REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
RESEARCH ON
LAND POLICY AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN LATIN AMERICA
The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy announces its 2012 call for research proposals on land
policy and urban development in Latin America. The research proposals will be reviewed
competitively based on the weighted evaluation criteria indicated below. These criteria favor
empirical studies that use reliable data and rigorous analytical methods, employing original field
work and/or secondary data. Research outputs are expected to result in papers appropriate for
publication. Proposals addressing climate change issues related to land policy will be jointly
evaluated and financed by the Program on Latin America and the Caribbean and the Department
of Planning and Urban Form.
The researchers selected through this RFP process will be invited to participate in a seminar to
review and discuss draft papers. In addition, the Lincoln Institute will provide other opportunities
for researchers to exchange ideas and discuss their methodology and analytical strategies.
This year the Institute will consider proposals on the following research themes:
1. URBAN LAND MARKETS
Research on this topic focuses on the functioning of urban land markets, notably the
interdependencies between the formal and informal segments of the market. The analysis of
trends in sales and rent prices across neighborhoods shall help identify the factors that account for
price formation in the different segments of the market.
Suggested topics:

Trends in land price and land use in the formal and informal segments of the market and
the effects of urban land policies on these trends. Consider policies such as land titling,
special zoning regulations, site-specific upgrading programs, affordable housing
financing, and institutional changes affecting transaction costs.

Land and housing market dynamics (formal and informal) with respect to growth rates,
price differential for comparable properties, price gradients, and market share.

Residential choice by households: Why informal housing persists even when affordable
formal options are available? How location and affordability impact residential choice by
households.

Indicators of market segmentation including barriers to entry and exit and other measures
of market imperfections.

Policies to promote densification of inner-city areas (e.g. zoning incentives to promote
private investment), ripple effects in adjacent areas and gentrification issues.

Links between transportation and affordable housing policies with a view to improve
employment accessibility and reduce travel time. Explore to what extent access to public
transportation increases the capacity to pay for housing among low-income families.
2. URBAN LAND REGULATIONS
Regulation affects the supply and price of urbanized land. There is need for research to
clarify the effects of enforcing regulations on land use; standards for the provision of
urban infrastructure and services; investment decisions, and the exercise of private
property rights. To study how land use regulation is actually implemented shall improve
our understanding of the factors mediating the letter of the law and the regulatory
practice. In doing that, it is important to ascertain the interventions of the judiciary,
legislative and executive branches of government in enforcing land use regulation.
Suggested topics:

The capitalization effect on land price of restrictive regulation and regulation that
enhances land use potential through changes in land use and/or higher building
allowances.

Less restrictive building and land use regulations can improve affordability
without jeopardizing household welfare, lifting a regulatory bias against the poor.
Under what conditions such special zoning provisions proved successful in
promoting social inclusion sustainable over time?

Ad hoc changes in land use regulation through negotiations between government
authorities and developers. How cost-effective are these negotiations from the
perspective of the community at large?

Conflict resolution of land use regulations disputes by the courts. Examine the
basis for court decisions and the effects such decisions have on urban regulatory
practice.
3. INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS
Infrastructure is an integral part of urban land development and influences urban
productivity. This line of research comprises urban investment in energy,
telecommunications, water supply, and sanitation infrastructure by the public and private
sectors. Public transportation infrastructure will be treated as a separate topic.
Suggested topics:

The spatial allocation of public and private provision of infrastructure across
neighborhoods over time, and assess the allocation criteria in terms of equity and
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efficiency. Identify the factors that determine investment allocation decisions. Is
there a systematic social bias in the spatial distribution of infrastructure
investment? Who benefits most from infrastructure subsidies? Estimate the
impact of infrastructure investment on land use and land price.

Infrastructure and patterns of urban growth. While vacant and serviced land is still
available in urban centers, most development takes place in outlying areas that
require new installation of infrastructure. Compare the infrastructure-related costs
and benefits of infill development with urban expansion at the fringe. Calculate
the hidden subsidies for peripheral developments compared to inner-city
development. Estimate the share of infrastructure cost in total development costs
for residential, commercial, and industrial development in infill areas and at
peripheral locations, taking into account the scale of development. Examine the
relationship between development density and infrastructure costs.

Regulations imposed on infrastructure services affect service availability and
price. Governments regulate tariffs, service quality, access, environmental
impacts, and service obligations—what is known about the land use impacts of
such interventions? For example, to what extent regulation of private utilities
promotes additional investment and improvement in operational performance?
Can service provision be based on users’ capacity to pay as a result of regulation?
How important is the way regulatory oversight is implemented?

