Details of the Researcher

PHOTO

Li Yanjun
Section
Graduate School of Economics and Management
Job title
Associate Professor

Research History 3

  • 2024/02 - Present
    Tohoku University

  • 2022/08 - 2024/01
    Hitotsubashi University　HiAS

  • 2019/06 - 2022/06
    Nanjing Audit University　Assistant professor

Education 3

  • University of Bologna　Ph.D. in Economics

    2015/10 - 2019/05

  • University of Rome "Tor Vergata"　MSc in Finance and Banking

    2013/10 - 2015/07

  • University of International Business and Economics　BA in Italian & Economics

    2009/09 - 2013/07

Research Interests 3

  • quantitative history

  • public economics

  • development economics

Papers 18

  1. Humid Heat, Health, and Behavioral Adaptation: Evidence from China Peer-reviewed

    Yi Huang, Yanjun Li

    Environmental and Resource Economics　89　(9)　2026/09/01

    Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

    DOI： 10.1007/s10640-026-01114-0 　

    ISSN： 0924-6460

    eISSN： 1573-1502

  2. Golden opportunities: Mining, production linkages, and firm development Peer-reviewed

    Yu Bai, Yanjun Li

    Economic Modelling　107793-107793　2026/08

    Publisher: Elsevier BV

    DOI： 10.1016/j.econmod.2026.107793 　

    ISSN： 0264-9993

  3. Breaking barriers: free education reform and the urban-rural disparities in China Peer-reviewed

    Pacific Economic Review　2026/05

    DOI： 10.1111/1468-0106.70024 　

  4. The long-run and heterogeneous impact of educational policy on crime Peer-reviewed

    Yu Bai, Yanjun Li, Xinyan Liu, Ryuichi Tanaka

    Journal of Comparative Economics　54　(1)　295-311　2026/03

    DOI： 10.1016/j.jce.2025.11.003 　

  5. Corruption disclosure and its impact on labour‐related actions Peer-reviewed

    Yu Bai, Yanjun Li, Hamza Umer

    Economica　93　(370)　377-402　2025/11/14

    Publisher: Wiley

    DOI： 10.1111/ecca.70021 　

    ISSN： 0013-0427

    eISSN： 1468-0335

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    Abstract Our paper aims to explore the profound impact of corruption‐related injustices on organized labour actions. Focusing on China's anti‐corruption campaign, we utilize a city–month panel and a difference‐in‐differences approach to identify the causal impact of corruption disclosure on labour collective actions. Our findings indicate a significant increase in labour unrest incidents following each additional reported investigation of governmental officials. Further analysis reveals that this impact is not driven by sophisticated governmental tolerance or repression of collective actions, but is particularly pronounced in non‐state‐owned enterprises compared to their state‐owned counterparts. The mechanisms through which the negative impact of corruption disclosure on labour unrest occurs include a negative impact of corruption disclosure on inequality perceptions and trust in government, as well as detrimental effects on the profitability and operation of employers.

  6. Digital inclusive finance harvest: Cultivating creditworthiness for small agricultural businesses Peer-reviewed

    Chen Zhang, Yanjun Li

    Pacific-Basin Finance Journal　91　102731-102731　2025/06

    Publisher: Elsevier BV

    DOI： 10.1016/j.pacfin.2025.102731 　

    ISSN： 0927-538X

  7. Land reform and illegal adoption of children Peer-reviewed

    Yanjun Li, Yu Bai, Masaki Nakabayashi

    Journal of Comparative Economics　53　(1)　182-208　2025/03

    DOI： 10.1016/j.jce.2025.01.002 　

  8. The non‐linear impact of corruption investigations on political trust Peer-reviewed

    Yanjun Li, Hamza Umer

    Contemporary Economic Policy　2025/02/10

    DOI： 10.1111/coep.12689 　

  9. Highway havens for hidden horrors: Expressway connections and child trafficking in China Peer-reviewed

    Xinyan Liu, Yu Bai, Yanjun Li, Yajie Sun

    Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization　228　106765-106765　2024/10

