Zhihang Ruan

Dissertation/Book Project: Land Regimes and the Welfare of Migrant Workers in China and Vietnam

The project aims to uncover the historical origins of the contemporary land ownership regimes in China and Vietnam and explore their impacts on the political economy and the welfare of migrant workers. Until now, the dominant view in the literature on land institutions emphasizes individual property rights, either as a boost to investment or a hindrance to infrastructure construction. The project adjusts our analytical lens by embedding land regimes back into the broader political economy landscape, illustrating how they affect state capacity, capital mobilization, and labor reproduction.

Framing and Support for Foreign Aid Among Chinese Nationals

The study uses online survey experiments to see how different types of framing affect the public support of Chinese citizens for aiding other countries. The study aims to broaden our understanding of public opinion on foreign aid and international cooperation beyond wealthy democracies.