Applied microeconomics; Economic growth and development; Economics of crime; The Chinese economy
Professor Liu is an applied microeconomist. His research interests include the role of human capital, technology, and institution in economic growth and development, returns to and investment in human capital (externalities, health, and early childhood development), and economics of crime. His recent studies focus on the causal effects of children’s education on parental health, technology-assisted instruction and learning on student performance, and family environment on cognitive and non-cognitive development and labor market outcomes. He is a Special-term Professor at the China Center for Human Capital and Labor Market Research, Central University of Finance and Economics. He previously served on the editorial board of China Economic Review and the board of directors of the Chinese Economists Society. Professor Liu also served as the Director of the University at Buffalo Confucius Institute (2017-2021).