    Publisher: Elsevier BV

    DOI： 10.1016/j.jebo.2024.106765 　

    ISSN： 0167-2681

  10. Positive and negative health events and trust Peer-reviewed

    Hamza Umer, Yanjun Li

    Empirica　2024/05

    DOI： 10.1007/s10663-024-09605-3 　

    ISSN： 0340-8744 1573-6911

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    <jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Trust plays a vital role in shaping numerous socio-economic behaviors. However, little is known about how significant life events, such as adverse and beneficial health events, shape up trust. Therefore, we examine the impact of positive and negative health events on general trust using the LISS panel (3911 respondents) from the Netherlands. The primary health event variable is constructed by comparing self-reported health in 2017 with 2018, while trust measured in 2019 (after the health survey) is used as the outcome variable. We find a significant and negative impact of adverse health events on trust, while positive health events have an insignificant effect. We perform several robustness checks that support our main findings. Further investigation shows that negative health events impact trust by reducing psychological wellbeing and social interactions. The results provide fresh insights into the health events and trust nexus.</jats:p>

  11. Quantity-quality trade-off in Northeast China during the Qing dynasty Peer-reviewed

    Yu Bai, Yanjun Li, Pak Hung Lam

    Journal of Population Economics　36　1657-1694　2023/01/21

    Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

    DOI： 10.1007/s00148-022-00933-x 　

    ISSN： 0933-1433

    eISSN： 1432-1475

  12. Labor activism over searing heat Peer-reviewed

    Huang, Y., Li, Y.

    Journal of Environmental Economics and Management　122　2023

    DOI： 10.1016/j.jeem.2023.102888 　

    ISSN： 1096-0449 0095-0696

  13. Chinese aid and local political attitudes Peer-reviewed

    Yu Bai, Yanjun Li, Yunuo Wang

    Economic Modelling　113　105893-105893　2022/08

    Publisher: Elsevier {BV}

    DOI： 10.1016/j.econmod.2022.105893 　

    ISSN： 0264-9993

  14. Political tournaments and regional growth‐enhancing policies: Evidence from Chinese prefectures Peer-reviewed

    Yu Bai, Yanjun Li

    Journal of Regional Science　2022/06/29

    Publisher: Wiley

    DOI： 10.1111/jors.12607 　

    ISSN： 0022-4146 1467-9787

    eISSN： 1467-9787

  15. The legacy of the Great Wall Peer-reviewed

    Yu Bai, Anastasia Arabadzhyan, Yanjun Li

    Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization　196　120-147　2022/04

    Publisher: Elsevier {BV}

    DOI： 10.1016/j.jebo.2022.01.010 　

    ISSN： 0167-2681

  16. More suffering, more involvement? The causal effects of seismic disasters on social capital Peer-reviewed

    Yu Bai, Yanjun Li

    World Development　138　105221-105221　2021/02

    Publisher: Elsevier {BV}

    DOI： 10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105221 　

    ISSN： 0305-750X

  17. Good bye Chiang Kai-shek? The long-lasting effects of education under the authoritarian regime in Taiwan Peer-reviewed

    Yu Bai, Yanjun Li

    Economics of Education Review　78　102044-102044　2020/10

    Publisher: Elsevier {BV}

    DOI： 10.1016/j.econedurev.2020.102044 　

    ISSN： 0272-7757

  18. A Sibling-Pair Analysis for Causal Effect of Education on Health Peer-reviewed

    Yu Bai, Yanjun Li

    The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy　18　(4)　2018/09/25

    Publisher: Walter de Gruyter {GmbH}

    DOI： 10.1515/bejeap-2018-0121 　

    eISSN： 1935-1682

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    Abstract This paper examines the causal effect of education on long-run physical health, using survey data on matched siblings. By adopting a sibling-differences strategy, we are able to obtain estimates that are not biased by unobserved genetic factors and family background which affect both education and health. To address the potential endogenous shocks that affect siblings differently within the family, we further employ an instrumental variable approach by exploiting a profound disturbance in the education system during the Cultural Revolution in China. The within-sibling estimates suggest that an additional year of schooling is found to be positively related to health status later in life (better self-reported health, lower probability of feeling uncomfortable, getting chronic diseases, and being underweight). We also unravel the potential roles of income and cognition in the effects of education on health.