Infrastructure maintenance and upgrading compared to new investment. Examine
the institutional and financial constraints on effective maintenance practices. How
infrastructure maintenance is distributed spatially? Why so many cities lack in
infrastructure maintenance even though it has high rates of return?
4. URBAN TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS
Investment in urban transportation in Latin America is undergoing dramatic change
recently—in terms of modal mix, spatial distribution, and amount of funds invested. Two
aspects of such changes are of special interest. First, the links between transportation,
land use and urban growth patterns; and second, the extent to which transportation
investment addresses the mobility needs of lower-income groups. In addition, the
financial arrangements used to expand public urban transportation is of interest
considering the growing importance of private sector financing and the use of value
capture instruments by local governments.
Suggested topics:

Mobility patterns by income groups and factors affecting such patterns. For
example, what are the prevalent transportation modes (walking, bus, transit, car,
motorcycle and bicycle) used by different income groups, such as residents of
squatter settlements, low-income and middle-income groups? To what extent does
public transportation investment addresses the mobility needs of the poor? Studies
may take advantage of origin-destination surveys now available for several Latin
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American cities, and recent census information on patterns of intra-city mobility,
such as the 2010 Brazilian demographic census.

Links between urban development (and re-development) and specific urban
transportation systems. How mass transit investments might influence land use
development and urban regeneration. Examine the interaction between
transportation infrastructure, city growth, land use, and land prices. Can
transportation planning be used as an instrument to guide urban expansion?

The multiplier effects of combining mass transit investments with changes in land
use regulation. Examine how transportation infrastructure changes the
relationships between places and what are the long-term, unforeseen
consequences of such investments on the patterns of urban growth.

The use of mass transit investments to attract mixed income housing. Understand
the investments, regulations, and impacts of how these investments can be used to
deconcentrate poverty and create developments attractive to households with a
variety of income levels.

Are investments in infrastructure for pedestrians (e.g. sidewalks, trails) and
bicycles (on-and-off road bicycle lanes, bicycle parking, bicycle lockers, bicycle
sharing programs) capitalized into property values?

Financial aspects of transportation infrastructure: what is the share of the public
sector transportation investment relative to investment in other infrastructure?
Analyze the financial mix of the public and private investments, distinguishing
domestic and international sources of funds for major urban transportation
projects. Document the use of value capture instruments as a source of financing
for public transportation investments.
5. PUBLIC HOUSING POLICIES
More than 80 percent of the total population of Latin America lives in cities and although
incomes have risen and there is less urban poverty, the limited supply of serviced land
and housing at affordable prices is still a major challenge. Government housing policy
has not changed much over time, but currently there is increasing awareness of the
importance of location and neighborhood quality in affordable housing policy. Some
countries, such as Chile, have explicitly introduced policies supporting inclusive housing
using financial and regulatory incentives. There is now widespread recognition that large
segregated peripheral developments, typical of past public housing policies, have high
transport and infrastructure costs, and high welfare costs in terms of residential
segregation and dysfunctional neighborhoods. But actual experiences with inclusionary
zoning are few and we need to examine how such initiatives may be perfected and
expanded.
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Suggested topics:

Evaluate actual experiences of residential inclusion to ascertain the opportunity
costs and long-term sustainability of mixed-income neighborhoods. How effective
are the incentives to promote mixed-income neighborhoods with and without
mixed-land uses or cross-subsidies? Can these initiatives be scaled up?

Examine the impact of market conditions on the development of mixed-income
neighborhoods, independently of government incentives or regulation.

Analyze land use planning and regulation aimed to enhance the sustainability of
mixed-income housing, considering public or community-based land leasing
schemes, such as community land trusts.

How and to what extent an integrated approach to transportation and housing
policy may contribute to create more inclusive cities?

Low-income people living in the urban fringe incur in high transportation costs
(tariffs and time) compounded by low-quality services, but seldom housing
affordability estimates take into account transportation costs. A comparative
analysis of housing programs combining housing and transport cost in
affordability estimates would help improve such programs.
6. PROPERTY TAX AND OTHER LAND-BASED FISCAL INSTRUMENTS
The economic rationale for using value capture instruments to finance urban development
is based on the notion that increases in urban land value are directly or indirectly
attributable to public sector interventions. Land value increments can be mobilized for
the public interest either by converting, fully or in part, into public revenues through
property taxes, development impact fees, exactions and other fiscal or regulatory means
(such as in the sale of building rights), or through direct conversion into urban
infrastructure and services, as in land readjustments. We need to know more about the
proper conditions for applying such instruments and how best can they be combined to
optimize results. We are also interested in documenting specific aspects of actual cases
including total revenues collected, legal framework, and the role of political will.
Suggested topics:

Analyze the relative efficiency of different value capture instruments taking into
account several objectives, such as raising public revenues, curtailing land
speculation, redistributing the benefits and costs of urbanization, making
transparent the changes in land use regulation, and mitigating urban poverty by
improving the access to serviced land.

