Mu, Ren Associate Professor

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.