Biography

Prof. Sheng is an Assistant Professor of the Department of Economics in the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He is also the Director of the Trade and Development Programme of the Economic Research Centre of the Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies. Prof. Sheng’s research interests cover international trade, international macroeconomics, and economic development. His papers have been published in (or accepted by) many reputable international and Chinese journals including Quarterly Journal of Economics, Journal of Development Economics, Journal of Applied Econometrics, Pacific Economic Review, China Economic Quarterly, and Law and Social Sciences.  Prof. Sheng received his PhD in economics from University of California, Davis in 2012. He also obtained MA in economics from Virginia Tech in 2008. Before he went to US, he received the bachelor and master degree from Peking University in 2002 and 2005 respectively.

Research

Publications

• "Did China Diversify its Foreign Reserves?" Journal of Applied Econometrics, 2013, Vol. 28(1), 102-125.
• “Expanding Export Variety: The Role of Institutional Reforms in Developing Countries,” with Dennis T. Yang. Journal of Development Economics, 2016, Vol. 118, 45-58.
• “State Capitalism: A New Perspective of Land Sale in China”, with Wei Tian and Hongyan Zhao. Pacific Economic Review, 2016, Vol.21, Issue 1: 84–101.
• “News Shocks in Open Economies: Evidence from Giant Oil Discoveries,” with Rabah Arezki and Valerie Ramey. Forthcoming Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2016. 

Working Papers

• “Offshoring and Wage Inequality: Theory and Evidence from China,” with Dennis T. Yang, 2014.

Refereed Publications in Chinese

• “Yield, Currency Composition of Foreign Reserve and Hot Money in China,” with Hongyan Zhao, China Economic Quarterly, 2007, Vol. 6, issue 4.
• “Wage and Education Returns in China Cities,” with Dennis T. Yang, China Economic Quarterly, 2007, Vol. 6, issue 3.
• “Econometric Analysis of the Law Enforcement in China,” with Yingmao Tang, Law and Social Sciences, Law Press. 2009, Vol. 4.
• “On the Low Efficiency of Law Enforcement in China,” with Yingmao Tang, Law and Social Sciences, Peking Univ. Press. 2006, Vol. 1.

Awards and Honours

• “Infrastructure and International Trade: Evidence from Chinese Firms”, Hong Kong RGC grant, project number: 15056516, HK$620,521 (Jan 2017- De2019)
• “News Shocks in Open Economy: Evidence from Giant Oil Discoveries”, Hong Kong RGC grant, project number: 14502214, HK$267,960 (Aug 2014-Jul 2016)
• "The Shale Revolution and Renaissance of the US Manufacturing Sector", CUHK Direct grant, project number: 4052056, $27,495 (May 1, 2014-April 30, 2016)
• George and Dorothy Zolk Fellowship, UC Davis (2010-11)
• UCD and Humanities Graduate Research Award (2010-11)
• Nonresident Tuition Fellowships, UC Davis (2008-2011)
• Virginia Tech Summer Grant (2006 and 2007)
• “Wusi” Scholarship, 2003; “Xiyue” Scholarship, Peking Univ. (2001)

Courses Taught