RESEARCH · PUBLICATIONS · PROJECTS
Academic Research
01
Behavioral Economics & Finance
My research utilizes three approaches (experimental/behavioral, econometric, and institutional) to study a wide range of individual and market-level financial, development and health issues. Human behavior has always been vastly interesting to me, and the behavioral approach allows me to study observed behavior and decision-making patterns rather than restricting my hypotheses to standard theories. In the meantime, I value the insights generated by both laboratory and field experiments that allow us to identify causal relationships and further our understanding of economic behavior and outcomes.
Selected Publications (See CV for the Full list)
Visual Attention, Incentives, and Herding: Insights from a Laboratory Asset Trading Game
with Xiaolan Yang, Xiaotong Fang, Mei Gao, and Lucy Ackert
Journal of Behavioral Finance, January 2026.
Follow the Gaze: How Social Attention Shapes Gendered Trading Choices
with Xiaolan Yang, Xiaotong Fang, Mei Gao, and Lucy Ackert
China Economic Review, 88, December 2024.
Academic Profile of Chinese Economists: Productivity, Pay, Time Use, Gender Differences, and Impacts of COVID-19
with Adam Chen and Yang Jiao
China Economic Review, 81, October 2023.
Childhood Trauma among Chinese Inmates
with Han Liu, Lucy Ackert, Fang Chang, Ruth Uwaifo Oyelere, and Yaojiang Shi
China Economic Review, 73, June 2022.
An Experimental Examination of the Flow of Irrelevant Information across Markets
with Lucy Ackert, Brian Kluger, and Lijia Wei
Southern Economic Journal, 88(3), 1119–1148, 2022.
Do Tobin Taxes Help Stop Stock Price Bubbles?
with Lucy Ackert and Wenbo Zou
Journal of Financial Economic Policy, 14(3), 269–282, 2022.
Social Division, Trust, and Reciprocity among Chinese Inmates
with Lucy Ackert, Fang Chang, Han Liu, and Yaojiang Shi
Research in Economics, 75(3), 259–273, 2021.
Cross-Cultural Differences in the Perception of Portfolio Risk
with Lucy Ackert and Bryan Church
Review of Economics and Finance, 18, 19–30, 2020.
Implied Volatility and Investor Beliefs in Experimental Asset Markets
with Lucy Ackert and Brian Kluger
Journal of Financial Markets, 43, 121–136, 2019.
Experiments on Electronic Double Auctions and Abnormal Trades
with Lucy Ackert and Lei Jiang
Southern Economic Journal, 83(1), 585–598, 2016.
An Experimental Examination of Portfolio Choice
with Lucy Ackert and Bryan Church
Review of Finance, 20(4), 87–104, 2016.
Irrationality in Experimental Asset Markets: Is it Me or You?
with Lucy Ackert and Brian Kluger
Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 84(1), 278–291, 2012.
Lying: An Experimental Investigation of the Role of Situational Factors
with Lucy Ackert, Bryan Church, and Jason Kuang
Business Ethics Quarterly, 21(4), 605–632, 2011.
Asset Pricing in Mildly Segmented International Capital Markets: An Experimental Approach
with Lucy Ackert and Stefano Mazzota
Southern Economic Journal, 77(3), 585–598, 2011.
Information Use and Transference among Legally Separated Share Markets: An Experimental Approach
with Jack Ochs
Southern Economic Journal, 76(1), 99–129, 2009.
02
Economic Development & East Asia
My research on economic development focuses particularly on China and other East Asian and transitional economies. My work addresses development from different perspectives such as financial reforms, firms’ financing behavior, and market integration. I also study economic institutions that affect the future growth path.
Selected Publications (See CV for the Full list)
Academic Profile of Chinese Economists: Productivity, Pay, Time Use, Gender Differences, and Impacts of COVID-19
with Adam Chen and Yang Jiao
China Economic Review, 81, October 2023.
Migration and Health in China: Bridging the Gaps in Policy Aims and the Reality of Medical Services to Migrants
with Jian Wang, Juan Zheng, and Peng Wang
Journal of Public Administration (Chinese language), 9(4), 29–45, 2014.
China's Internal Borders: What We Can Learn from the Business Cycle Correlations across Chinese Cities
with Ying Fang and Zhongjian Lin
The Chinese Economy, 46(3), 42–62, May–June 2013.
Determinants of Firm Leverage: Evidence from China
with Penny Prime
The Chinese Economy, 46(2), 74–106, March–April 2013.
Capital Flows and Domestic Market Integration in China
Journal of Chinese Economic and Business Studies, 8(1), 67–94, February 2010.
Market Reforms in China: Consumption Puzzles
with Penny Prime
China Economic Review, 20, 338–401, September 2009.
03
Economics Education & AI
My recent research explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping economics education and empirical learning. I am particularly interested in whether AI can lower technical barriers to data analysis, expand opportunities for students to engage in data-intensive economic research, and support more accessible and effective approaches to teaching economics.
Current Research & Projects
Lowering Barriers to OER and AI in Economics Education
with Kristine West and Caroline Krafft
Research-practice partnership examining how OER and AI-supported
instruction can affect adoption, student engagement, confidence,
persistence, and learning in economics.
AI-Supported Empirical Learning in Economics
Research examining whether generative AI can lower technical barriers
that traditionally limit students' participation in data-intensive
economic analysis and applied research.
AI-Assisted Assessment in Economics Education
Research on the validity and efficiency of AI-assisted evaluation of
student writing and the development of hybrid human-AI assessment
protocols.