settlements: Lessons from energy audits in the City of Buenos Aires." Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, 4(3). [Link]
Goytia, C. & Gertner, G. (2025) "Energy efficiency and climate adaptation: A behavioral lens on informal settlements housing in Argentina." Chapter 6 in Belfiori & Gertner (Eds.), Climate Change and Economic Growth: Lessons from Argentina. Springer.
Goytia, C. (2025) "Reversing displacement: The enforcement of inclusionary land management instruments." Chapter 4 in Displaced Urbanism, Routledge.
Goytia, C. & Gertner, G. (2025) "From Disparity to Sustainability: The Journey of Energy Efficiency in Buenos Aires' Low-Income Neighborhoods." Chapter 3 in Resilient Urbanism, Routledge.
Biography
Professor Cynthia Goytia is Head of the Master of Science in Urban Economics program at Torcuato Di Tella University in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Since 2012, she has chaired the university's Urban Policy and Housing Research Center (CIPUV), which she founded. CIPUV is one of the leading urban research centers in Latin America, where she has developed an influential body of academic research on urban policies, housing, and land markets.
She earned an M.Sc. (2001) as well as a Ph.D. (2008) in Urban Economics from the London School of Economics (LSE), with a specialization in Spatial Economics and Development. As a Harvard University Visiting Scholar, she has lectured at the LSE and Cambridge University, and other universities in Europe and the Americas.
She currently serves as a senior urban consultant to the National Government of Argentina, the Buenos Aires City Government, other Latin American governments, the World Bank, the United Nations, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the CAF (Banco de Desarrollo de America Latina). She is also a Senior Research Fellow at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.
Education
Ph.D., Urban and Regional Planning (2008)
Specialization in Spatial Economics and Development
London School of Economics and Political Science, Department of Geography and Environment
Specialization in Spatial Economics and Development
London School of Economics and Political Science, Department of Geography and Environment
M.Sc., Urban Economics (2001)
Universidad Torcuato Di Tella (UTDT)
Universidad Torcuato Di Tella (UTDT)
Current Positions
Director, MSc Urban Economics (MEU) — Universidad Torcuato Di Tella (2011–present)
Founder & Director, CIPUV — Universidad Torcuato Di Tella (2012–present)
Professor of Urban Economics — Universidad Torcuato Di Tella (2005–present)
Director, Data Lab / CIPUV — UTDT (2017–present)
Research Fellow, CEPE — UTDT (2018–present)
Previous Positions
Senior Research Fellow — Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (2016–present)
Fortabat Visiting Scholar — Harvard University, David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies (2016–2017, 2021)
Visiting Lecturer — Institute of Housing Studies, Erasmus University, Netherlands (2015–2017, 2021)
Lecturer — London School of Economics and Political Science (2008–2011)
Researcher and Lecturer — CPI, University of Cambridge, UK (2002–2005)
Researcher — ECLAC, Chile (2002)
Associate Director, MSc Urban Economics — UTDT (2005–2010)
Awards, Distinctions & Institutional Service
UN-Habitat (2024) — Selected as Latin American academic representative for the Academic Roundtable at World Urban Forum 12, Cairo
Reviewer — CAF Development Report (RED) 2025 on decentralization in Latin America
Boards & Advisory Councils
Consejo Asesor — Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Member, Board of Directors — Fundacion Instituto Torcuato Di Tella (since 2020)
Member, Board of Directors — Fundacion Pro Vivienda Social
Member — RIL – Red de Innovacion Local (Red de Accion Local)
Representative — Buenos Aires City Strategic Plan Council
Member — International Habitat Summit Council for Latin America and the Caribbean
Evaluator — Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Research Projects
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
2025
Goytia, C. & Gertner, G. (2025). Equitable energy transitions in informal urban settlements: Lessons from energy audits in the City of Buenos Aires. Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, 4(3). [Link]
Goytia, C. & Gertner, G. (2025). The Interplay Between Rent Control, Credit Market Dysfunctions and Short-Term Rentals on Housing Markets: Evidence from the City of Buenos Aires. Journal of Regional Studies – Special Issue. (Conditionally accepted)
2022
Goytia, C., Heikkila, E.J. & Pasquini, R.A. (2022). Do land use regulations help give rise to informal settlements? Evidence from Buenos Aires. Land Use Policy, 125, 106484. [Link]
Situacion financiera de la movilidad urbana en Buenos Aires, 2015–2021. Documentos de Proyectos (LC/TS.2022/160). CEPAL, Santiago.