Identify the determinants of property tax performance that fall within the
authority of local jurisdictions. Assess the impact of improvements to cadastre
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recordkeeping, tax assessment, and collections and enforcement practices on the
performance of the property tax across different economic development
conditions and institutional arrangements.

Estimate the rate of return from keeping cadastre records current. And discuss
criteria to guide local jurisdictions in deciding to upgrade technology to improve
cadastre systems and assessment methods using free software and/or urban value
observatories, among other technological options.

Identify innovative, cost-effective methods to levy property taxes on informal
settlements.

Measure the effectiveness of tax incentives to attract new economic activity to a
jurisdiction. Can property tax exemptions or concessions be a deciding factor in
location decision of firms? Compare the results of tax incentives across
jurisdictions in the same metropolitan area. Tax incentives can also be used to
change the mix of local tax-revenues, as when a property tax rebate is given to
bust revenues from the sales tax. How effective are these initiatives in increasing
total local tax revenues?

Document value capture practices by local jurisdictions in the absence of enabling
legislation, as they reach the intended objectives even though not explicitly
identified as value capture.
7. CLIMATE CHANGE, ENVIRONMENTAL RISK, AND URBAN LAND USE
Proposals related to this topic will be jointly evaluated and funded by the Department of
Planning and Urban Form and the Program on Latin America and the Caribbean. For this
reason, research proposals on this topic must be presented in English.
Increasing greenhouse gas emissions worldwide contribute to extreme weather patterns.
If these emissions remain unabated, changes in global temperatures, sea level rise, and
other environmental impacts will have huge implications for human settlements and
economic activities. Latin America, like other regions, has experienced extreme weather
events that caused extensive damage. More research is needed to help the region prepare
for, mitigate, and adapt to these changing conditions and to assess the costs associated
with the settlement of vulnerable areas, both for the residents and for society. Such
research would focus on plausible scenarios for climate change impacts in general and
the effects on land use in particular, with the understanding that predictions are fraught
with uncertainty. Research may also document what is already being done in Latin
America to address climate change, and identify the reasons for success or failure of
specific initiatives.
In this second year of offering support for research on this topic, we are particularly
seeking research on the following research theme:
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
Settlement patterns of the poor that exacerbate their risk exposure. Urban informal
settlements frequently are located in environmentally fragile areas, such as flood
plains and mountain slopes, exposing residents to frequent natural disasters. Thus,
it is likely that the poor will be disproportionally vulnerable to the impacts of
extreme weather events. What policies and regulations can be put in place to
prevent or minimize such risks?
THE RESEARCH SEMINAR
Authors of selected research proposals will be invited to participate in a research seminar that is
tentatively scheduled for September 2013 at a Latin American venue to be chosen by the Lincoln
Institute. At that time participants will have completed their data collection and most of the
analysis, and will be expected to present draft papers for review and discussion. The seminar
provides a unique opportunity for researchers to network with their peers who are interested in
similar research topics. It also promotes interdisciplinary debate. Peer reviews help authors
improve their analytical approach and methodology. The final papers will be considered for
inclusion in the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Working Papers series, and may be posted on the
Institute’s Web site.
LEVEL OF FUNDING
The Lincoln Institute will pay for the research project based on the scope of work and the
justification of the proposed budget. In addition, the Institute will cover expenses for travel and
accommodations during the research seminar for the lead researcher of each selected project.
Recent project funding has ranged from $6,400 to $120,000, with most projects not exceeding
$30,000.
EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS
The Lincoln Institute will evaluate the research proposals based on the following criteria:
Weight



