David Ley

Professor Emeritus, Geography
Fellow, Royal Society of Canada
Officer, Order of Canada
david.ley@geog.ubc.ca


Dr. David Ley’s scholarly interest lies in urban and social geography. He has conducted research in Hong Kong associated with his book, Millionaire Migrants, that tells the story of the migration (and return) of wealthy families from “Greater China”—Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the Mainland—to Vancouver and Toronto from 1986–2008. Hong Kong is one of five gateway cities in Dr. Ley’s current book, Housing Booms in Gateway Cities (2023), which examines comparatively house price booms and their consequences. Three of Dr. Ley’s Ph.D. students have completed Hong Kong-based dissertations.

Recent interview:
David and Goliath: A priceless Vancouver academic retires, after 45 years grappling with unaffordability

Full profile:
geog.ubc.ca/persons/david-ley/