Research

My research interest is at the intersection of public economics, development economics and agricultural economics. I draw on frameworks developed in interdisciplinary fields to evaluate the impact of public policy on household welfare. I am especially interested in public policies targeting low-income households in both developed and developing countries. My job market paper, titled "Timing of SNAP disbursement and crime incidence in the United States", explores how changing SNAP disbursement schedule affects the incidence of crime. My other research projects shed light on the land tenure system, household production and internal migration in China. All drafts are available upon request.

For the most up-to-date copy of my CV, please click here.

Job Market Paper

  • "Timing of SNAP Disbursement and Crime Incidence in the United States," Selected Paper Presentation at ASSA 2022 Virtual Annual Meeting

Selected Publications


  • Xu, L., and Du, X. (2022). "Land Certification, Rental Market Participation, and Household Welfare in Rural China," Agricultural Economics, 53(1), 52-71.

  • Lin, H., Fang, P., Zhou, L., and Xu, L. (2019). "A relational view of self-protection amongst China’s food safety crises," Canadian Journal of Development Studies, 40(1), 131-142.

Note: For the full list of my previous publications (in both English and Chinese), please click here. [Document language: Chinese]

Working papers

  • “Migrant Remittances: Mixed Motives and the Impact on Household Welfare,” Selected Paper Presentation at CES 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting & Selected Poster Presentation at ASSA 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting

  • “Do Income Transfer Distribution Schedules Affect Intimate Partner Violence: Evidence from the SNAP Program (with Kaitlyn M. Sims, Yang Wang and Barbara Wolfe),” Selected Paper Presentation at AAEA 2021 Annual Meeting

  • “Risk Preference, Farm Diversification and Crop Selection: Evidence from China,” Selected Paper Presentation at AAEA 2021 Annual Meeting

  • “Land Certification, Rental Market Participation and Dynamics of Income Structure in Rural China,” Selected Paper Presentation at AAEA 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting

  • “Timing of SNAP Disbursement and Crime Rate in the United States,” Selected Paper Presentation at AAEA 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting

Work in progress

  • “The Earned Income Tax Credit and Intimate Partner Violence (with Kaitlyn M. Sims, Yang Wang and Barbara Wolfe),” Work in progress (draft almost in shape)

  • “Hukou Reform, Willingness to Migrate, and Industry Preferences,” Work in progress (preliminary)

Conference Presentations

  • 2022 ASSA Virtual Annual Meeting, Selected Paper Presentation

  • 2021 CES Virtual Annual Meeting, Selected Paper Presentation

  • 2021 ASSA Virtual Annual Meeting, Selected Poster Presentation

  • 2021 AAEA Annual Meeting, Selected Paper Presentation (2 papers)

  • 2020 AAEA Virtual Annual Meeting, Selected Paper Presentation (2 papers)