- Associate Professor, International Affairs, Bush School of Government and Public Service
As an empirical development economist, Dr. Ren Mu strives to uncover how individuals and households in developing countries perceive and respond to changing incentives induced by economic growth and institutional reforms, with a focus on China. Primarily based on household and community survey data, her work examines economic, demographic, and institutional determinants of individual welfare as reflected by labor supply decisions, individual perceptions, and human capital outcomes. By providing better knowledge about decision-making at the micro-level, Dr. Mu hopes to reveal policy impacts and to identify needs that policy changes can address.
My past, current, and future research agenda encompasses four key areas of study: rural-to-urban migration, public opinion, human capital investment, and allocation and efficacy of public goods.
- Ph.D. in Economics, Michigan State University - (East Lansing, Michigan, United States) 2004
- M.S. in Statistics, Michigan State University - (East Lansing, Michigan, United States) 2002
- M.A. in Law, Nankai University - (Tianjin, China) 1999
- B.A. in Economics, Nankai University - (Tianjin, China) 1996
Academic Articles21
- Mu, R. (2022). Perceived relative income, fairness, and the role of government: Evidence from a randomized survey experiment in China. CHINA ECONOMIC REVIEW. 73, 101784-101784.
- Ma, S., & Mu, R. (2020). Forced off the farm? Farmers' labor allocation response to land requisition in China. WORLD DEVELOPMENT. 132(10640), 104980-104980.
- Giles, J., & Mu, R. (2018). Village Political Economy, Land Tenure Insecurity, and the Rural to Urban Migration Decision: Evidence from China. American Journal of Agricultural Economics. 100(2), 521-544.
- Mu, R., & Du, Y. (2017). Pension coverage for parents and educational investment in children: Evidence from urban China. World Bank Economic Review. 31(2), 483-503.
- Liu, X., & Mu, R. (2016). Public environmental concern in China: Determinants and variations. GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE-HUMAN AND POLICY DIMENSIONS. 37, 116-127.
Chapters3
- Mu, R. (2019). Aspects of Gender in Famine: Evidence from the Chinese Great Leap Forward Famine. Preedy, V. R., & Patel, V. B. (Eds.), Handbook of Famine, Starvation, and Nutrient Deprivation. 61-76. Springer Nature.
- Mu, R. (2018). Aspects of Gender in Famine: Evidence from the Chinese Great Leap Forward Famine. Handbook of Famine, Starvation, and Nutrient Deprivation. 1-16. Springer Nature.
- LUO, Z., MU, R., & ZHANG, X. (2010). Famine and Overweight in China. Investing in Human Capital for Economic Development in China. 231-239. World Scientific Publishing.
Conference Papers2
- Yang, Z., Zhao, W., Zhang, X., Mu, R., Zhai, Y., Kong, L., & Chen, C. (2008). Impact of famine during pregnancy and infancy on health in adulthood.. Obes Rev. 9 Suppl 1(s1), 95-99.
- Luo, Z., Mu, R., & Zhang, X. (2006). Famine and Overweight in China. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy. 28(3), 296-304.
Repository Documents / Preprints4
-
- Mu, R., & Du, Y. (2012). Pension Coverage for Parents and Educational Investment in Children: Evidence from Urban China.
- Giles, J., & Mu, R. (2006). Elder Parent Health and the Migration Decision of Adult Children: Evidence from Rural China.
- BUSH635 Quant Meth Ii Policy Emp Instructor
- INTA608 Global Economy Instructor
- INTA616 Eco Development In China Instructor
- INTA632 Advanced Econ Developmnt Instructor
- INTA670 Intl Affairs Capstne Sem Instructor