2026/02/17
On January 16, two distinguished guest professors: Professor Robert Hill from the University of Graz and Professor Mark Francke from the University of Amsterdam paid a courtesy visit to President Satoshi Nakano and Vice President Yasuhiro Otsuki, Executive Vice President to the University and Director of Hitotsubashi Institute for Advanced Study (HIAS).
President Nakano expressed his gratitude to the professors and noted his high expectations for strengthening the university’s research capabilities in the field of real estate economics and price statistics during their visit.
Hitotsubashi University looks forward to continued collaboration with both professors and their respective institutions.
< Professor Robert Hill (University of Graz) >
Professor Hill is a leading scholar in econometrics and price measurement in the Department of Economics at the University of Graz, where he serves as a Professor of Economics. His research focuses on index number theory, international price comparisons, and inflation measurement. He has published extensively in top academic journals and collaborates widely with statistical agencies and international research institutions.
< Professor Mark Francke (University of Amsterdam) >
Professor Francke is a prominent expert in real estate economics and econometric modeling in the Amsterdam School of Real Estate (ASRE) and the Faculty of Economics and Business at the University of Amsterdam, where he holds the position of Professor of Real Estate Economics. His work centers on housing market dynamics, property valuation, and applied time‑series analysis. He has contributed significantly to both academic research and policy discussions related to real estate markets.
*HIAS Bridges Distinguished program
The HIAS Bridges Distinguished program started in 2022 as a part of the HIAS Bridges, which aims to strengthen HIAS into a “base of social science” where top-level researchers form a multi-layered research network. The HIAS Bridges Distinguished program aims to further deepen and sophisticate research at HIAS by inviting world-class researchers to HIAS internationally and conducting joint research with HIAS researchers.
Program Overview: About HIAS BRIDGES – HIAS Bridges