Gedeon Lim

Welcome to my website! I'm an Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Hong Kong. I received my Ph.D. from Boston University in 2020.

My research interests lie at the intersection of Development Economics, Political Economy, and Economic History. Methodologically, I use a mix of (historical) natural experiments, mixed methods surveys, archival work, and field experiments. I'm also increasingly using ML, when the need arises.

Recent projects study: 

• how an upfront, stable stream of local revenue, in the form of land rents for local leaders, has shaped long-run political and economic development in Indonesia

• the long-run effects of changes in ethnic proximity on ethnic politics and nation-building in Southeast Asia [fully-funded, primary data collection launching soon] 

• the theory of rational inattention in a field experiment on altruistic giving

Projects I am actively exploring:

• the effects of historical migration on contemporary development and trading patterns

• the effects of a change in lingua franca in schools on linguistic choice and national identity

• the effects of differences in rural property rights on investment, migration, and culture
  
  

Contact: gedeonl[at]hku.hk

CV here

Upcoming conference presentations:
Korean Economic History Association Aug 26-27, 2023 (Seoul). APSA August 31st, 2023 (LA)