In this talk, IMFG Post-Doctoral Fellow Abigail Friendly compares the use of LVC in two cities – São Paulo and Toronto – with a focus on acquiring local benefits and services such as park improvements, childcare and recreational facilities, and social housing.

Karel Martens discusses the consequences of “the accessibility turn” - arguing, first, that the assessment of accessibility is not merely an option, but a moral obligation for transportation authorities, and second, that the focus on accessibility inevitably requires these authorities to explicitly address questions of fairness.

Participatory budgeting, a model derived from the Brazilian experience, gives the public the right to propose, deliberate, and vote on a part of the city budget. Does participatory budgeting actually improve democracy, transparency, and accountability, or is it simply another consultation tool in disguise?