2018
Goytia, C., Guerra, E. & Peralta Quiros, T. (2018). The geography of household transportation expenses in Greater Buenos Aires. Journal of Transport Geography, 72, 76–85. [Link]
2016
Goytia, C. & Pasquini, R. (2016). Housing informality: The land use regulation link to informal tenure in developing countries. Regional Studies. [PDF]
Books and Book Chapters
2025
Goytia, C. & Gertner, G. (2025). Energy efficiency and climate adaptation: A behavioral lens on informal settlements housing in Argentina. In E. Belfiori & G. Gertner (Eds.), Climate Change and Economic Growth: Lessons from Argentina (Chap. 6). SpringerBriefs. [Link]
Goytia, C. (2025). Reversing displacement: The enforcement of inclusionary land management instruments. Chapter 4 in G. Karunaratne (Ed.), Displaced Urbanism. Routledge. ISBN 9781032748283. [Link]
Goytia, C. & Gertner, G. (2025). From disparity to sustainability: The journey of energy efficiency in Buenos Aires' low-income neighborhoods. Chapter 3 in G. Karunaratne (Ed.), Resilient Urbanism. Routledge. ISBN 9781032748320. [Link]
2023
Goytia, C. (2023). The pandemic and informal settlements: New challenges. In Informal Settlements of the Global South. Routledge. ISBN 9781032043074. [Link]
2022
Goytia, C. (2022). Land markets and land policy. Chapter 7 in J. Gonzalez, C. Irazabal & R. Lois (Eds.), Handbook on Urban Studies in Latin America and the Caribbean. Routledge. [Link]
Goytia, C. (2022). Urban challenges in post-COVID times: How can innovative land-use planning and inclusionary housing strategies support the post-pandemic recovery? URBANET, GTZ.
2021
Goytia, C. (2021). Enhancing the benefits of agglomeration in Latin American mega cities: The role of urban policies and a framework for policy action. Chapter 4 in V. Shridhar & G. Mavrotas (Eds.), Urbanization in the Global South. Routledge India. ISBN 9780367553906. [Link]
Learning from Latin America's informal settlements and urban policies. URBANET, GTZ.
2020
Goytia, C. (2020). Un modelo urbano policentrico y multinodal para el AMBA. In Postpandemia: 53 politicas publicas para el mundo que viene. CEPE, UTDT.
Goytia, C. (2020). Vehiculos autonomos I & II. Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo, Division de Transporte. Nota Tecnica IDB-1930.
2019
Goytia, C. (2019). Informal land markets. In A.M. Orum (Ed.), The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Urban and Regional Studies. [Link]
Goytia, C. & Cristini, M. (2019). Subsidized affordable housing (homeownership). In The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Urban and Regional Studies. doi:10.1002/9781118568446.eurs0328
Goytia, C. & Smolka, M.O. (2020). Land markets. In The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Urban and Regional Studies. [Link]
2018
Goytia, C. (2018). Metropolitan governance for land use. In Steering the Metropolis. IDB, UN-Habitat, CAF. [Link]
2017
Goytia, C. et al. (2017). Urban growth and access to opportunities: A challenge for Latin America. CAF Reporte de Desarrollo. With J. Vargas, P. Brassiolo, P. Sanguinetti, C. Daude, F. Alvarez, G. Fajardo. [Link]
Goytia, C. (2017). Vivienda y habitat para revertir la desigualdad. In E. Levy Yeyati (Ed.), 100 Politicas para la Argentina del 2030.
Goytia, C. (2017). Ciudades 2030: diagnostico sobre ciudades y desarrollo urbano para Argentina 2030. Background Paper, Seminario Argentina 2030. Jefatura de Gabinete del Gobierno Nacional.
2016
Goytia, C. & Dorna, G. (2016). What is the role of urban growth on inequality, and segregation? The case of Argentina's urban agglomerations. CAF Working Papers N. 2016/12.
Goytia, C. (2016). Vivienda y bienestar: diagnostico y politicas en America Latina. In CEPAL, Urbanizacion y Politicas de Vivienda en China y America Latina y el Caribe. With P. Sanguinetti and D. Jordach.
