What role do sound local government finances play in a municipality’s ability to provide affordable housing? This is a highly topical issue in numerous countries worldwide. The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) have launched an international research project on this topic. Germany is among the first countries to be studied. FiFo Director Michael Thöne said: “Thank you very much for the honour of being the first interviewee worldwide for this important new project. I wish you every success and look forward to more of these transatlantic exchanges”.