Research

Silk and Gender Equality: Evidence from China’s Family Planning  (Job Market Paper) Download Full Paper

This paper examines whether sericulture (silk farming), a female-labor-intensive industry, can mitigate son preference intensified by China’s one-child policy. Using quasi-experimental variation from agro-climatic suitability, I combine difference-in-differences with a novel Silk Suitability Index (SSI) as an instrument. I find that in counties naturally suited for sericulture, the share of female births rose by 3.9 percentage points post-policy, and women’s educational attainment significantly improved. These findings suggest that promoting female-centric agricultural sectors can be an effective tool for advancing gender equality in developing economies. 

Salt, Government Monopoly, and Long-Term Economic Development in China (Working Paper) Download Full Paper

This paper studies the long-run effects of the Qing Dynasty's salt monopoly on local economic development. Using county-level data and an instrumental variable strategy based on underground salt-bearing formations, I find that historical monopoly regions show persistently weaker economic outcomes today. The mechanism appears to be reduced entrepreneurship and innovation, rather than declines in elite human capital. Comparative evidence from zinc and iron production underscores the enduring impact of extractive state control beyond mere resource presence.

Soil Fertility and Intergenerational Inequality in the U.S. (Work in Progress) 

This paper investigates the long-term consequences of natural soil fertility on intergenerational inequality in the United States. Linking historical soil data to modern socioeconomic outcomes at the county level, I explore whether regions with higher natural fertility facilitated persistent wealth accumulation and educational mobility. Preliminary evidence suggests that early agricultural productivity contributed to entrenched inequality, particularly in non-slave versus slave-state comparisons. Ongoing work examines mechanisms such as land inheritance, occupational structure, and rural-urban transitions.