Relevance of the research for the advancement of knowledge on the
selected topic
Quality of the proposed methodology and sources of data
General academic qualifications of the members of the research team and
relevant analytical experience as indicated by prior work.
35
40
25
100
Incomplete proposals, proposals received after the due date, or proposals that do not respect the
format defined in the attached Guidelines will not be considered.
SCHEDULE
Proposals due:
Awards announced:
First draft paper due:
Research seminar:
Final paper due:
July 6, 2012
July 23, 2012
August 1, 2013
September, 2013
January 6, 2014
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ABOUT THE LINCOLN INSTITUTE OF LAND POLICY
The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is a leading resource for key issues concerning the
use, regulation, and taxation of land. Providing high-quality education and research, the
Institute strives to improve public dialogue and decisions about land policy.
As a private operating foundation whose origins date to 1946, the Institute seeks to
inform decision making through education, research, policy evaluation, demonstration
projects, and the dissemination of information, policy analysis, and data through our
publications, website, and other media.
By bringing together scholars, practitioners, public officials, policy makers, journalists,
and citizens, the Lincoln Institute integrates theory and practice and provides a
nonpartisan forum for multidisciplinary perspectives on public policy concerning land,
both in the United States and internationally.
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
113 Brattle Street
Cambridge, MA 02138-3400 USA
Phone: 617/661-3016 or 800/LAND-USE (800/526-3873)
Fax: 617/661-7235 or 800/LAND-944 (800/526-3944)
E-mail: help@lincolninst.edu
Web: www.lincolninst.edu
The Lincoln Institute is an equal opportunity institution.
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RESEARCH PROPOSAL GUIDELINES
Language: All sections of the proposal must be submitted in one of the following languages:
English, Spanish, or Portuguese. The Project Abstract (Form B) must be submitted in English in
all cases. The exception to this rule refers to proposals on climate change that must be
written entirely in English.
Remittance of proposals: Proposals must be received at the Lincoln Institute by July 6, 2012,
and only complete proposals will be accepted. A complete proposal will contain all of the
sections described below.
The proposal format should have one-inch margins for copying on 8.5 x 11-inch (letter size)
paper. All pages should be numbered sequentially. Use font 11 pt. Use page breaks to separate
sections. Submit the proposal by e-mail in one Microsoft Word document. Proposals in PDF will
not be accepted.
Send the e-mail to lacinvestigacion@lincolninst.edu. In the subject line, put last name of lead
researcher, followed by the first name and the number (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7) of the specific
research theme the proposal addresses. The specific themes are: 1 - Urban land markets; 2 Urban land regulations; 3 - Infrastructure investments; 4 - Urban transportation investments; 5 Public housing policies; 6 - Property tax and other land-based fiscal instruments; 7 - Climate
change, environmental risk, and urban land use.
The Institute will send an acknowledgment by e-mail when your proposal has been received and
reviewed for format accuracy. Please allow five to seven business days after July 6, 2012 to
receive this acknowledgement. We will not be able to respond to individual consultations either
during the review period or prior to the proposals due date.
Incomplete proposals, proposals received after the due date, or proposals that do not
respect the format defined in these Guidelines will not be considered.
Proposal Sections: Proposals must include all the sections listed below in a single Word
document.
1. Proposal Cover Sheet (use Form A). Contact information for the lead researcher and all
other research participants. All correspondence will be made with the lead researcher.
2. Project Abstract (use Form B).
3. Budget (use Form C)
4. Project Description. The project description should not exceed 1,500 words or
approximately three (3) pages, single-spaced. It should cover the following:
a) Research objective and specific research question(s);
b) Conceptual framework with reference to the pertinent literature;
c) Methodology: description of analytical methods, sources of empirical data, assurance
of access to the data, and data collection strategy; when warranted;
d) Expected results, their application, and dissemination strategy;
e) Role of each participant in the research team: responsibilities and tasks assigned to
the lead researcher and to each research collaborator;
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f) Partnership arrangements, if pertinent. Such as collaboration with academic
institutions, government agencies, private firms, civil society organizations, and/or
community groups. If the research involves other sources of financing besides the
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, specify the source(s) and any conditions attached to
such financing.
5. Curriculum Vitae and Summary Biography for all participants in the research
project, except research assistants. The resume must not exceed three (3) pages and the list
of publications should cover only works published in the last five years. The short summary
biography should not exceed 150 words.
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LINCOLN INSTITUTE OF LAND POLICY
Form A
RESEARCH PROPOSAL COVER SHEET
RESEARCH THEME: 1 (
); 2 ( ); 3 ( ); 4 ( ); 5 ( ); 6 ( ); or 7 ( )
TITLE OF PROJECT:
LEAD RESEARCHER (Full
Title:
Department:
Organization:
Address:
Street:
City:
State:
Postal Code:
Country:
Phone: Country Code (
Fax: Country Code (