2015
Goytia, C. & Sanguinetti, P. (2015). Housing and welfare in Latin America. In Housing Policy: Lessons for Latin America Urbanization. Economic Management Press–ILAS, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing. [Published in Chinese]
2014
Vivir en la ciudad. Plan Estrategico 2012–2016, Instituto de Vivienda, Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires.
2013
Goytia, C., Pasquini, R. & Sanguinetti, P. (2013). Public-private cooperation for gas provision in poor neighborhoods of Buenos Aires: institutional framework and impacts. In D. Rodgers, J. Beall & R. Kanbur (Eds.), Latin American Urban Development into the Twenty-First Century. Palgrave.
Evaluacion del Mercado Inmobiliario y de Suelo de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires: El Distrito Tecnologico. Cuadernos de Economia, Ministerio de Desarrollo Economico de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires.
2009
Goytia, C. & Lanfranchi, G. (2009). Informal neighbourhoods in Buenos Aires Metropolitan Region: Understanding the effects of land regulation on the welfare of the poor. In S.V. Lall et al. (Eds.), Urban Land Markets: Improving Land Management for Successful Urbanization. Springer, pp. 163–190. [Link]
2007
Goytia, C. (2007). Private residential investment growth: Implications on municipal revenues and socioeconomic indicators. In M. Freire et al. (Eds.), Land and Urban Policies for Poverty Reduction, vol. 2. IPEA and World Bank.
Goytia, C. (2007). Effects of land regulation on the welfare of the poor: The case of informal neighborhoods in Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area. In M. Piedade Moraes (Ed.), Land and Housing Markets in Latin America. IPEA, Brazil.
Improving housing and living conditions for the poor: Does microfinance work? IBLF, London, UK.
2006
Goytia, C. (2006). Review of Argentina's Housing Sector: Options for Affordable Housing Policy. World Bank Policy Research Working Paper.
Goytia, C. (2006). Asentamientos informales y villas miseria en Argentina: diez anos para revertir el deficit. In S. Berensztein et al. (Eds.), El pais que queremos. Editorial Temas, Buenos Aires.
2004
Local Development: Partnerships for better governance. Partnership Matters, Cambridge University and IBLF, UK.
Local Economic Development in Buenos Aires: The municipality of Pilar. World Bank, Washington D.C.
2000
Local Development in the Metropolitan Region of Buenos Aires: Public-private cooperation for the supply of services in informal neighborhoods. IETS, Brazil. With P. Sanguinetti.
Another Path? The consolidation of Informal Neighbourhoods in Buenos Aires. London School of Economics and Political Science, UK.
Working Papers and Policy Reports
2025
Goytia, C. & Dorna, G. (2025). Analisis del regimen para la integracion socio-urbana de los barrios populares y el Certificado de Vivienda Familiar. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Working Paper WP25CG7. [Link]
Drawing Insights From Latin America: Four Decades of Neighborhood (Slums) Upgrading Programs. With M. Barchi. Asian Development Bank, Urban Municipal Development Fund (UMDF).
Argentina: analisis de la cadena de valor del sector residencial y diseno de estrategias institucionales y operativas de acceso a vivienda asequible. With M. Cristini and G. Bermudez. Inter-American Development Bank.
Evaluacion final del Proyecto Integrado de Vivienda y Habitat de Argentina – Componente 1. World Bank.
2024
Goytia, C. (2024). Examining opportunities and challenges for implementing land-based financing instruments for climate action: A study of land markets and flood risk pricing in different contexts. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Working Paper. [Link]
Goytia, C. et al. (2024). Estudio De Eficiencia Energetica Y Del Agua en Viviendas Sociales de CABA. Instituto de Vivienda de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires y CIPUV-UTDT Working Paper.
2021
On a better understanding of land-use regulation and enforcement and its relationship with informality in Latin American countries: An empirical analysis using Dose-Response-Function (DRF) methodology. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Working Paper.
Land-use regulation and enforcement in Latin American countries: Survey methodology and description of results. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Working Paper.
Goytia, C. & Heikkila, E.J. (2021). A global perspective on land use regulations and housing outcomes. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Working Paper / Cities Journal.
