Research Profile
I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Political Science at Columbia University.
My research focuses on how individuals' political attitudes and behaviors are shaped by
personal experiences, particularly their economic backgrounds. I am interested in the
political and security consequences of changing economic conditions related to
international trade, immigration, and economic statecraft.
My dissertation examines how early-life economic experiences, including exposure to
inequality, growth & openness, and inflation, shape lifelong political preferences
for the neoliberal international order, with implications for
foreign aid support, trade policy attitudes, and populist voting. I use surveys,
historical data, and experimental methods across multiple countries.
Research Areas
- International/Comparative Political Economy
- Trade, Migration, and Economic Crises
- Economic Security and Economic Statecraft
- Political Socialization and Formative Experiences
Education
Columbia University
Ph.D. Political Science (Major: International Relations; Minor: Comparative Politics)
2019 – 2026 (Expected)
SAIS, Johns Hopkins University
M.A. International Political Economy and International Economics
2016 – 2018
Hunan University & Colorado State University
B.A. Business Administration
2012 – 2016
Articles
Political Trust and Government Performance in the Time of COVID-19
Working Papers
Under Review
- This paper demonstrates that individuals exposed to high income inequality during
their early adulthood develop significantly stronger, lifelong support for overseas
aid, a relationship driven primarily by a socialized belief in the moral obligation
and effectiveness of such assistance.
- Keywords: Foreign Aid, Economic Inequality, Early Experiences, Public Opinion, Developed Countries
Under Review
- People in European countries with exposure to high inflation during early adulthood
are lower in their political trust and more supportive of populist parties, especially
those focusing on welfare expansion.
- Keywords: Inflation, Populism, Early Experiences, Public Opinion, European Politics
- By distinguishing between nationalistic mercantilists who favor exports and financially
anxious isolationists who reject trade entirely, this study provides a two-dimensional
framework for understanding why public trade preferences are more nuanced than a simple "anti-trade" sentiment.
- Keywords: Globalization Backlash, Mercantilism, Isolationism, Survey Experiment, United States and China
Working Paper
- Inflation crises are more likely to lead to trade liberalization under right-wing governments,
reflecting partisan shifts in public opinion and the electoral advantages of pro-trade positions.
- Keywords: Inflation crisis, trade liberalization, partisanship, electoral politics
Under Review
- Early adulthood experiences with growth and openness foster lasting pro-trade attitudes
by shaping perceptions through pro-trade ideas and higher education.
- Keywords: Formative experiences, trade preferences, East and Southeast Asia
Working Paper
- High early-life inflation fosters a strong aversion to price rises, but moderate inflation under robust
labor markets weakens this effect, as early experiences shape perceptions of inflation's broader economic
consequences.
- Keywords: Formative experiences, macroeconomic attitudes, Europe
Selected Works in Progress
U.S.-China Competition and Mass Preferences for Technological Adoption (with
Ziwen (Gary) Zu)
Career Path and Political Preferences (with
Jerry Min)
Teaching
Teaching experience as Teaching Assistant, Columbia University and SAIS, Johns Hopkins University.
International Political Economy & International Relations
Prof. Jeffry Frieden · Teaching Assistant · Columbia University
Prof. Alexander de la Paz · Teaching Assistant · Columbia University
Prof. Hiau Looi Kee · Teaching Assistant · SAIS, Johns Hopkins University
Chinese Politics & Comparative Politics
Prof. Junyan Jiang · Teaching Assistant · Columbia University
Prof. Thomas Christensen · Teaching Assistant · Columbia University
Prof. Timothy Frye · Teaching Assistant · Columbia University