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Misc. 7

  1. Maritime Disruptions and the Pass-Through of Oil Prices Invited

    Ngawang Dendup, Pak Hung Lam, Raja Timilsina, Yanjun Li, Dil Rahut, Bambang Brodjonegoro, Arief Ramayandi

    ADBI Working Papers　2026/06/17

    Publisher: Asian Development Bank Institute

    DOI： 10.56506/vzjo3540 　

  2. Sophie and the locust curse: Effects of locust plague on human capital accumulation

    2026/02

  3. Historical Roots of Political Instability

    2026/02

  4. From Fields to Families: Locust Infestations and Child Marriage in the Sahel

    Yu Bai, Yanjun Li

    2026/01

    DOI： 10.2139/ssrn.6099035 　

  5. Less Pressure, Happier Minds: The Mental Health Impact of Relaxation-Oriented Education

    Yu Bai, Yanjun Li, Xinyan Liu, Ryuichi Tanaka

    Discussion papers 25076, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI)　(25076)　2025/09

  6. Golden opportunities: Firm-level evidence on the economic impacts of mining operations

    Yu Bai, Yanjun Li

    TUPD-2025-012, Tohoku University Research Center for Policy Design Discussion Paper　2025/06

  7. Higher Education: University Establishments and Childhood Maltreatment

    Li Yanjun, Liu Xinyan, Tanaka Ryuichi

    GLO Discussion Paper Series　(1590)　2025/04

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Presentations 5

  1. Siblings, birth order, and adoption behaviors

    2025 CES China Annual Conference　2025/07/06

  2. Relaxed Education and Mental Health

    Li Yanjun

    2025/03/13

  3. Siblings, birth order, and adoption behaviors: A causal analysis Invited

    2024 Historical Demography in Asian Societies　2024/11/08

  4. Institution Matters: University Establishments and Childhood Maltreatment

    Yanjun Li

    Singapore Economic Review Conference 2024　2024/08/01

  5. Education as a Panacea for Crime Prevention? The Heterogeneous Impact of Educational Policy on Crime

    Yanjun Li

    2024 CES China Annual Conference　2024/07/06

Research Projects 4

  1. Microeconometric Analysis of Educational Administration Data: An Approach Using Intervention Studies and Natural Experiments

    Offer Organization: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

    System: Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research

    Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)

    Institution: The University of Tokyo

    2025/04 - 2030/03

  2. 政治的暴力の持続的影響：カンボジアにおける健康・ジェンダー・世代間帰結の研究

    Li Yanjun

    Offer Organization: 日本学術振興会

    System: 科学研究費助成事業

    Category: 基盤研究(C)

    Institution: 東北大学

    2026/04/01 - 2029/03/31

  3. Examining the determinants of child trafficking

    Offer Organization: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

    System: Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research

    Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists

    Institution: Hitotsubashi University

    2023/04/01 - 2027/03/31

  4. Primary and Secondary Education under Declining Population: An Empirical Analysis with Administrative Data

    Offer Organization: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

    System: Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research

    Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (S)

    Institution: The University of Tokyo

    2020/08 - 2025/03

Teaching Experience 21

  1. Seminar　Tohoku University

  2. Seminar　Tohoku University

  3. Seminar　Tohoku University

  4. Seminar　Tohoku University

  5. Microeconomics I　Tohoku University

  6. 経済学演習（Ⅱ）Ｂ　東北大学

  7. 経済学演習（Ⅰ）Ｂ　東北大学

  8. Microeconomics II　Tohoku University

  9. Seminar in Economics b　Tohoku University

  10. Mathematics for formal economic modeling and analysis　Tohoku University

  11. 開発経済学演習（Ｉ）a　東北大学

  12. 経済学演習（Ⅰ）Ａ　東北大学

  13. 開発経済学特殊講義　東北大学

  14. 開発経済学特論　東北大学

  15. Microeconomics I　Tohoku University

  16. Topic literacy　Tohoku University

  17. Seminar in Economics b　Tohoku University

  18. Microeconomics II　Tohoku University

  19. Seminar in Economics a　Tohoku University

  20. Microeconomics I　Tohoku University

  21. Public Finance

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