2020
Goytia, C. & Cristini, M. (2020). Infrastructure investment in a messy urban growth scenario: The role of land value capture instruments in Argentina. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. [Link]
Goytia, C. & Cristini, M. (2020). Poblacion y vivienda en la Argentina post-pandemia: los Barrios Populares. CIPUV Working Paper.
Goytia, C. et al. (2020). Evaluacion de Impacto del Programa Nacional de Mejoramiento de Barrios (PROMEBA). IDB and CIPUV, UTDT.
2019
Goytia, C. & Dorna, G. (2019). Doing bad by doing good? An empirical analysis of the incentives from informal settlements' upgrading programs on urban informality. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Working Paper WP19CG1. [Link]
Goytia, C., Chapple, K., Montero, S., Pasquini, R. et al. (2019). Mitigating the displacement impact of special districts in Latin American cities. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Working Paper.
2018
Goytia, C. & Cristini, M. (2018). Urban property and land taxation in Argentina: The challenge of decentralization. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Working Paper. [Link]
2017
Goytia, C., Dorna, G., Cohen, J. & Pasquini, R. (2017). CIPUV Residential Land Use Regulatory Index. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Working Paper WP15CG2. [Link]
Urban Planning: Impacts of Land Market Regulation and Housing Affordability (RG-K1435) – Buenos Aires Case Study. Inter-American Development Bank, IADB-ESW.
2016
Goytia, C. & Dorna, G. (2016). What are the determinants of land market prices in Argentina's Metropolitan Region of Buenos Aires? A hedonic price model approach. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Working Paper.
Goytia, C. & Dorna, G. (2016). Big Data for land markets analysis: The CIPUV Land Price Atlas for Buenos Aires Metropolitan Region. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Working Paper.
Goytia, C. et al. (2016). Crecimiento urbano y distribucion espacial de infraestructura en las 31 grandes ciudades de Argentina. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Working Paper.
Leveraging the Potential of Argentine Cities: A Framework for Policy Action. Background Papers for the World Bank. [Link]
2015
Goytia, C. (2015). An empirical analysis of land use regulation determinants. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Working Paper WP15CG1. [Link]
2013
Goytia, C. & Pasquini, R. (2013). Assessing urban land use regulation in Argentina: Literature review and research strategy. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. [Link]
2012
Goytia, C. & Pasquini, R. (2012). Zoning and land cover metrics for municipalities in Argentina (1990–2001). Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.
Goytia, C. & Pasquini, R. (2012). On a better understanding of land use regulation, its determinants, and its relationship with households' residential tenure condition. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Working Paper.
Goytia, C., Pasquini, R. & Hagedorn, T. (2012). Land use regulation and practices in Argentina: 2011 survey results. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Working Paper.
2011
Goytia, C., Pasquini, R. & Sanguinetti, P. (2011). Public-private cooperation for gas provision in poor neighborhoods of Buenos Aires: Institutional framework and impacts. UNU-WIDER Working Paper 2011/23. [PDF]
2010
Goytia, C. & Pasquini, R. (2010). A comparative study of the land regulation in the urban agglomerates of Argentina and its relationship with the residential tenure condition. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Working Paper WP10CC1.
2009
Housing Informality and Institutions: An experimental approach in Buenos Aires's informal neighbourhoods. LSE Cities Working Paper.
Caminos para el futuro. Gestion de la infraestructura en America Latina. Reporte de Economia y Desarrollo, CAF.