E-mail:
Name):
) Area Code (
) Area Code (
RESEARCH COLLABORATOR (Full
Title:
Department:
Organization:
Address:
Street:
City:
State:
Postal Code:
Country:
Phone: Country Code (
Fax: Country Code (
E-mail:
) Number (
) Number (
)
)
) Number (
) Number (
)
)
Name):
) Area Code (
) Area Code (
FOR OTHER PARTICIPANTS (CO-AUTHORS, COLLABORATORS, ASSISTANTS, CONSULTANTS,
INTERVIEWERS, OR OTHERS) SPECIFY CONTACT INFORMATION USING THE ABOVE FORMAT.
How did you learn about this request for research proposals? ( ) Land Lines magazine;
( ) Lincoln Institute Web site; ( ) Colleague; ( ) E-mail; ( ) Listserv; ( ) Mail; ( ) Other.
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LINCOLN INSTITUTE OF LAND POLICY
Form B
PROJECT ABSTRACT
This abstract should state clearly the key purpose and goals of the research project. If your project
is selected for funding, this information may be used in Lincoln Institute catalogs and magazines
and on the Webpage to announce your award.
TITLE OF THE PROJECT:
ABSTRACT: DO NOT EXCEED 100 WORDS
LEAD RESEARCHER NAME:
(must be written in English)
__________________________________
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LINCOLN INSTITUTE OF LAND POLICY
Form C
BUDGET TEMPLATE 1/ 4/
Unit Cost 2/
US$
Category
Type of
Unit
No. of
Units
Total Cost
US$
Personnel Expenses
Lead researcher fees
Research collaborator(s) fees
Research assistant stipend
Personnel expenses sub-total
Travel Expenses 3/
Airfare
Hotel
Meals
Ground transportation
Travel expenses sub-total
Data purchase and/or data
collection
Operational Expenses
Office supplies
Communications (phone, fax, mail)
Other (specify)
Operational expenses sub-total
Other costs (specify)
Total Project Cost
1/
Project expenses must be shown in this table in detail. Do not lump together expenses under a
single heading, as for example fees for all researchers. Show round figures to the dollar.
Equipment and administrative costs cannot be financed.
2/
Examples of unit cost include the daily rates for personnel fees and travel expenses, the monthly
rates for operational expenses. Specify the type of unit that you are using in each case.
Estimate the cost of acquiring data and/or collecting data for the duration of the project.
3/
Travel expenses should not include travel to attend the research seminar.
4/
If this budget template is not appropriate for your project, please replace it with a budget that is
appropriate, keeping the main headings.
LEAD RESEARCHER NAME:
_____________________________________
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LINCOLN INSTITUTE OF LAND POLICY
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Proposal Format
 Should the entire proposal be single- or double-spaced? Single-spaced.
 Is there a desired format to follow in writing the three-page project description? No.
 How detailed should the three-page project description be? Whatever best conveys the objective of
your proposal in clear language.
 Should the three-page project description include a budget? No. Use Form C for budget.
 Must all submissions be electronic? Yes. Please send proposals by e-mail to
lacinvestigacion@lincolninst.edu.
 Must all submissions be in Microsoft Word? Yes.
 Do I need to send a hard copy of the proposal? No.
 What is the format for the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Working Paper? This format will be
send to authors of selected proposals at a later date.
Budget
 Can the budget be changed in the course of the research? No, except in case of reallocation of
funds in consultation with the Lincoln Institute.
 Does the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy cover institutional overhead? No.
 What does the award amount cover? The total award covers all direct research expenditures
including personnel, research assistance, data, books, research-related travel and software or
other items deemed indispensable for the development of the project. Separately, the Lincoln
Institute will pay directly for travel and lodging expenses for the lead researcher to attend the
research seminar.
 Does the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy finance acquisition of equipment? No.
 Is there a maximum budget amount? No. Total funding from the Lincoln Institute will be
determined based on the scope of the project and the justification of the proposed budget.
Evaluation Criteria
 Is it necessary to be a U.S. citizen to apply? No.
 Do you fund only academics? What about practitioners and researchers who do not hold a Ph.D.?
The RFP targets but is not restricted to academics and researchers holding a Ph.D.
 Can the paper be co-authored? Yes. Contact details for all authors must be mentioned in the
proposal and a lead researcher must be designated as the person responsible for the project.
However, we only cover travel expenses for the lead researcher to attend the seminar.
 How many proposals do you expect to receive? The average number of responses to the Lincoln
Institute RFP is within a range of 10 to 50 per topic.
 Can I get feedback on the substance of my proposal? No. This is a competitive process, so all
participants must have access to the same information. Thus we will not respond to individual
consultations either during the evaluation period or prior to the proposals due date.
 Can I make changes to a section of my proposal after having sent it in? Only if you do so before
the final date for submission of proposals and only if you send a complete revised version that
will replace the original one. Isolated sections of the proposal will not be considered.
 Does the proposal deadline refer to the postmark date or the date of receipt by the Institute? Date
of receipt by the Lincoln Institute.
If you have further questions regarding the Guidelines for Research Proposals, please send e-mail to
lacinvestigacion@lincolninst.edu.
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