2026 Real Estate and Urban Economics Conference

The real estate market plays a central role in the economy, affecting both households and corporations. It is a distinctive asset class with unique characteristics that set it apart from equities, bonds, and other financial assets. In recent years, the sector has been undergoing profound transformations driven by sustainability considerations, demographic shifts, and the growing prevalence of remote work.

Understanding real estate dynamics is particularly relevant for the Swiss economy, where property prices have risen markedly over the past decade and several urban areas are often cited as being at risk of overheating or potential price corrections.

The objective of the 2026 Real Estate and Urban Economics Conference is to bring together scholars and PhD students conducting research on real estate to foster a stimulating exchange of ideas and insights. By providing a platform for the presentation and discussion of cutting-edge research, the event seeks to advance our understanding of the evolving real estate landscape and its broader economic implications.

The keynote speaker for the event will be Prof. Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh, Earle W. Kazis and Benjamin Schore Professor of Real Estate and Professor of Finance at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business and Co‐Director of the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate.

Schedule:
Start: Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at 9:00 am
End: Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 12:00 pm

Organizing committee:
Alberto Plazzi (Institute of Finance at USI and SFI)
Lorenz Kung (Institute of Economics at USI, SFI, and CEPR)

Program committee:
Alberto Plazzi, Andreas Fuster, Andra C. Ghent, Christophe Spaenjers, David Ling, Erasmo Giambona, Francesco D’Acunto, Laurent Frésard, Lorenz Küng, Lu Han, Marc Francke, Rachel Nam, Roland Füss, Rossen Valkanov, Selale Tuzel

For more information, see the attached Call for papers.

Submit your paper here. Submissions are open until 3:00pm on June 15, 2026.