Regular Courses at UTDT
Urban Economics I, II, and III
MSc Urban Economics (2005–present)
MSc Urban Economics (2005–present)
Applied Urban Economics Workshop
MSc Urban Economics (2005–present)
MSc Urban Economics (2005–present)
MSc Urban Economics Dissertation
Capstone project director (2005–present)
Capstone project director (2005–present)
Policies for Urban Problems
Urbanization, Urban Policy and Housing in Latin America
MSc in Public Policy, School of Government (2010–present)
Urbanization, Urban Policy and Housing in Latin America
MSc in Public Policy, School of Government (2010–present)
Innovations in Land and Housing Policies
MSc in Urban Economics (2020–present)
MSc in Urban Economics (2020–present)
Courses at UTDT (2024)
Urban Economics III (MU11) — 30 hours
Final Work Workshop I (MU198) — 15 hours
Urban Economics Workshop (MU10) — 60 hours
Public Policies for Urban Problems (PP76) — 30 hours
Innovations in Urban Policies: Housing and Land (EAGOG53) — 30 hours
Guest Professor (2025)
CEPAL (Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean) — Urban Economics
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy — Urban Economics
Thesis Supervision
Director of MSc Urban Economics Dissertation (capstone project) since 2005. Over 200 theses directed. Selected recent theses:
2024
Diego Ricardo Rusticucci — "Accion Climatica y Desarrollo Territorial: Una aproximacion a la complejidad metropolitana" (MEU, April 2024)
Pablo Sebastian Mariani — "El rol de los gobiernos locales y subnacionales en la gobernanza global de las perdidas y danos a causa del cambio climatico" (MEU, June 2024)
Angeles Scetta — "La evolucion del mercado de viviendas en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires tras la implementacion de la Ley N. 27.551 y su derogacion con el DNU N. 70/2023" (MEU, June 2024)
Magali Hovassapian — "Politicas de integracion en barrios informales y su efecto en el desarrollo de oportunidades: el caso del CEDEL de Barrio 31" (MPP, July 2024)
Lucas Canda, Olivier Saint-Nom & Valentina de Diego — AI model for identifying informal settlements in satellite images (Digital Technology, December 2024)
Research Grants & Consultancies
Principal Investigator unless otherwise noted. Ordered by date.
2026
Land value capture in practice: financing water resilience through an integrated framework in Argentina
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy · Team: 2 researchers
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy · Team: 2 researchers
2025
Technical, Economic and Financial Analysis of the Residential Sector Value Chain: Institutional and Operational Strategies for Decentralizing Housing Policies and Reducing the Housing Deficit in Argentina
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Housing and Urban Development Division (HUD-CAR) · Team: 5 researchers
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Housing and Urban Development Division (HUD-CAR) · Team: 5 researchers
Urban Transformations and Land Management Instruments in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Region
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Housing and Urban Development Division (CSD/HUD) · Team: 2 researchers
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Housing and Urban Development Division (CSD/HUD) · Team: 2 researchers
Urban Development, Land Value Generation and Capture Instruments for Local Governments
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) · Team: 1 researcher
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) · Team: 1 researcher
Preventing Informal Settlements Through Effective Land Management
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy · Team: 4 researchers
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy · Team: 4 researchers
2024
The Impact of Post-COVID Trends in Work from Home on Land Use, Property Prices, and Local Tax Revenues in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Region
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (with P. Sanguinetti)
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (with P. Sanguinetti)
Drawing Insights From Latin America: Four Decades of Neighborhood (Slums) Upgrading Programs
African Development Bank, Urban Municipal Development Fund (UMDF)
African Development Bank, Urban Municipal Development Fund (UMDF)
Instrumentos de generacion y captacion de valor en gobiernos locales
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), HUD/CAR
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), HUD/CAR
Economic and Financial Analysis of the Integrated Housing and Habitat Project
World Bank
World Bank
Facilitating Alternatives to Informal Settlements Through More Effective Land Management
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Analisis de la cadena de valor del sector residencial — Argentina y Uruguay (two projects)
Inter-American Development Bank
Inter-American Development Bank
2023–2024
Sectoral Analysis of Housing in Argentina and Uruguay: Challenges and Recommendations of the Value Chain of the Residential Sector
Inter-American Development Bank
Analysis of the housing value chain and design of institutional and operational strategies for access to affordable housing.
Inter-American Development Bank
Analysis of the housing value chain and design of institutional and operational strategies for access to affordable housing.
Evaluacion final Economico-Financiera del Proyecto Integrado de Vivienda y Habitat de Argentina — Componente 1
World Bank
World Bank
2023
Examining opportunities and challenges for implementing land-based financing instruments for funding climate action
Study of land markets and flood risk pricing in Miami, Lagos, Copenhagen, Ho Chi Minh City, Buenos Aires
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Study of land markets and flood risk pricing in Miami, Lagos, Copenhagen, Ho Chi Minh City, Buenos Aires
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Auditorias energeticas sociales en el uso eficiente de la energia en barrios vulnerables en Buenos Aires
CAF and Housing Institute of Buenos Aires
Energy audits for energy-efficient management in informal neighborhoods with personalized household returns.
CAF and Housing Institute of Buenos Aires
Energy audits for energy-efficient management in informal neighborhoods with personalized household returns.
