Prof. Theurillat will discuss the role of real estate and its financialization in relation to the phase of economic growth that was previously based on export industries and now tend to increasingly rely on the domestic consumption market. He will present a research framework addressing ‘the land/built environment–finance and economic development nexus’ of China’s urban growth model. This research has been part of two research projects (one accomplished and one still ongoing) supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation.

Prof. Dr. Thierry Theurillat is based at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts-Western Switzerland, HEG Arc campus. Thierry’s work focuses on economic and urban geography and linkages between real estate development and financial systems. Regarding China and Southeast Asia, he has published in international reviews such as "Regional Studies" and "Urban Geography". He is also on the scientific board of the new international journal focused on China's urban development, "Transactions in Planning and Urban Research".