Research

Working Papers

“Non-cognitive Development and Peer Effects: Experimental Evidence from Chinese Rural Boarding School Students”

with Peiyi Jin 📑 Slides

Abstract: This paper evaluates the direct and spillover effects of a low-cost, scalable intervention—audio bedtime stories—on non-cognitive skill development among rural boarding school students in China. Using a randomized controlled trial (RCT), we analyze data from 63 schools, where boarding students were exposed to bedtime stories broadcast through dormitory speakers. This design isolates treated students from untreated day students in the same classroom, allowing for robust identification of peer effects in non-cognitive skill transmission. The results show significant positive effects on treated students, with larger gains for those with day-student friends and larger friendship networks. Spillover effects on untreated day students were primarily driven by those with boarding friends, highlighting the critical role of peer networks in the transmission of non-cognitive skills. We use the characteristics of peers’ peers but not direct peers to instrument peer resilience and self-esteem. Interacting with the treatment in the human capital production function, we will know how peers’ outcomes affect one’s own outcome and how the treatment changes the production function.

Presented at: RES 2025 (Birmingham), Janeway Institute PhD Workshop 2025 (Cambridge), SOLE 2024 (Oregon), EAYE 2024 (Paris)

“Unemployment and Higher Education: Evidence from Higher Education Expansion in China”

Abstract: This paper exploits the 1999 nationwide higher education expansion in China to estimate the dynamics of the causal effect of the 1999 higher education, college degrees and years of schooling on labour market outcomes in China. Using the China Urban Household Survey and China Census data and a fuzzy regression discontinuity setting, this paper finds the expansion has worsened the economic outlook for college graduates in the short run but pays back in the long run in terms of unemployment propensity, getting a good job and wages.

Primary Data Collection

“Study and Development of Junior High Students”, China (2015–2020)

Panel dataset with four survey waves (2015, 2016, 2017, 2020) covering ~18,000 students in rural Sichuan and Hebei, along with their teachers and principals. Responsible for the 2020 follow-up wave, including leading survey implementation, cleaning ~20,000 student responses, and constructing non-cognitive skills measures. Data includes: mental health, social network, buly behaviours, internet addiction, cognitive and non-cognitive skills.

Book Chapter

Peer Effects among Rural Adolescents (with Yaowu Wu)
In Study on the Development of Rural Adolescent Non-Cognitive Skills, Social Sciences Academic Press (China), 2025, pp. 90–113.