El deficit de vivienda y las politicas habitacionales en la Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires y en la Provincia de Buenos Aires
Housing Institute of Buenos Aires City Government
Housing Institute of Buenos Aires City Government
New Tools for Urban Development and Finance in Tres de Febrero Municipality, Buenos Aires
Tres de Febrero Municipality
Tres de Febrero Municipality
2022
Situacion Financiera de la Movilidad Urbana en Buenos Aires
CEPAL
Analysis of funding sources and fare policies for public transport in Buenos Aires, including COVID-19 impacts.
CEPAL
Analysis of funding sources and fare policies for public transport in Buenos Aires, including COVID-19 impacts.
On a Better Understanding of Land Use Regulation and its Effects on Informality (2020–2022)
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Land Use Management and Informal Land and Housing Development in a Global Context (2022–2024)
Routledge · With Eric Heikkila
Routledge · With Eric Heikkila
2019
Integral Evaluation of National Programs of Urban Development and Housing
BIRF Loan No. 8712-AR
Undersecretariat for Urban Development and Housing (SSDUV)
Evaluation of all housing programs, PROCREAR evaluation, housing market monitoring.
BIRF Loan No. 8712-AR
Undersecretariat for Urban Development and Housing (SSDUV)
Evaluation of all housing programs, PROCREAR evaluation, housing market monitoring.
Impact Assessment of the Neighborhood Improvement Program (PROMEBA)
Secretary of Urban Infrastructure, Ministry of the Interior & Inter-American Development Bank
Secretary of Urban Infrastructure, Ministry of the Interior & Inter-American Development Bank
2018–2019
Assessing the Feasibility of Adoption of Autonomous Vehicles (AV) in Latin America's Cities
Inter-American Development Bank
Inter-American Development Bank
2017
Census and Analysis of Economic Activity in Barrio 31
Secretary of Urban and Social Inclusion, Government of the City of Buenos Aires
Secretary of Urban and Social Inclusion, Government of the City of Buenos Aires
Analysis of the Socio-economic Impact of Investment in UVA-denominated Negotiable Obligations for the Mortgage Market and PROCREAR
Banco Hipotecario
Banco Hipotecario
Profile of the Demand for Housing in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires
Housing Institute of the City of Buenos Aires (IVC)
Housing Institute of the City of Buenos Aires (IVC)
Urban Growth and Access to Opportunities: A Challenge for Latin America
CAF, Development Banking
CAF, Development Banking
Notes for Housing and Urban Planning Policy 2018–2023
Sub-Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Ministry of the Interior
Sub-Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Ministry of the Interior
2016–2018
Economic and Financial Analysis for the Argentina National Habitat and Housing Project (World Bank-P159929)
Component 2: Increased Access to Housing for Lower and Medium-Income Segments
World Bank, Social, Urban, Rural, and Resilient Global Practice
Component 2: Increased Access to Housing for Lower and Medium-Income Segments
World Bank, Social, Urban, Rural, and Resilient Global Practice
PROCREAR 2016 Program
Undersecretary of Housing, Ministry of the Interior
Undersecretary of Housing, Ministry of the Interior
IADB-ESW Urban Planning: Impacts of Land Market Regulation and Housing Affordability (RG-K1435)
Buenos Aires Case Study Phase I and Phase II
Inter-American Development Bank
Buenos Aires Case Study Phase I and Phase II
Inter-American Development Bank
Housing and Transportation Affordability Index for Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area
World Bank (November 2016 – June 2017)
World Bank (November 2016 – June 2017)
IDB Affordable Housing Report in the Countries of the Southern Cone of Latin America
Inter-American Development Bank
Inter-American Development Bank
2015
Urban Performance Diagnostic of Argentina
World Bank
Background Papers on Territorial Analysis, Prosperity and Livability Indicators for Argentina's Metropolitan Areas.
World Bank
Background Papers on Territorial Analysis, Prosperity and Livability Indicators for Argentina's Metropolitan Areas.
Impact Assessment of the Primera Casa Program
Instituto de Vivienda de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires
Regression discontinuity design and propensity score matching across 102,362 registered households.
Instituto de Vivienda de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires
Regression discontinuity design and propensity score matching across 102,362 registered households.
