My job market paper, "Chinese Development Lending & the Amplification Effect" examines the effects of Chinese development lending and foreign aid upon the political institutions of recipient countries. Utilizing a variety of estimators on panel data for 100+ low- and middle- income countries over the period of 2002-2017, I explore whether China’s growing presence in this domain assists or impedes the institutional health of recipient countries.
My research areas include applied microeconomics, economic development, and political economy. I'm interested in questions aimed at understanding the conditions that contribute to (as well as interrupt) economic development, social coordination, and human flourishing. My dissertation research investigates the role of China in the developing world, with particular focus upon the following themes: (1) The economic and political impacts of Chinese official lending and foreign aid, and (2) The political economy of China's domestic ethnic policies in Xinjiang towards the Uyghurs and other Muslim ethnic minority groups.
The latter theme is part of a larger project of papers I'm working on regarding the political economy of cultural assimilation. Along with my co-author, we examine historical and contemporary case studies to examine the incentives and constraints facing state decision-makers with respect to the policy choice of engaging in coercive assimilatory policies as opposed to permitting spontaneous cultural assimilation. Additional research projects I'm presently working on include the relationship between economic freedom and philanthropy, and the effects of domestic repression on international trade volumes. Methodologically, I rely upon both quantitative and qualitative methods, as these approaches are complements, not substitutes.
Journal Articles
The latter theme is part of a larger project of papers I'm working on regarding the political economy of cultural assimilation. Along with my co-author, we examine historical and contemporary case studies to examine the incentives and constraints facing state decision-makers with respect to the policy choice of engaging in coercive assimilatory policies as opposed to permitting spontaneous cultural assimilation. Additional research projects I'm presently working on include the relationship between economic freedom and philanthropy, and the effects of domestic repression on international trade volumes. Methodologically, I rely upon both quantitative and qualitative methods, as these approaches are complements, not substitutes.
Journal Articles
- The Predatory State and Coercive Assimilation: The Case of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang, with I. Murtazashvili (Forthcoming, Public Choice)
- Going Far By Going Together: James M. Buchanan’s Economics of Shared Ethics, with Art Carden and Zachary B. Kessler. Business Ethics Quarterly (forthcoming)
- Ethical Maturity and Economic Progress: Adam Smith's Lesson Still Applies, with Art Carden and Jennings Marshall. Journal of Markets & Morality, 23 (1) 2020, pp. 45-60
Book Reviews
- Bruno Maçáes, Belt and Road: A Chinese World Order. The Independent Review, 25(1) 2020.
- Timothy Grose, Negotiating Inseparability in China: The Xinjiang Class and the Dynamics of Uyghur Identity. Liberal Currents, August 2020
Under Review
- Individualism, Economic Freedom, and Charitable Giving, with M. Cai, N. Cowen, I. Murtazashvili, J. Murtazashvili, & R. Salahodjaev (R & R, Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization)
Working Papers
- Chinese Development Lending & the Amplification Effect
- Repression and International Trade: An Analysis of Chinese Trade Volume with Islamic Countries (with J. Callais & L. Peng) (Slides)
- Knowledge, Adaptability, and China’s Belt and Road Initiative
- The Ostroms in Beijing (with M. Cai, W. Law, W. Lin, I. Murtazashvili, and J. Murtazashvili)
- Trails of Tears: The Political Economy of Cultural Assimilation (with A. Crepelle, W. Law, and I. Murtazashvili)
Works in Progress
- Respect the Troops: A Theory of Social Praise (with C. Reilly & P. Leeson)
- Economic Freedom in Economic History (with V. Geloso)