Housing Policy and Financing in the City of Buenos Aires
Strategic Plan IVC 2013–2015, Social Housing Programs, Land Use and Financial Instruments
IVC, Institute of Housing of the City of Buenos Aires
Strategic Plan IVC 2013–2015, Social Housing Programs, Land Use and Financial Instruments
IVC, Institute of Housing of the City of Buenos Aires
Evaluation of Buenos Aires City Program ‘Alquilar se Puede’
Instituto de Vivienda de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires
Instituto de Vivienda de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires
2014
Housing: Analysis of Expenses, and Evaluation of Programs and Instruments at the IVC (2014–2015)
Institute of Housing of the City of Buenos Aires
Institute of Housing of the City of Buenos Aires
Evaluation of the National Housing Policy and Analysis of Future Strategy
Secretary of Housing, Ministry of the Interior, Argentina
Secretary of Housing, Ministry of the Interior, Argentina
Urban Growth and Spatial Distribution of Infrastructure in the Cities of Argentina
World Bank
World Bank
Evaluation of Capacity and Willingness to Pay for Inhabitants of Informal Settlements
Housing Institute of the City of Buenos Aires
Housing Institute of the City of Buenos Aires
Land Use Regulation and Practices in Argentina: 2011 Survey
Ministry of the Interior, Secretary of Municipal Affairs & Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Ministry of the Interior, Secretary of Municipal Affairs & Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
2013–2014
Urban Growth, Spatial Efficiency and Transportation in Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area
World Bank (Consultant)
World Bank (Consultant)
Atlas of Urban Extension
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (Project Director)
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (Project Director)
Indicador de Movilidad Urbana en el Area Metropolitana de Buenos Aires (2013–2015)
CIPUV-UTDT & Fundacion Roman
CIPUV-UTDT & Fundacion Roman
Housing Policy: Argentina and the Buenos Aires City
Government of the City of Buenos Aires (IVC) · With M. Cristini
Government of the City of Buenos Aires (IVC) · With M. Cristini
Buenos Aires Informal Settlements Research and Transformation Strategy
Government of the City of Buenos Aires (SECHI) · With F. Janches
Government of the City of Buenos Aires (SECHI) · With F. Janches
2012–2013
Land Use Regulation in Argentina: Determinants and Effects
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (Project Director)
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (Project Director)
Three-year research grant on quantitative urban research (2012–2015)
CIPUV-UTDT
CIPUV-UTDT
2011–2012
Evaluacion de Impacto del Distrito Tecnologico de Buenos Aires
UBATEC & Government of the City of Buenos Aires
UBATEC & Government of the City of Buenos Aires
2009–2011
Land Use Regulation – National Survey to Municipalities in Argentina
Argentine National Government & Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Argentine National Government & Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
El Distrito Tecnologico de Buenos Aires (2009–2010)
Government of Buenos Aires, Ministerio de Desarrollo Economico
Government of Buenos Aires, Ministerio de Desarrollo Economico
Desarrollo Local en los Municipios de Argentina (2009)
CAF
CAF
Local Economic Development – National Survey to Municipalities (2009)
Argentine National Government & Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Argentine National Government & Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
2008
Public-private cooperation for gas provision in poor neighborhoods of Buenos Aires
CAF
CAF
2006–2010
Observatorio de Desarrollo Barrial
UTDT & Fundacion Pro Vivienda Social
UTDT & Fundacion Pro Vivienda Social
2005
Review of Argentina's Housing Sector: Options for Affordable Housing Policy
World Bank
World Bank
CIPUV – Research Center
The Center for Urban and Housing Policy Research (CIPUV) of Universidad Torcuato Di Tella is an academic center specifically focused on housing research and urban policies — the only one of its kind in Argentina. The CIPUV team has unique experience in conducting cutting-edge urban research to international standards.
CIPUV's research focuses on six axes: (i) housing policies, markets, and financing; (ii) land use and urban growth; (iii) quality of life and infrastructure; (iv) municipal finance and urban management; (v) monitoring and impact assessment of urban policies; and (vi) urban data.
CIPUV has produced more than 100 analysis documents for public and multilateral agencies, including the Secretary of Housing of Argentina, the Housing Institute of Buenos Aires, the World Bank, CAF, the IDB, and the United Nations.
Selected Presentations & Conference Participation
2025
"Examining Opportunities and Challenges for Implementing Land-Based Financing Instruments for Funding Climate Action." World Bank Land Conference 2025, Washington DC — May 6, 2025.
"Post-COVID Trends in Working from Home and Property Prices: Evidence Using Cell Phone Data from the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Region." Lincoln Institute Land Policy Conference 2025, Cambridge, MA — May 22, 2025.
"Land Use Regulation and Its Impacts." Urban Economy International Seminar, UPB-CEPAL, Medellin — May 28, 2025.
"Oportunidades y desafios para implementar instrumentos de financiamiento basados en suelo." Argentina Lab 2025, USC-UTDT — June 3, 2025.
2024
"Land Management, Urban Expansion and the Future Spatial Organisation of Cities." 8th Urbanization and Poverty Reduction Research Conference, World Bank, Washington DC — March 7, 2024.
"Land Use Regulations and Informal Land Use in Cities." 2024 North American Meeting of the Urban Economics Association (UEA), Georgetown University — September 20, 2024.
Multiple sessions: Academic Roundtable; Leveraging Land Value Capture for Affordable Housing; Innovating Urban Resilience. World Urban Forum 12, Cairo, Egypt — November 4–7, 2024.
"Examining Opportunities and Challenges for Implementing Land-Based Financing Instruments." CEPAL Conference on Climate Change Challenges for Cities, Santiago — November 28, 2024.
"Opportunities and Challenges of Land Management for Building Inclusive and Sustainable Cities." 16th IFoU Conference — Keynote — December 12, 2024.
2022
"On a Better Understanding of Land-Use Regulation and its Relationship with Informality in Latin American Countries." ACSP Annual Conference, Toronto, Canada.
"A Global Perspective on Land Use Regulations and Informal Settlements." ACSP Annual Conference, Toronto, Canada.
"Innovative Land-use Planning and Inclusionary Housing Strategies." World Urban Forum 11, Katowice, Poland.
"Lessons and Challenges from Special Districts: The Technology District in Buenos Aires." 27th Pacific Conference of RSAI, Kyoto.
2021
"Accessibility: Beyond the False Dilemma of Densification and Expansion." Marron Institute, NYU Urban Expansion Seminar Series.
"Informal Settlements and Land Management." Trialog Annual Conference, Erasmus University.
"Housing Policies in Latin America: What's Next?" UCLA, Comparative International Housing Policy.
"A global perspective on land use regulations and housing outcomes." Regional Studies Association Annual Meeting; ACSP Annual Meeting.
2020
"An empirical analysis of land use regulation determinants." Virtual Meeting of the Urban Economics Association (LSE and Wharton).
Big Data and Neighborhood Change Symposium 2020 — Organizer (with UC Berkeley and University of Sydney).
"Land use regulation for inclusion." Training course with M. Smolka and C. Acyoli. World Urban Forum 2020, UN-Habitat, Abu Dhabi.
2019
"Urbanization, Land, and Urban Policies." UC Berkeley Center for Latin American Studies; UCLA Luskin Center.
"Mitigating the Displacement Impact of Special Districts in Latin American Cities." Lincoln Institute, Montevideo.
"Impact Evaluations of Informal Settlements Upgrading Interventions." Land and Poverty Conference, World Bank, Washington DC.
"Infrastructure Finance in Messy Metropolitan Areas." APPAM International Conference, ITAM.
"Urban Policy challenges for Latin American Cities." USC Sol Price School – UTDT Argentina Lab.
SMU Conference on Urban and Regional Economics, Singapore.
Contact
Professor Cynthia Goytia, PhD
Universidad Torcuato Di Tella
Av. Figueroa Alcorta 7350
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Email: cgoytia@utdt.edu
CIPUV – Centro de Investigaciones de Politicas Urbanas y de Vivienda
MSc Urban Economics (MEU)
Google Scholar
Media Presence (Selected, 2024)
"La hora de la eficiencia energetica" — Perfil, September 7, 2024
"With buyers wary, Argentina's zombie mortgage market has a long road to revival" — Reuters, July 17, 2024
"Murio la Ley de Alquileres" — Cronista, October 30, 2024
Rent Control and Gentrification in Latin American Cities — Deutsche Welle, January 11, 2024
Real Estate Summit 2024 — Cronista Comercial, April 8, 2024
Climate Change and Cities — TV America, Transicion 2030, December 29, 2024